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Fix the clunk - Call Yamaha!!
Wed, 2008-09-03 03:30 — paulinokc
I finally got tired of Yamaha and my dealer's non - response to my issues. I was getting dizzy from the runaround with my dealer so I called Yamaha Customer relations direct. 1-800 - 962-7926 - press 1 for a Star specialist. If you want action - call Yamaha direct on their 800 number and bombard their customer relations department with . A couple of thousand pissed off 1300 owners ringing their phones will get someones attention.
I have had a sissy bar mount luggage rack on backorder since July 1 - and still no rack as of today. Yamaha has pushed back the ship date 4 times (earliest delivery is now September 18). My dealer also tells me Yamaha is sitting on the parts for the clutch repair as well and will not release them either. My dealer won't even write a service ticket on the now famous front end "Clunk". He says everyone (including Yamaha) knows what the problem is and the factory refuses to take action to fix the problem.
Diana - the Star specialist I spoke with said Yamaha has luggage racks and other parts in stock but will not release them. She is going to try and get some parts released. As far as the clunk goes, I am waiting on a call back from a Yamaha service rep.
I am pissed!!! Yamaha needs to step up and deal with their problems, release parts to the market, and quit hiding behind the dealers. I like my bike, but it will be my last Yamaha.
paul
Got Rid Of The Clunk
I figured with all the money we spend on our bikes with mods and upgrades, I would spend another $60.00 and 45 minutes to get rid of the clunk. I just finished a "clunk free" test ride on my 1300 after installing the progressive fork springs. They were very easy to install as long as you have a lift, a 22mm socket and a few metric hex wrenches.
I know Yamaha should step up and fix this problem under warranty but I see it as upgrading a part that makes the bike ride smoother and quieter for a reasonably small investment.
Clunk update
Yamaha tech rep and my dealer service manager spent the day on my bike looking for the cause of the clunk. They went so far as to swap forks and wheel with another bike and step by step methodically eliminated possible causes. It boils down to this - the damn front fender is rattling. It is tight and you can beat on it and it won't rattle, but hit a certain bump in a certain way and it rattles. Our front fenders do not have a brace. Tech took videos for Yamaha so they can duplicate it at the factory. No cross threaded nut and the bike is safe to ride. It goes all back together tomorrow - its in one big piece and a couple of little ones. Factory will work on a fix - the immediate cure - a set of pipes so I can't hear it.........paul
Well I don't see the fender
Well I don't see the fender making that noise I hear, but who knows. at least it does not create a safty hazard. I wonder what a rigid fender will look like after years of flexing and popping. In aviation when metal bends like that and makes such noise it is called oil canning, and it is not good, maybe it could be different on fenders...Thanks for the heads up. At least it seems like everyone is getting some attention from the dealers, unlike myself. I called the tech line yesterday, if they can't make the dealer look at it I guess they the dealer will have a used 1300 with a noisy fender/springs, or cross threaded nut. Anyways.
Colin
Keep the shiny side up..
Fender noise
When they were looking for what was causing the clunk on my bike before finding the cross threaded stem nut I was told over & over that it was the fender.They kept saying that the fender was made from a heavy gauge steel and that if it flexed it would make a noise. Even went as far as putting ruibber washers between fender and the forks. Since reading these posts I've been thinking about how could the fender flex with normal movement of the forks. The only thing that comes to mind is that somehow one side is moving more than the other twisting the fender. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I've been wrong before but that was back in the 60's.
I'll never say never...
I'll never say never, but I just don't know how the front fender can cause that noise. Maybe I'll have to do my own tear-down to figure that out. That clunk definitely sounds like a metal-on-metal type of thing and I don't know how the fender would be doing that. There is one way to find out. I'll probably take my fender completely off and ride it around. See what happens...
Fair winds~
David
Thats what they did with
Thats what they did with mine. It doesn't rattle with the fender off.
Great news
Paul
Excellent news...so we will not be loosing you to www.BMWtourer.com ;-)
Possibly one issue resolved for all of us.
Lets see if they will recall for the cross-threaded nut issue now.
Jean-Mau
CLUNK
I brought my 1300T into my dealer today along with a printout of all the comments regarding the CLUNK that most of us have been experiencing. The service manager said that he had not heard any complaints regarding the CLUNK but read the comments from all of you. I was especially interested in having them remove the head stem nut to see if it was cross threaded to relieve my anxiety regarding this potential problem and safety issue. He agreed to check the head stem nut and had it removed and brought it out to me to examine it myself. There was no cross threading in it and it looked just fine. He then examined the rest of the parts and springs in the steering head and all were fine. He then test rode the bike over speed bumps in the neighborhood at 20 - 25 miles per hour and did not experience the CLUNK. He said that, perhaps, Yamaha designed too light of a spring for the front fork and that was the problem but he could not come up with a solution for the CLUNK without direction from Yamaha.
The best part of today's experience was that he did not charge me for their work and I did not experience the CLUNK on the ride home (about 45 miles). I don't know if taking things apart and reassembling them did anything to resolve the CLUNK but I would strongly suggest that all of us continue to call Yamaha with our complaints regarding this issue until they do right by us and recall the bikes to fix this design defect and safety issue.
Keep the shiney side up!
Hammer42
Are you ready for this one?
Just got the call from my dealership about the glunk noise.After several people riding the bike they could not get the glunk to happen
.So after talking to him for a few miniutes he states the nut in good spacing fine.Now he thinks that the noise that we are hearing could ne coming from the floating break pads ...But at least my bike did check out ok for the nut anyway...The dealer ship has always been good so we will see and aleast it is logged down in the service book ,if something comes up down the road..looks like im getting a spring kit. and airhawk seat cousion..
