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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
| Well folks my riding a Victory Vision ended Sunday (luckily close to home). This is the third time the rear axle has shifted. First time dealer checked it out and re-torqued the axle nut, Second time ( if some remember previous post) happened on the way back from Grand Canyon and left us in Gallup, NM for a couple of days. Well after riding all day Saturday with 47 people ( Bama Rides.com) on the way home the rear felt a little out of line. So Sunday morning while attempting to scout a route for a charity ride while making a right hand turn under acceleration I felt the rear end slip ( thought it was a little power slide). Same result as previous 2 times Caliper Bracket loose and rear wheel wobble.My friends followed me home. They told could see the wheel wobble which I could feel through the seat. This morning ( Teusday) Victory dealer picked up the bike. After a Loooong conversation about Lemon Laws and less than 400 miles since complete rear end rebuild and returning bike defective back to Victory I got a call from dealer said the rear bearing looked "Milky". Wanted to know if I pressure washed the bike? I ( and neither should you ) NEVER pressure wash a bike. I have no complaints about my Vision, it has been a wonderful ride. But I will not except the same problem happening time and time again. It is up to Polaris now,so we wait and see......... There is a definite alignment problem between frame and swingarm to bind the drive pulley so tight it pulls the rear axle. I guess 1 out of a thousand or so isn't bad odds. I say this as a WARNING to all please check the brake caliper and mount if you can move it fore and aft your axle is loose and could cause serious damage to the bike and yourself. Thanks for the brief time |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | bamavizn, I hate to hear you had such a bad experience with the Vision. I'm trying to follow exactly what is going here as I have rolled many of miles on my original wheel bearings. But what it sounds like it is wheel beering failure, and to replace the rear or front sets would cost you around a hundred dollars through Victory or if you went after market, you replace front and rear for under a $100.00. This is something that should have been caught by the dealer the first time and to accuse you of power washing instead of replacing the bearings I would somehow let it be known the displeasure of them not taking care of you instead of canning the Vision. If they had to retorque the axle at all is is because it was working itself loose from the bearing grabbing the axle is the only reason I can think of.
It is a shame that your perception and experience of the Vision is based off a less than $100 part that is replacable in just a few minutes.
Edited by varyder 2010-07-21 4:57 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | a few other thoughts, is the spacers in right and on the right sides? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | varyder - 2010-07-21 7:12 AM
a few other thoughts, is the spacers in right and on the right sides?
varyder, if I was to guess, you hit the nail on the head with the spacers, as he said the calipers will move around. After all of this I would change the bearings, and also according to the service manual, you need to check run out on the axle. Good luck. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | I agree with the original post. After 3 times at bat I would invoke the lemon law, get another ride, and let Polaris and the dealer duke it out. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I'm not going to say that is not the case, that is, the lemon law. But it sounds like he's got tech issues at his dealer that is missing the obvious. The axle setup on the Vision is so simple it is amazing. A rod, a nut, a keeper, two small self-lubed and sealed standard bearings, two dust seal, two spacers and a spacer tube. All of it together can be purchased for next to nothing, same set up in the front, and yet over a half a ton rides on this, mine for over 77,000 miles without issue or incident all is original.
So, when I hear of these things I've very curious as to what might be wrong. All of this is replacable small stuff that can be done in less than an hours, unless he has a cracked hub or swing arm. A closer look should reveal the problem.
Edited by varyder 2010-07-21 2:32 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
| I have been riding and wrenching now for 40+ years and this is the first bike I have ever had this problem with. Several dirt bikes through water/mud and never had rear axle bearing failure!! Dealer says Check $ or New Bike Saturday.....we'll see. Takes alot of belt bind to move a torqued axle.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Alignment of rearend causing binding? Tire side tracking? Is the wear on the tire indicating anything? Just throwing out ideas.
Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Would you consider another Vision from a different dealer/wrench? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | bamavizn - 2010-07-21 10:16 PM
I have been riding and wrenching now for 40+ years and this is the first bike I have ever had this problem with. Several dirt bikes through water/mud and never had rear axle bearing failure!! Dealer says Check $ or New Bike Saturday.....we'll see. Takes alot of belt bind to move a torqued axle.
...any word? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 136
CALGARY ALBERTA | The wash question is a cop out by the dealer. How do you get the washer close enough to the bearing without lying on the wash by floor to see it.
Bad torque, bad bearing, not enough grease, poor grease quality. Victory knows that there are more riders than you with this issue. They need to look for root cause and an NOT an excuse.
BB |
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3rd Times a charm ??