No Rear Brake On MY V2K!!!

[Vulcan900]

A couple-o-few weeks ago I had new tires put on my V2K at the dealer. I got a decent price OTD, but had to wait a couple of hours longer than promised to get it done. When I rode off I thought I was good to go, boy was I wrong.

I immediately noticed that the front brakes were scraping where they had never, ever done that before. That is one of the little things that I liked about the V2K over the 900. The brakes on the 900 have always scraped. Anyway, I figured I would give it a few miles to let the pads re-seat, but the noise continued. I took it back to the dealer the next day and they said that all of the calipers are removed before removing the wheels. They took the front brakes all apart, cleaned everything, and put it back together. It was much better, but the sound was still there, a little. OK, whatever, brakes will make some noise…

A few days later I had the bike loaded down for a week long excursion to Dahlonega, GA… I was running late getting out of town due to the wife’s lack of planning… and ended up stuck in downtown Jacksonville traffic (which sux). I hit my brakes and my rear brake pedal went straight down and did not return!!! Then I heard a loud scraping from the rear as I tried to stop a loaded bike with just the front brakes.

I pulled over immediately to inspect, and found that one of the two bolts that hold my rear caliper on was missing, and the caliper had rotated forward by almost 180 degrees and was jammed between the frame and the disk!!! I was hopping, spitting, sputtering mad!!!

I called the dealer, and talked to the first service person who answered the phone trying to keep my composure. She put me on hold for a while waiting on the service manager, and checked on me every few minutes. By the time the manager got on the phone I had dislodged the caliper, squeezed it back open, rotated the assembly back into place, finger tightened the remaining bolt, and cooled down significantly. Then the manager said it was closing time…................………. but if I could “limp it in” he would see what he could do.

When I got there he had a tech ready with a factory bolt in hand. They took it apart, cleaned everything, and put it back together with lock-tite on the 2 bolts that hold the caliper on. In about half an hour I was back on my way.

Now should I damn them for screwing up, or commend them for fixing the problem????

[Bloodbag]

Since this will probably be the last time you go there, make sure they fix it correctly and also note any cosmetic damage. It might be worth it to recheck their work, too.

[LuckyArmpit]

This happened to me when I first got my brand new 900 home. Had my buddy ride it from the dealer's. After about an hours worth of practicing at the school parking lot, my buddy drove it to my place. Noticed a funny noise and a shuddering wheel when he applied brake. Hmm...Looked at the next day. The front caliper was missing a bolt and the other bolt was loose. The brake mechanism had rubbed the wheel and scraped it up.
I called dealer. The salesguy who I bought from came out to my house in 20 minutes. We tightened the bolt up plus he brought a new one. He also told me he was going to order another wheel. A month later, I got a new wheel and new front tire with many apologies.
So my dealer basically stepped up to the plate. They ate the cost of the wheel and a new tire because something like that was not warranty. It was actually the tech's fault when he put the bike together for the showroom.

Lucky...

[V2KCruiser]

Something very similar happened to LordGT's V2K after he had a new rear tire put on by the dealer. Except both bolts on his caliper came loose and fell out.

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...tml#post651534

[Alf]

You have to wonder who the heck is working on our bikes when crap like this happens. Glad you are OK things could have been worse.

[clk328]

I just had the rear tire replaced on my Nomad. I took the wheel off and put it back on myself, now I'm going to recheck my work to make sure the bolts are still tight.

It seems that getting quality help theses days is becoming very difficult.

Hope everything works out.

[insolentminx]

ya know... this is terrible to read, but a little confusing.

The brakes... very very very VERY important part of the bike... and the screws fall out after an hour or so....

The rear licence plate housing bolts... Seems they were tightened by Superman!!

[Z-In-Jax]

Great just great... I know exactly which dealer you're talking about, just as I'm getting ready to take my bike in for it's final service (bought a package cheap when I got the bike) tomorrow... Guess I'll have to check everything over after they're done. The same place replaced a valve cover gasket on my 1500 a few months back which required them dropping the motor a little and releasing the pipes from the head, and yes the next day one of the header acorn nuts was missing and all the rest were loose. This will be the very last time they touch my ride unless it's a warranty issue and even then I'm sure I'll have to go back over everything they do...

Sorry they screwed up that new ride of yours... Hope you had a good trip though.... We've got to get together and ride one day...

[RichLockyer]

Reason #500 why I do my own work.
Including removing and replacing the rims when the tires need to be changed. If I had room in my garage for a tire changer, I'd do that too.

