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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Last Friday I hooked up a Trickle Charger to the Vision and noticed the rear part of the front fender is cracked on both sides where it's bolted to the forks. Sitting on the bike the left side has a small crack, but the right side is almost broken completely off. The bike has just a little over 1300 miles on it and this is the first time I've noticed this. I thought you all might want to check your fenders and I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you find. Thanks! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935 Rockford, IL | First time I've seen someone post this....
Is there any possibility that you may have bumped something with the fender? Or may have been bumped by someone and not know about it?
Is there any type of a mark at all anywhere on the front of the fender? Might be something as small as a hairline crack in the paint. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484 LaPorte,Tx. | Mine has small cracks on the right side bolt hole. This is not on the front (painted) fender, it is on the back half which is black, bolted to back side of the front fork. Cracks have been there a long time, I noticed them about 12000 miles ago. Dealer (service dept) said I must have bumped it with something that created the cracks, so that means not replaced under warranty.
Edited by VisionTex 2008-12-01 11:13 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144 New Bohemia, VA | VisionTex - 2008-12-01 11:12 AM Mine has small cracks on the right side bolt hole. This is not on the front (painted) fender, it is on the back half which is black, bolted to back side of the front fork. Cracks have been there a long time, I noticed them about 12000 miles ago. Dealer (service dept) said I must have bumped it with something that created the cracks, so that means not replaced under warranty. Okay, everybody stop what they are doing and go out to your ride and check out the back half of your front fender. If you see cracks my guess is that we are not all clumpsy clucks and that this is a defect that is warranty. Of course, i won't be able to check mine until quitin' time. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 12 Indiana | Hubby's Vision had the cracks too. The dealership took pictures and sent them to Polaris. After seeing there was no front impact, they replaced the fender under warranty.
Kathy |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Lotzafun - 2008-12-01 7:04 AM First time I've seen someone post this.... Is there any possibility that you may have bumped something with the fender? Or may have been bumped by someone and not know about it? Is there any type of a mark at all anywhere on the front of the fender? Might be something as small as a hairline crack in the paint.I checked the front of the fender and I don't see anything that looks like it's been hit. No cracks in the paint or scuff marks. So far two others at this time have posted that there fender is cracked. May be a design flaw. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | VisionTex - 2008-12-01 10:12 AM Mine has small cracks on the right side bolt hole. This is not on the front (painted) fender, it is on the back half which is black, bolted to back side of the front fork. Cracks have been there a long time, I noticed them about 12000 miles ago. Dealer (service dept) said I must have bumped it with something that created the cracks, so that means not replaced under warranty.That's where mine is cracked except mine is on both sides with the right side almost broken completely into. I don't see anything on the front of the fender that looks like it's been bumped. I called the dealer and he said to bring it in and he would send pics to Polaris for warranty work. I'll have to wait until warmer weather though. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | sugsmom - 2008-12-01 11:04 AM Hubby's Vision had the cracks too. The dealership took pictures and sent them to Polaris. After seeing there was no front impact, they replaced the fender under warranty. KathyI called the dealer and he said to bring it in and he would take pics to send to Polaris for warranty work. I'll have to wait for a warmer day. I don't see anything on the front of the fender that looks like it's been impacted either. It'll be interesting to see how many others have these cracks. Thanks Kathy! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935 Rockford, IL | So there isn't any confusion.....
I'm not saying that you DID bump anything or that you DID get bumped. I'm simply asking if there is any possibility of either of the two things occuring.
It might very possibly be some type of flaw that should be covered under warranty. Since the fender is installed by the dealer and not the factory I wonder if this might be an overtightening issue that is being caused by dealer technicians not tightening the bolts per specifications. I also wonder if there is a way to "diagnose" this to see if the cracks are from being bumped or from overtightening. My logic tells me that if you push on the front of the fender and the cracks get wider then you might be dealing with a "bumped" type issue. But if you push on the front of the fender and the cracks don't change then it might be an overtightened issue. Might need a magnifying glass to see what the cracks are doing. I know....far-fetched....but hey...its worth a try....maybe??? I mean if there are zero scuffs in the front of the fender and if the cracks don't change when the fender is pushed, then you have eliminated any excuse the dealer might have so the only option is to replace it under warranty.
Its one of those "burden of proof" type things. If the dealer says "you bumped something" then they need to prove that you did.
