Driveshaft problem

[steepndeep800]

Guys,
Respectfully. Do you really think Polaris does not know there is some kind of issue?
Since they do from the number of driveshafts being brought back to dealers, dont you think they are working on finding out exactly,
what is the problem
why it showed up now not in the spring
how to fix it properly
Then testing the fix
Then putting the fix into production
Then retest the fix in production form
Then issue a recall and fix them

This kind of stuff doesnt happen overnight for gosh sakes!!
I would bet they are deep into the process as I write this!
They will push there employees hard to come up with the fix and handle it properly as quick as possible. To find it, test fix, then produce new ones, test new ones will take some time.

So when a Car manufacturer issues a recall:
A: they have found the problem
B: they found a fix
C: they produced and have products or software to fix the issue
D: Its usually definetaly not 2 weeks after the first reported incident

I know you all want a piece of mind and want it fixed soon. Complaining about it on here wont fix it any faster, I'm pretty sure. If they issued a recall with no fix would that make any of you happier? I doubt is you would then complain about not having a sled to ride and no fix yet!
(the Pro is the #1 selling sled on snow they are not going to just forget about that or let that go easily, they worked hard to get there)

You have to understand if they issue a recall and dont have a fix for it or do and its untested and it doesnt work as suppose to or cant have parts for a month what good would any of those options do? I assure you its the same process any other major manufacturer has.

A big sign they are working on a fix is that they have not sent out new shafts for any of the down ones at the dealerships (at least that I'm not aware of).
Everyone just chill a little and in a short time all the answers will come out and I suspect Polaris will take care of all the problems.

All the little dives and jokes and stupid post really doesnt do anything productive but stir the pot and fuel peoples tensions.

When this is all done and fixed by Polaris, you all will still have the best mountain snowmobile ever produced to date.

 

[XFIRE800]

PEACE for FACK sakes.

 

[akgiauque]

So when a Car manufacturer issues a recall:
A: they have found the problem
B: they found a fix
C: they produced and have products or software to fix the issue
D: Its usually definetaly not 2 weeks after the first reported incident


Yep, look at how many people died in Toyotas due to "Faulty floor mats" It took them 3 years to get to my Camry from the time the recall was announced. It is questionable as to what the problem really was, but floor mats were a great excuse.

I have decide to wage a different battle by posting comments on their Face Book page and on every FB update they send me. It wont take long to get a response if 50 guys are posting stuff every day. I do not have a 13 but convinced my two uncles and a cousin to get one and am facing real issues if we blow a shaft when the snow comes.

 

[steepndeep800]

So when a Car manufacturer issues a recall:
A: they have found the problem
B: they found a fix
C: they produced and have products or software to fix the issue
D: Its usually definetaly not 2 weeks after the first reported incident


Yep, look at how many people died in Toyotas due to "Faulty floor mats" It took them 3 years to get to my Camry from the time the recall was announced. It is questionable as to what the problem really was, but floor mats were a great excuse.

I have decide to wage a different battle by posting comments on their Face Book page and on every FB update they send me. It wont take long to get a response if 50 guys are posting stuff every day. I do not have a 13 but convinced my two uncles and a cousin to get one and am facing real issues if we blow a shaft when the snow comes.

My exact point is: Do you really believe Toyota had a fix and just didnt want to fix the cars??? Really???

So you have had no issues and you say by saying stuff on FB or complaining on here you will solve the problem or get it fixed faster?? Really??
Its been 2 weeks, I dont care how good of a engineering team you have you wont find it, fix it, test it, produce it, test it, that fast.

apparently the Doo fuel lines are falling or breaking off and have to be towed out and there is no fix. So should all the doo guys demand a recall tomorrow, and have it tested and proven and installed.
That mentality is the issue, crap will happen, they will fix it, bad mouthing people or companies never fixed a thing.