The front brakes are now chattering (assuming they did not replace the pads) because the forks were not properly seated after the axle was torqued but before the pinch bolts were torqued.

The service manual specifically says to block the front tire against a solid object and compress the front suspension several times WITHOUT holding the front brake prior to torquing the pinch bolts.
That is how you have to do it with dual-caliper front ends.

On single-caliper front ends, the fork tube that the axle threads into is also the one the caliper is mounted to, so the brake can be held to compress the suspension to line up the right fork tube... not so on the 1600/V2K.


Loosen the pinch bolts on the right fork tube, push the front wheel up against a wall or parking stop, rock the bike forward 5 or 6 times, compressing the forks as much as you can, then retorque the pinch bolts to 14 ft/lbs.


Good on them for staying late to fix the problem... but it's a problem that should not have happened. I would not be taking my bike back to that shop.

[03 Meanie Man]

Originally Posted by Vulcan900

Now should I damn them for screwing up, or commend them for fixing the problem????

Both. Most places probably would have been less inclined to fix the problem so "late", especially since you weren't already at the store. If you go there again, just double check any work, for your peace of mind.

[JacksonW]

Consider this a valuable lesson. Glad everything worked out. As Rich said, start doing your own work. The money saved will provide funds for a service manual and tools. Most of the maintenance and service items aren't rocket science, and though it may take you longer, what you learn is priceless! More importantly, you know everything is right. Stories like yours absolutely kill me, when folks are worried about warranties and service work. Yea, trust the dealer, there's a few good one's, but, most people here have got a story or two to share!

[ROLAND]

I am quite capable of doing works around the house ( plumbing, electrical... ). The bike, however is different. I admire you guys who are capable of changing tyres, adjusting brakes, putting exhausts, etc I feel totally uncapable and I have to rely on "professionals". Thankfully there is one near my home I can trust. He would do any kind of work and do it well. All the bikes he does work on, he takes them for a ride before giving them back to the owner. I guess I am lucky

[The Menace]

I usually perform all maintenance on all of my vehicles. But there are exceptions, such as removing the rear wheel from my V2K. I simply don't have the necessary equipment to feel comfortable lifting an 800 pound bike high enough to remove the rear wheel. Fortunately, my dealer is a good friend of mine and I trust them completely to do good work.

I do check over all the work, just for my peace of mind.

[clk328]

Originally Posted by ROLAND

I am quite capable of doing works around the house ( plumbing, electrical... ). The bike, however is different. I admire you guys who are capable of changing tyres, adjusting brakes, putting exhausts, etc I feel totally uncapable and I have to rely on "professionals". Thankfully there is one near my home I can trust. He would do any kind of work and do it well. All the bikes he does work on, he takes them for a ride before giving them back to the owner. I guess I am lucky

I felt the same way. But there were several posts and a link to Gadgets web page that I used last week to remove my wheel for a tire change. It was a little scary having the bike up in the air with the wheel off wandering if I could get it back on, but the only trouble I had was the left muffler mount bolt, it was stripped/crossthreaded from the factory.

[Vulcan900]

I have always done most of the work on my vehicles. It started when I was young and could not afford to have someone else do it, so I learned how. Now due to bad experiences I do not trust others to work on my vehicles (another long story and a few shot ones)… but I have always left the tires to tire shops without issue.

I actually worked at a place called Perfection Auto Repair in Gainesville, FL for a while when I was in college. The guys that worked there were professional mechanics, each had years of experience, and did solid work. They started me off with small stuff like oil changes, alternators, and brakes!!! In the beginning someone would check my work, but as I proved my abilities they let me go on my own. It was an excellent experience being able to work with experienced people on so many different vehicles, I learned a lot.

As it has been said, wrenching is not rocket science, but with all of the bad techs around you would think it is applied subatomic physics.

[RichLockyer]

^^^ +10,000

Dealerships don't pay the techs that they're worth (they charge $85/hour and pay the techs $8, or even piece-work), so they don't get techs applying that are worth a damn.
When someone spends a handfull of $1000 bills to go through MMI, they expect and deserve more. Likewise, when someone has been wrenching their entire life and can do a job in half of "book time", they deserve to be compensated for it.

But no... you get the guy that realizes he can make more money for less BS working for McDonalds, so who does the dealership hire? The kid that isn't qualified to work at McDonalds!

