GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: yo407 on September 07, 2004, 10:31:53 AM

Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: yo407 on September 07, 2004, 10:31:53 AM
Sooo...here's my story...

I tried some wheelies and a little while afterward i noticed that my chain was loose...

While i was tightening it i noticed the "notches" to align the back wheel properly were WAY off (strange considering i just picked my bike up from its 1000km tuneup)...so i figured that was probably how the chain got loose...so anyway i tightened the chain and i was off to downtown thinking i was problem free

so about an hour in to riding i rev the engine pretty high as i take off and i hear a bunch of clunks and my chain is once again FUBAR...it is very loose, i intially thought it was detached (but it luckily wasn't) and my bike will barely engage so i pull off to the side

I call the dealership and tell them my whole story and remind them i just picked my bike up from it's 1000 km tune up 3 days ago...all i get is a "Weird" comment. so i have the right tools on hand to tighten up the chain again but i am advised not to ride it so i call a tow truck and drop it off at the dealership ...FRUSTRATING since it was a perfect day to ride

also...the plate that surrounds the chain adjustment nut/screw on the left side is totally mangled and has been "sucked in" to the hollow bar it was covering...i can't believe this


any ideas?? the guy at the dealership said he had never seen that happen before...and now they are trying to claim i played a part in the chain coming loose and they want me to pay for repairs...would the wheelies have played a part in this??but even if they had everyone ELSE can do wheelies problem free right??is there a known problem with these bikes??(gs500f)

thanks for ANY feedback regarding this problem
here's a pic to show you what got mangled sorry for the low quality it's a pic of the back wheel ...i shouldn't pay for these repairs should i??

(http://suzuki.freehomepage.com/rearex.jpg)
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: yo407 on September 07, 2004, 10:34:15 AM
sorry guys i screwed that one up here's the link (forumnoob)

http://suzuki.freehomepage.com/rearex.JPG
Title: I think...
Post by: The Buddha on September 07, 2004, 10:40:32 AM
OK I believe they didn't tighten the axle all the way well and then stick the pin in the castle nut. That made the wheel stay in place just by the adjustment mechanism... whihc is not supposed to be able to take the load... and your standing it on the back wheel made it buckle and cave in. But I'd go with their fault for not tightening it. Did you tighten the axle when you adjusted the chain...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: tdan553527 on September 07, 2004, 10:45:12 AM
Yes, wheelies can cause this, mine did the same thing. I took off the bracket, laid it on the concrete and smashed back flat with a hammer. I hope you didn't tell your dealer that you were doing wheelies, if so, that is why he wants you to pay.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: yo407 on September 07, 2004, 10:48:00 AM
ahhh i see what ur saying man
ya i tightened it as much as i could (i couldn't get the right size for the torque wrench) so i guess the same thing happened both times they didn't tighten it enough then i didn't... :oops: ...but ya that makes a butt load of sense thanks but im still going to get them to pay for it
and if they don't then i'll jsut get a new plate and tighten it wiht the wrench all the way
thanks a lot man you seem to be a solution bank on this forum
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: yo407 on September 07, 2004, 10:55:01 AM
ya i haven't told them...we'll see what happens
has it been a reoccurring problem with you...can you wheelie now fine??

i have a friend with a gs who can pop the front all the time with no problems...
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: pizzleboy on September 07, 2004, 12:15:57 PM
1000 km checkup?

how about warranty?  1 year unlimited warranty on GS 500's.  It shouldn't matter that you were trying to do wheelies, as far a warranty work is concerened, but I still wouldn't mention it.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: pantablo on September 07, 2004, 12:18:42 PM
Quote from: pizzleboyIt shouldn't matter that you were trying to do wheelies, as far a warranty work is concerened, but I still wouldn't mention it.

it does matter. this isnt standard use and is considered abuse. i think the warranty says stuff like this voids the warranty.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: tdan553527 on September 07, 2004, 12:27:03 PM
No problems since it happened that time, I can still wheelie just fine. I will be putting on my new 15t sprocket this afternoon, we will see if that makes any difference.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: pizzleboy on September 07, 2004, 03:23:26 PM
Quote from: pantablo
Quote from: pizzleboyIt shouldn't matter that you were trying to do wheelies, as far a warranty work is concerened, but I still wouldn't mention it.

it does matter. this isnt standard use and is considered abuse. i think the warranty says stuff like this voids the warranty.[/quote

Who's to say that I don't take off full throttle all the time?  

...but I get your point.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: Blueknyt on September 07, 2004, 09:32:11 PM
Quotemangled and has been "sucked in


has nothing to do with axle being tight enough,the plates are spose to keep the axle from sliding forword.  i know i bent both my backing plates, and hammered them out and Moded them so it wont happen again, and yes i tightened my axle nice and tight.  im heavy enough that unless the road is slick/wet, when i dump the clutch the rear wheel does not break loose(unless im leaning over the front wheel) the GS has enough rotating Mass in its drivetrain/crank line that it will snatch the chain and rear sprocket, it will bend those plates very easy.  i cut some angle IRON and welded it to the plates outside (after flatening back out) and drilled a hole through it for the bolts to poke through. these have NOT bent.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: Hazmat on September 08, 2004, 04:40:57 AM
The same thing happened to my 500F.  I ordered a new one ($9) and put it in.  But before that I decided to measure the width of the swingarms end that the cap covers.  The side that bent is actually 4 mm wider than the other.  I informed the dealer and he said to drop by once I get the new one on and he will have a look at how it seats in the arm.  If it doesnt sit well in their he will call Suzuki and see if they will replace the swing arm.  

So measure your gap to see.
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: yo407 on September 09, 2004, 02:32:38 PM
So sounds like I need to measure or reinforce but i've been warned by the dealer not to touch anything or else they will void the warranty, but i want to wheelie dammit

also is it possible to reinforce the plate by just adding another plate to both sides?? seems to me that should do the trick and pretty cheap if those plates are 9$

the dealer makes me nervous though so i don't know what to do...i don't even want to take the plates off to measure the gaps

any suggestions?
Title: being screwed by the dealer...
Post by: Hazmat on September 10, 2004, 08:23:06 AM
You should be able to measure the width without removing them.  It is a little ackward, but can be done.  If your not comfortable doing it, just bring it to the dealer and see if they can check for you.   I have a great dealer in that I have had some problems and they have done checks and things for me without any charge, but I don't  know if your's will do the same.  Tell them you know someone with the same problem and the swingarm is not up to snuff and maybe they'll check.  

If you have a caliper, it's simple.  If not just use a measuring tape that has centimeters so the divisions are smaller and more accurate.  Also, feel under the swingarm at the back.  Their is a drain hole near the end, and between the hole and the end of the arm I have a small kink in which the metal is pushed up into the arm. I assume this is why my arm is blotted in the center.

Let me know how things go,  Good Luck.