 

[robb]

Whose liability is used if someone is injured ? If polaris is smart they should have a recall to stop use of the sleds before someone gets injured

 

[nuggetau]

Only 2 things motivate a large corporation, bad PR which impacts future sales and threats of legal action from the government.

I for one want everyone to keep up the pressure, because that is the only thing we can do to motivate them to fix it as fast as they can. If everyone took your Laissez-faire attitude they would just shrug their shoulders and say " if the customer isn't pissed, then business as usual boys".

 

[steepndeep800]

Your entitled to your opinion! I don't see it that way. If that was there way of doing business they would have just gave everyone bng's for 13 since they already had best sled on the snow, instead they continued to work and bring to market cutting edge technology. They easily could take is easy but they worked on new things. Now there is a issue now they will fix it when they know how and have it done. Bad pr doesnt motivate anyone to go any faster if its as fast as they can. Next time your working as fast as you can without mistakes at work and your boss says you have to be faster and perfect, does it do any good when your already going 100%.
Basically I know they care. You just assume they don't because there is a problem and its not fixed instantly.
Be positive! It's much better over here.

 

[skibreeze]

Your entitled to your opinion! I don't see it that way. If that was there way of doing business they would have just gave everyone bng's for 13 since they already had best sled on the snow, instead they continued to work and bring to market cutting edge technology. They easily could take is easy but they worked on new things. Now there is a issue now they will fix it when they know how and have it done. Bad pr doesnt motivate anyone to go any faster if its as fast as they can. Next time your working as fast as you can without mistakes at work and your boss says you have to be faster and perfect, does it do any good when your already going 100%.
Basically I know they care. You just assume they don't because there is a problem and its not fixed instantly.
Be positive! It's much better over here.

You sound like a Polaris employee. Constant negative PR will get it fixed faster than staying silent, and anyone would be ignorant to believe otherwise.

I commend all manufacturers for pushing the limits, but using consumers as guinea pigs is unacceptable. Car manufacturers put 100,000's of thousands of miles on mules before introducing them to market. The word I've heard now is that the 13 test mules were still using steel shafts. If this is true and they are selling these w/o actual time on the snow is ridiculous.

 

[nuggetau]

Your entitled to your opinion! I don't see it that way. If that was there way of doing business they would have just gave everyone bng's for 13 since they already had best sled on the snow, instead they continued to work and bring to market cutting edge technology. They easily could take is easy but they worked on new things. Now there is a issue now they will fix it when they know how and have it done. Bad pr doesnt motivate anyone to go any faster if its as fast as they can. Next time your working as fast as you can without mistakes at work and your boss says you have to be faster and perfect, does it do any good when your already going 100%.
Basically I know they care. You just assume they don't because there is a problem and its not fixed instantly.
Be positive! It's much better over here.

Self delusion often does "feel" better.

 

[Dam Dave]

Gosh............

 

[steepndeep800]

You sound like a Polaris employee. Constant negative PR will get it fixed faster than staying silent, and anyone would be ignorant to believe otherwise.

I commend all manufacturers for pushing the limits, but using consumers as guinea pigs is unacceptable. Car manufacturers put 100,000's of thousands of miles on mules before introducing them to market. The word I've heard now is that the 13 test mules were still using steel shafts. If this is true and they are selling these w/o actual time on the snow is ridiculous.

Where do you get your info on how many and what kind of driveshafts?
They all had the aluminum driveshafts and there were more than 13 running around. LOL.
Most had lots and lots of miles on them. The demo's ran for 2+ months and that doesnt include the others they sent out for testing. then they get taken back and torn down piece by piece for evaluation.

I dont nor does anyone else know except Polaris, but all fingers are pointing towards a manufacturing problem or flaw not a design issue unless they changed the design over summer (highly doubt that) .