Any tech that's worth a crap will be working at an indy shop, or on his own. You'll find the occasional gem at a dealership who either honestly does it because he loves it and doesn't need the money, or who is in between indy shops waiting for an opening.

Also keep in mind that doing it yourself, you are learning the ins and outs of ONE bike and it's little quirks. The dealer tech has to work on every bike from several manufacturers... it's no wonder the fasteners are forgotten, forks aren't properly aligned, and people are told "They all do that" when they complain about a problem.

Also, if you do your own work, you are better prepared for a problem on the road.
I wouldn't want to do it, but if I blow a tire on the way to Red Lodge, I have the ability and will have the tools with me to lay that bike over on it's side and remove the tire... heck... if I throw a breaker bar and a penny in the tool kit, I'd be able to change the clutch in a couple of hours on the side of the road without losing a drop of oil.
Would I prefer to have a lift and torque wrench? Sure... but that's not always an option 2000 miles from home and 200 miles from the nearest dealership.

[Arkainzeye]

wow that could have been a law suit! Thank god you are ok. Usually what i do, and i know not everyone can do this is.. I use my sears jack to let me remove my wheels then i bring the wheels to them. Then i put them back on. I do this to save the crazy labor charges! and i get the piece of mind plus it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to work on my scooter.


chris

[Antonee]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

^^^ +10,000

Dealerships don't pay the techs that they're worth (they charge $85/hour and pay the techs $8, or even piece-work), so they don't get techs applying that are worth a damn.
When someone spends a handfull of $1000 bills to go through MMI, they expect and deserve more. Likewise, when someone has been wrenching their entire life and can do a job in half of "book time", they deserve to be compensated for it.

But no... you get the guy that realizes he can make more money for less BS working for McDonalds, so who does the dealership hire? The kid that isn't qualified to work at McDonalds!

Any tech that's worth a crap will be working at an indy shop, or on his own. You'll find the occasional gem at a dealership who either honestly does it because he loves it and doesn't need the money, or who is in between indy shops waiting for an opening.

Also keep in mind that doing it yourself, you are learning the ins and outs of ONE bike and it's little quirks. The dealer tech has to work on every bike from several manufacturers... it's no wonder the fasteners are forgotten, forks aren't properly aligned, and people are told "They all do that" when they complain about a problem.

Also, if you do your own work, you are better prepared for a problem on the road.
I wouldn't want to do it, but if I blow a tire on the way to Red Lodge, I have the ability and will have the tools with me to lay that bike over on it's side and remove the tire... heck... if I throw a breaker bar and a penny in the tool kit, I'd be able to change the clutch in a couple of hours on the side of the road without losing a drop of oil.
Would I prefer to have a lift and torque wrench? Sure... but that's not always an option 2000 miles from home and 200 miles from the nearest dealership.

Very convincing argument Rich and definitely provides more inspiration for those of us just beginning to explore the ins and outs of our machines.

I recently ventured into installing an air intake, a PCIII and pipes (ended up going back to the factory exhaust though). The PCIII required me to remove my gas tank and explore territory on my bike I haven't explored previously. I wasn't really too familiar and thought I messed some stuff up. Guys in this forum gave me good tips and all went well which was also confirmed by the local dealer (just wanted someone to actually see my work). After reading everything here, when it's time to take on the next job, I'm that much more motivated to do it myself to further learn my bike and to be sure all is done with the proper attention because it is my bike and my life on the line.

[RichLockyer]

Yup... turning a wrench is turning a wrench, whether it's an Impala, a Lambo, or a Vulcan.
It's just a matter of having the information to help guide you through the process.

Vehicles can be jigsaw puzzles, and you can spend days trying to figure something out without the $80 service manual. With the manual, suddenly you can do the job in maybe double "book time" with basic hand tools, and under book time with air tools.
I changed my '03 Tundra's timing belt in 6 hours with basic hand tools plus an air ratchet... my cheapie compressor wouldn't drive anything more.
First time I had done anything major on an engine newer than early 70s.

[LordGT]

Had the same thing happen to me on my V2K, except both bolts fell out at almost the same time. My Caliper came off completely and lodged between the frame and my Sideburner pipe.

I wasn't happy either, they had just changed my rear tire. They did take care of me later though, abuot $200 worth of work they ate to find my PCIII issue I had a ways back. Sent me on my way, no charge.

If I had been a jerk about the Rear Caliper, I doubt they would have gone the extra mile later. But they also knew they screwed up big time. Had them check the front caliper while I was there.

Glad it all worked out for ya.