Aftermarket parts rarely fit right!!

[manlye]

Ok I guess this is a rant but why is it these manufactures rush products out and they rarely fit correctly? I'm tired of missing bolts, missing springs, wrong length bolts, poor fit and on and on. Why do we let the manufactures get by with this??? I have had this experience with several manufactures so it is not just one, I think from now on if it doesn't fit right I am just calling and asking for a return, maybe after eating the cost of several returns the manufactures of the products we buy will spend some more time in R&D and production. Ok rant over.

 

[CANNONMAN]

I share your frustration, but it is nothing new. For years starting in the '70's I had every fast bike and car there was and spent thousands and thousands of dollars in "UPGRADES" and "PERFORMANCE" pieces. Most of the time fitting was always an issue and it is the same today. Not sure why things don't fit as obviously they had a sled, bike, or whatever to use. I think they just try and pump out as much as they can to help the bottom line. Kind of like it's close enough, market it! It is very frustrating. With that said there is also a lot of things that fit perfect. Good companies seem to get it, but most do not.

 

[MORSNO]

Fast, Good, and Cheap Pick any two

• Design something quickly and to a high standard, but then it will not be cheap.
• Design something quickly and cheaply, but it will not be of high quality.
• Design something with high quality and cheaply, but it will take a long time.

 

[89sandman]

morsno I agree but most aftermarket stuff for sleds is ridiculously high priced and still doesn't fit correctly. something always has to be modified, cut, drilled. so I guess their motto is design something quickly and cheaply put a high price on it and sell it.

 

[Blown Motor]

While we do not agree with not getting the right parts, or having wrong lengths of fasteners, or anything that is avoidable etc. one thing that will never change is fitting perfectly. The problem that the MFG's will always see is that tolerances in mass production of these sleds we ride are not that tight. We have had side panels on sleds be up to a 1/2" difference in width etc, so from the MFG side of things it is hard to make a part that is perfect on all sled models when the variances are terrible form the factory. For example, take a look at the panel fit and finish on any new PRO Rmk. Some sleds they fit tight against the console pieces, others you can slide your index finger into a gap up to your knuckle.

 

[manlye]

Sorry I don't buy it, I have built several high horsepower car's, and 4x4's. When I pay the money for the quality parts they fit just right, and have the proper bolts and accessories included. So why can't the sled aftermarket do the same? They are working on a 50+% margin level at the distribution level. The same small boutique type performance shops I have purchased from for various turbo cars and 4x4's have delivered a well fitting product with about the same production run as the sled performance shops. Ultimately we just allow it to happen.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Shoulda bought an XM dude.

 

[manlye]

I did

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I did

Oh. WOW. I have never had an issue with fit and finish

 

[mtsummitx]

Boy that kinda backfired on ya didnt it PJ!!

 

[Blown Motor]

Sorry I don't buy it, I have built several high horsepower car's, and 4x4's. When I pay the money for the quality parts they fit just right, and have the proper bolts and accessories included. So why can't the sled aftermarket do the same? They are working on a 50+% margin level at the distribution level. The same small boutique type performance shops I have purchased from for various turbo cars and 4x4's have delivered a well fitting product with about the same production run as the sled performance shops. Ultimately we just allow it to happen.

You have very valid points for sure. Although, the 7k dollar twin turbo setup we put on a brand new cummins the other day fit nothing better than 90% of the parts we see in the sled world, and that kit came from one of the highest respected turbo guys out there. It did however have all the right parts, and pieces, but it was what it was. Could be just hit or miss, with companies that care to go the extra mile or companies that just get it done barely getting by because we allow it. Also installed a set of the most expensive UTV doors on the market the other day on a can am commander and they were so bad we took them off. Def hit or miss.

 

[kidwoo]

Why do you keep buying crooked snowmobiles?

 

[4Z]

here is a theory:

-Seasonal. Aftermarket guys have a small window to hit for a peak volume then dead the rest of the year. Leads to "hurry up" paces and if you don't, your competitor will copy and hit the market first. Makes having the capital available to hit that narrow target forces higher cost of production. I work in a seasonal manufacturing business, so I know first hand how tough that can be.

-Small market. None of the the folks making aftermarket stuff are getting rich. Labor of love is more like it. Think about how many companies are still in business that were chugging along since the '90's (when sled sales really took off)... SLP is the first that comes to mind....... Cars, 4X4, trucks, bikes etc. are much larger markets and a little more consistent. More of them out there than sleds and many are operated more often than sleds. End of the day, the sled aftermarket has way less pie to go around. Less money to be made (as a whole) leads to less resources for R&D, manufacturing capital and so on.

-Regardless of any facts or reasons "why". Many folks on this forum will not accept it. But, continue to buy from them because they have the same passion as the guys making it.....

 

[SnowmobileNetwork]

Disagree

I don't know what aftermarket brands your talking about . I sell over a thousand orders a month of aftermarket parts. I rarely get a complaint. I am very interested in the brands that you are having fitment problems with

 

[kidwoo]

Say away u go powersports, where might I get products from these brands you sell?

I've been looking for retail establishment away u go powersports where I might find such manufacturers.

Do you have any suggestions?


#annoyingsignature
#blatantadervitisingposts
#pleasestopthatflashingbullshltonmyscreen

 

[SnowmobileNetwork]

Click Banner



LOL

 

[kidwoo]

Click Banner

I'm having more fun punching and spitting at it.


You guys sell paper towels and computer monitors?


What's the name of your shop again? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

I don't know what aftermarket brands your talking about . I sell over a thousand orders a month of aftermarket parts. I rarely get a complaint. I am very interested in the brands that you are having fitment problems with

with all due respect and I am not bashing here but I have flipped through your catalogue and seeing the same old same old products that are in Kimpex or HPE or Parts U.S.A etc if you have somehow escaped fitting problems on many of your brands then I have a feeling that you are not one of the fella's answering the phones..

 

[m8magicandmystery]

I'm having more fun punching and spitting at it.


You guys sell paper towels and computer monitors?


What's the name of your shop again? I can't find it anywhere.

hahahaha...ROFLMAO..

 

[LoudHandle]

To Quote A famous movie line, "They FU_K YOU at the drive thru". LOL

I see the same things at work, I just spent two full weeks re-machining every part that came with a 1/4 million dollar governor upgrade for our three steam turbine generators at work. Not one part fit as it was intended to. Everything needed re-worked.

I think a lot of it is the disposable Walmart society that the mainstream public has embraced, few are willing to pay for quality products, they would much rather buy the garbage product ten times than buy a single quality product once for about twice what the garbage product costs.

As far as sled stuff goes, I rarely install the parts as they come anyway. I usually further modify even the aftermarket parts to further improve their function, fitment, and performance. Usually I can Build something better than I can buy it, there are exceptions but I screen them pretty well before throwing my money down.