SMR 511 - fork leg missing spring

[Suputin]

Yeah, ownership of this bike is just getting better and better.

I sent my forks out for service and revalving because the adjusters seemed to have no effect and there was little compression damping in the mid stroke which caused the bike to bottom out over jumps and dive alarmingy on the brakes. The last straw was the complete breakdown of both fork seals which resulted in oil pissing down the fork legs and producing a small puddle at each stop on the last ride. I was just lucky one of my buddies noticed the oil spray all over the rear tire before we got going.

I got a call from the suspension shop to tell me there would be an extra charge due to the need to diagnose and then pull one of the legs apart in order to install a small spring in the valving that the factory forgot to install.

I'm kinda not impressed.

 

[Tinken]

Wow... Maybe that's one of those new super cool spring-less shocks???

 

[Suputin]

It wasn't the main spring. Apparently there is a small spring that helps operate the shim stack. The missing spring caused the damping to operate intermittently or ratchet as the fork was compressed.

 

[Rearwheelin]

You buy this new ?

 

[Suputin]

Yep, brand spanking new off the showroom floor.

 

[Rearwheelin]

Your dealer needs to make that right.

 

[Suputin]

The dealer isn't the problem. It is the importer who is not gonna lift a finger to help. I had another issue and the guy refuses to respond to emails or phone calls. I tried to contact Husky/BMW direct but they just shuffle me back to the importer. Not impressed to say the least.

 

[Rearwheelin]

That stinks !

 

[Tinken]

who is your dealer?

 

[Ex HVUK]

The build problem will be with Marzocchi rather than Husqvarna. Husqvarna don't build the forks, just install the component as supplied by Marzocchi.

Where are you in the world?


Dave

 

[SloChicken]

The build problem will be with Marzocchi rather than Husqvarna. Husqvarna don't build the forks, just install the component as supplied by Marzocchi.

Where are you in the world?


Dave

Regardless of whether it is marzocchi's mistake/negligance or Husqvarna's, it is Husky that is selling the bike as a complete unit. Therefore the onus is on Husky to make it right.
Future sales depend on how we, the people perceive their product, and to the same end, Husky's attention(or lack of) follow up on problems with the product they sell.
That said, apparently (due to your screen name) you have some connection to Husqvarna. Seems you would help instead of passing the buck as your post implies.
In your hands now HVUK...
Best of luck to the OP.

 

[Suputin]

The build problem will be with Marzocchi rather than Husqvarna. Husqvarna don't build the forks, just install the component as supplied by Marzocchi.

Where are you in the world?


Dave

I am in Western Canada. This is my first Husky and to be honest I have been less than impressed with the parent company so far. I really like the bike though.

 

[Ex HVUK]

Seems you would help instead of passing the buck as your post implies

I'm not sure how a statement of fact could be interpreted as 'passing the buck'? The OP stated 'factory forgot to install' hence my comment. And then I asked for more information...


Dave

 

[Ex HVUK]

I am in Western Canada. This is my first Husky and to be honest I have been less than impressed with the parent company so far. I really like the bike though.

Sorry for the delay, been a little busy recently.

I'm not sure where you will have got with this. My suggestion would be depending on how far repairs have got to contact your dealer and ask them to contact your distributor. Normal procedure would be to return the incorrectly assembled unit to the dealer for inspection and then have the part replaced under warranty. As you've potentially had the work done then a letter to your dealer, copied to the distributor may elicit a goodwill response (goodwill as by having the bike worked on outside of the Husqvarna network you have bypassed the normal systems).

Dave

 

[SloChicken]

I'm not sure how a statement of fact could be interpreted as 'passing the buck'? The OP stated 'factory forgot to install' hence my comment. And then I asked for more information...


Dave

My post was in regard to your statement of the problem being marzocchi's and not Husky's problem. The basic legal principle is referred to as "respondat superior" - which
, loosely translated means "captain of the ship responds". In effect, Husky hired marzocchi to build forks to be sold on the branded Husky bikes, thereby assuming primary responsibility for the quality of the product.
Your statement implied (clearly stated), this is marzocchi's problem and not Husky's which both legally, and morally is not the case.
Someone should step up and make this right. No matter if the OP has found othrrs to help

 

[Suputin]

Sorry for the delay, been a little busy recently.

I'm not sure where you will have got with this. My suggestion would be depending on how far repairs have got to contact your dealer and ask them to contact your distributor. Normal procedure would be to return the incorrectly assembled unit to the dealer for inspection and then have the part replaced under warranty. As you've potentially had the work done then a letter to your dealer, copied to the distributor may elicit a goodwill response (goodwill as by having the bike worked on outside of the Husqvarna network you have bypassed the normal systems).

Dave

Dave, I totally appreciate your help on this but I have had a previous "goodwill" experience with my distributor that cost me $250. And the last time I had the dealer work on the bike they charged me for work I don't think they did and then they put way too much oil in the motor which resulted in a massive oil leak out of the airbox and the bike covered in goopy dirty crud. It will be cheaper, quicker and less aggravating to just pay for the extra work and forget the dealer and distributor.

I like this bike but I won't be buying another Husky nor advocate anyone else to do so. At least in my area, the concept of dealer/distributor support is a pipe dream.

 

[Ex HVUK]

Dave, I totally appreciate your help on this but I have had a previous "goodwill" experience with my distributor that cost me $250. And the last time I had the dealer work on the bike they charged me for work I don't think they did and then they put way too much oil in the motor which resulted in a massive oil leak out of the airbox and the bike covered in goopy dirty crud. It will be cheaper, quicker and less aggravating to just pay for the extra work and forget the dealer and distributor.

I like this bike but I won't be buying another Husky nor advocate anyone else to do so. At least in my area, the concept of dealer/distributor support is a pipe dream.

OK I understand your feelings entirely, all I'd say is that if you don't feed things back to dealer / distributor then there is no chance of any help. If you PM me your details and chassis number I can make the area manager at the factory aware at least.


Dave

 

[Suputin]

The chassis number of my bike is: ZKHLEEGM3BU000033 It is a 2011 SMR511 with 3150 kms on the clock. The company who did the suspension work and discovered the missing spring is RMR Suspension (www.rmrsuspensions.com).

I bought the bike from Bow Ridge Sports in Cochrane Alberta, Canada. Bow Ridge has been OK but their focus is more on dirtbikes and snowmobiles. It was the CDN importer who has been totally useless.