Dont kill the messanger but I suggest it isnt a design problem but a bulk manufacturer problem. The ones that ran in spring ran just fine (smaller run on parts and more highly inspected). If Polaris cut corners and went with a cheaper manufacturer well I could support being frustrated with them for that, most times you get what you pay for.
I am really going out on a limb here but I'm going to speculate the blame will be on poor manufacturing tolerances. All the testing in the world wouldnt show that on test vehicles with the tolerances as they should have been.
In the end yes it comes down to Polaris having to fix it! but I keep saying it, they cant give you a fix that they have not proven or what would you be saying then if it failed before testing all the way, if your this upset now think how you would react from them not testing a fix and releasing it?

A bunch of people are begging for a fix then some machine shops came up with something they belive would help fix it but have not tested it, then some guys come out and rag on them for releasing something without testing it! Its a no win situation here for some people. No matter what happens from this some people will always be un happy so if it was me I would be acting like I believe Polaris is and find the problem, fix the problem, test the fix, then release it to everyone. I could be wrong but this is what my educated guess is.
I'm trying to be a voice of reason! Thats all.
Ripping into me does nothing, if that makes you feel great, well I'll leave that alone.

 

[eisen097]

I am curious why on Polaris' website they advertise all the new features of the '13 such as bonded suspension components, belt drive, etc. but they never mention the bonded aluminum drive shaft? They hyped all the new weight loss features except this shaft. That throws a flag for me. Note I do not own a Pro but have friends who do and I would not wish trouble for any sledder.

 

[winter brew]

I am curious why on Polaris' website they advertise all the new features of the '13 such as bonded suspension components, belt drive, etc. but they never mention the bonded aluminum drive shaft? They hyped all the new weight loss features except this shaft. That throws a flag for me. Note I do not own a Pro but have friends who do and I would not wish trouble for any sledder.

Because it was a last minute, untested addition.
If it was tested (properly and passed) then they would not be breaking.
It really is as simple as that...a crappy design...no good and bad glue, no in/out of tolerance....just a crappy design.

 

[rmscustom]

I am curious why on Polaris' website they advertise all the new features of the '13 such as bonded suspension components, belt drive, etc. but they never mention the bonded aluminum drive shaft? They hyped all the new weight loss features except this shaft. That throws a flag for me. Note I do not own a Pro but have friends who do and I would not wish trouble for any sledder.

I thought this right away so I went back and looked at the brochure, all it says is new extruded aluminum driveshaft and nothing about adhesive. Im quessing if it would of mentioned glue there would of been panic among some buyers... I'm not saying a glued driveshaft cant work but my common sense says that polaris's design with 5/8'' overlap is bound to fail at some point good glue or bad glue.

Btw I just got my steel driveshaft today, I cant believe there would be more than a few ounces difference between the aluminum shaft and the steel one... I would of still bought the pro if it was 518lbs. Just saying.

 

[Devilmanak]

I talked to my dealer today, he said something that makes sense. He said you can tell if your shaft will fail by running the sled on stands and seeing if there is any wobble in the shaft end. (Pulley.) That indicates that "bad" shafts are bad from day one and that they are loose from day one. Which also makes sense, in that it could take 50 miles for that hex to wear out enough area in teh shaft to let it tilt a bit and tear out the sides. The pictures I have seen all show a lot of wear where the inner and outer hexes have worn each other before finally blowing out the shaft sides.
When I asked if he heard this from Polaris (how to check them), he stuttered, did a yes/no type of thing, which kinda gave me an idea. But he also said that Polaris doesn't recognize an issue yet, which is what I am sure they are all supposed to say. Going to take a look at mine today.

 

[Hawkster]

Because it was a last minute, untested addition.
If it was tested (properly and passed) then they would not be breaking.
It really is as simple as that...a crappy design...no good and bad glue, no in/out of tolerance....just a crappy design.

That's funny , but just think if it would of worked all the high fiving and bonuses that would of been handed out .

 

[bigdave]

Wonder how many of burandts sleds have 13 shafts...or Adams... big fleets going to get steel shafts i bet...