David
Brandon,Fl
Complaint
I just placed a complaint to Transport Canada on this cross-threaded stem nut safety issue on my bike.
I encourage everyone to complaint to your states/province/country safety departments.
This is unacceptable from Yamaha not to: acknowledge the problem, send bulletins, and recall the bikes.
This cannot be treated on a one by one case by Yamaha anymore.
Jean-Mau
Tests for 'Clunkers'
Some of you will recall I installed Progressive springs and was pleased with the results, almost eliminating the clunk. Reading the posts on cross-threaded steering nuts got me thinking maybe I was just masking the real problem so, back to the dealer. Although he found the clunk acceptable, he did two tests that indicated the steering stem/bearings are loose. First, he rode the bike. He accelerated to 100k(65mph) in 5th gear on a straight, flat road. Then, holding the bar as lightly as possible to maintain steering, he closed the throttle. As the bike slowed through 60k(40mph), it began a small but perceptible wobble. I was able to repeat his same test myself. This is an indicator of a loose steering stem. Second, he lifted the front wheel and moved the bar to full lock. With a small spring scale he applied 15 lbs of force towards the other side and released the bar. The bar hit full lock on the other side and bounced back. I'm not sure of the required movement but on my bike it was excessive - again, loose bearing. On the basis of these tests, he is going to pull the stem lock nuts, examine the threads and take whatever action necessary to fix the problem. Interesting, huh? And, as a bonus, while he was road-testing, my speedo quit (it has been intermittent) so I get a new one!
At this point, I can't say enough good things about my dealer - I'll keep you posted.
clunk
I went to action powersports here in tulsa where I purchased my 08 1300 tourer and presented the svc mgr with info printed from this site and was told he would be happy to tear down and inspect my bike and if he found the nut to be crossthreaded he would get yamaha to take care of it. However if he found nothing the cost to me would be approximately $350 plus fluids. He said untill yamaha issued a tech bullitin or a recall thats all he could do.
Ron in tulsa
Told you what??
More BS!! Make him ride it then ask him if he would be happy if it was his. In 30 minutes or less he can be looking at the stem nut. All that has to come off is the speedo & riser, the handlebars will just be moved out of the way. No fluids lost.
Would not pay a cent
I would not pay them one red cent.mine went in to day for the check up..I told him i had noise in the front and needed to be checked.he was was aware of of problem with the front glunk noise thou ..Should know tomarrow..
David
Brandon,Fl
On that note...
...I'll wait until Nov to take my bike in. Then they can keep it all winter if they need to find/fix/repair the issue.
clunk - warranty
Ron, this is a warranty issue. Make your dealer ride the bike and let him hear the clunk. Then tell him to fix it under warranty. If he does not want to do it warranty, call Yamaha Customer relations - I am sure you will get some results then.
My bike is still in the shop - since 9-9. Yamaha Tech Rep is due in this afternoon. should know more this evening........paul
Yamaha tech rep - NO SHOW
Still no resolution. The tech rep was a NO SHOW! My dealer waited on him all day and the man was not returning phone calls. I think I'm gonna go buy the BMW I was looking at.........paul
The Prick
I just thought I had it hard getting my bike fixed. I know you've had it with all the BS from the "give a s**t" attitude from Yamaha. This is the very reason why I now have my last Yamaha product. Just trying to get repairs done under warranty takes an act of congress. We all know that Yamaha is aware of this problem due to the few repairs already made and the number of folks that have reported this issue. I for one find it hard to believe that Yamaha has yet to issue a service bulletin/recall. Hang in there Paul
Update 2
Call from Customer Relations at 2:30 Oklahoma time. I was instructed to contact my dealer to schedule an inspection. contacted the dealer service manager and scheduled appointment for 10 am on Tuesday - 9-9-08. He says Yamaha wants him to eliminate the front fender as the source of the clunk. (I have already eliminated that one) Once that has been eliminated Yamaha told him to "fix it"! He said that most likely it will be a preload adjustment like Yamaha has done on a couple of crotch rockets that had the same problem. Service manager was surprised that I was able to get Tech service jumping thru hoops this quick. Also parts manager wanted to give me some part #s that have been on back order and get those released as well. My dealer is real frustrated with yamaha and the guys are leaving saturday for the National Sales Meeting / model roll out. They are taking a full binder with their laundry list of issues with Yamaha. It sounds like it will be a come to jesus/prayer meeting. Wish I could watch.
Paul
Clunk issue
Met a really nice guy today who has worked on all brands of motorcyles since the 60's, yes he has also worked for Yamaha. He said that most likely this clunking noise is caused by improper torque of the fronk forks. Most MC's are shipped to the dealers in crates and are assembled in their shops. This could be why Yamaha is not aware of this problem and the reason the dealer would deny fixing. Usually if the forks and the front end bearings are not properly torqued you will have a clunking noise and this will be seen on any MC. He also said that before changing fork springs you should have the dealer check all fork tubes and bearing torque (and fork oil level) and make sure thse springs are under the proper load since this is usually all that is necessary. Do not hate the messenger.
OBTW, I build pool cues under a registered trade name that stands for Pool Hall Addicts hence PHACUES - this has come in handy many times
Update 1
I had a call from Yamaha customer relations at 7:45 Oklahoma time this
morning. Yamaha released my luggage rack and shipped yesterday - will
arrive Friday. Tech services will be scheduling an appointment with my
dealer this morning and Diana Cortez said she will call me back after lunch
(Atlanta time).
There is no release eta for the clutch repair kits as yet. She did admit
that they know there is a problem with the clunk and yes they have had
multiple complaints to date. Progress? who knows. Keep fighting the fight