Btw....the torque specs for the bolts for the front fender are 16Nm (12lb-ft)
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | By pushing on the front of the fender I couldn't tell that the cracks were opening up anymore. The front is bolted down secure enough that it doesn't seem to affect the rear part of the fender. Could be that the mechanic that put the fender on overtightened and caused it to crack. Once I get a decent day, I'm going to take it to the dealer and see what they say. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | By pushing on the front of the fender I couldn't tell that the cracks were opening up anymore. The front is bolted down secure enough that it doesn't seem to affect the rear part of the fender. Could be that the mechanic that put the fender on overtightened and caused it to crack. Once I get a decent day, I'm going to take it to the dealer and see what they say. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | By pushing on the front of the fender I couldn't tell that the cracks were opening up anymore. The front is bolted down secure enough that it doesn't seem to affect the rear part of the fender. Could be that the mechanic that put the fender on overtightened and caused it to crack. Once I get a decent day, I'm going to take it to the dealer and see what they say. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | By pushing on the front of the fender I couldn't tell that the cracks were opening up anymore. The front is bolted down secure enough that it doesn't seem to affect the rear part of the fender. Could be that the mechanic that put the fender on overtightened and caused it to crack. Once I get a decent day, I'm going to take it to the dealer and see what they say. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Sorry for the duplicate posts. Don't know how that happened.  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 87 Lusby,Md | no cracks on mine. |
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Tourer
Posts: 506 Woodland Hills, CA | Just checked mine. At 5900 miles and no cracks. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | vic2004-08 - 2008-12-01 4:56 PM no cracks on mine.Ok, thanks for posting! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Wizard523 - 2008-12-01 6:20 PM Just checked mine. At 5900 miles and no cracks.Thanks for the post. Looks like it's only happening on a few bikes. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
| Try to keep the front end down.  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
| Mine has it also on the right side.
Bob |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Bikertrash666 - 2008-12-02 12:07 PM Mine has it also on the right side. BobThanks Bob! Well, there are 4 of us so far with cracked fenders. Did you just now find out about yours or has it been that way for a while?
Edited by Y_Soitenly 2008-12-02 6:32 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144 New Bohemia, VA | Inspected mine and didn't see any cracks. What gets me is the rear fender part is flexible on mine and find it interesting that it would crack. Is there another version that is stiffer material?
Edited by varyder 2008-12-02 7:29 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3006 San Antonio, TX | Pictures please. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72 Eyota, MN | Checked mine tonight and looks good with no cracks. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 69 Citrus Heights, CA United States | no crcks on mine |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
| This thread made me look for it.
Bob  |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | varyder - 2008-12-02 6:28 PM Inspected mine and didn't see any cracks. What gets me is the rear fender part is flexible on mine and find it interesting that it would crack. Is there another version that is stiffer material?I figure all Visions have the same type fender. I'm wondering if the flexing could be causing the cracking on some? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Joe H - 2008-12-02 10:46 PM Checked mine tonight and looks good with no cracks.Glad to hear that. Thanks for posting! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | rldr12 - 2008-12-03 5:09 AM no crcks on mineGlad to hear that. Thanks for posting! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 22 Arkansas | Bikertrash666 - 2008-12-03 5:30 AM This thread made me look for it. Bob Glad the thread made you aware of it. I don't think it would be good breaking off and going under the bike doing about 70. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102 Madison, AL | No cracks on mine. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 8
| At 6500 miles my front fender completely fell off the bike going down the road the painted portion that can be removed for tire changes, all the bolts were still tight the 4 mounting tabs where the bolts go through were all broken off no warranty on this they stated must have hit something which I didn't would known if I hit something or not on a bike, between this a few other issues in this short time frame that I have owned this bike will be selling or try to sell, Thank goodness I never sold my 08 Harley, 38,000 miles and never touched anything other than maint. Victory may have growing pains but this isn't helping them any, usually drive my bikes (Harley's) to around 80,000 miles just don't have problems. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 619 Southeast Iowa | tjjtande11 - You sure have some weird luck. A Victory with problems and a Harley without problems. That just doesn't happen everyday. Good luck with both!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 562 SC, Bluffton | Mine is good. You had me sweating. The rear fender, of the front fender, of my goldwing broke long ago. Lots of JB Weld holding it together. MANY of the Goldwings rear portion of the front fenders (not the rear of the front, just the back)have cracked through. Many of us, including me, had put fender extentions on. Bad idea in hindsight. If your read the gl1800riders.com board, you will find many hits.
Edited by g1nomad 2010-03-20 5:49 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Well, add mine to the list at 30K miles :-(
Marc |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31 Las Vegas, NV | The rear portion of my front fender for the 2008 Vision broke completely at around 71,000 miles. But I felt it because it lodged betwen the frame/battery area and basically I was unable to move my handlebars at all. Luckily, I had just completed curves at 70 mph and was coming to a stop when the handlebars locked. (I did not hit anything or have any obstructions that I ran over). I took it to the dealer and they said there was no warranty on this. I have noticed on my 2012 Vision the the rear portion of the front fender is now longer and cannot get caught between the frame/battery area if it breaks. Victory claims there is no problem and my issue was blamed on plastic fatigue. But why did they extend the rear portion on the 2012? It is definitely something that I will be watching for in the future. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| The dealer replaced mine at 30K which lasted 2 weeks and then cracked again. Both times it has cracked in the same spot which is right into the mounting screw on the left side. This time the factory asked for some close-up pictures and for the dealer to open another claim. I checked the mounting boss and its completely flat so I don't know what the problem is. I hope they figure something out since I'm taking off for a 10K trip May 1.
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 105
| When I had the rear part of my front fender off to have it painted... I took two 1/16" thick aluminum pieces (about 2.0"x1.5" ), drilled them to match the holes, and JB welded them to the inside of the fender. This gives strength and surface area to help with the stress where the fender mounts. Just an idea.
Ride safe,
Jim
Edited by V-rodder 2012-04-09 9:23 PM
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