Why would a fellow snowmobiler do this to another

[redbull660]

My sons birthday is coming up so I decided to buy him a new/used snowmobile as most of us parents would do for our young kids. I found a 2008 summit xp for him, and it looked like a damn nice sled from the pictures and the way the owner explained it. I talked to the guy several times before making a commitment to buy it. He assured me that the sled was good and was in excellent working condition. I drove 560 miles to get it today. I looked it over and everything seemed good and he told me that the local dealer just did the clutch work on it and that it was like new. He told me that the owner of the dealership was a good friend of his and he knew everything there is to know about skidoo's. I asked him to please be honest about it and he said that he even helped his buddy/dealer work on it.
Well I got home today after a very long day and decided to get a closer look at it. I took things apart and you wouldn't believe the way the clutch was in. Completely shot, the 3 rollers were worn down to the point to where they had grooves worn in them. The ramps have lumps in them from the worn out rollers. It was the dirtiest clutch I have ever seen, but if you were to look at the outside of it you would have thought it was a new clutch, they apparently did a hell of a job scrubbing the outside of it. I contacted him tonight about it and he denies having anything to do with it. I do take some responsibility for this I guess cause im an avid snowmobiler and I should have looked at it more, but was I suppose to pull everything apart before buying it. Hell no, We are snowmobilers and we are suppose to have some trust on one another. I would post his name on here but that is unprofessional, if someone wants his name and the dealerships name I will pm it to you. I don't have the heart to tell my son that he cant ride his new sled next weekend cause of the clutch problem. I had to get a loan to buy it, now I have to come up with a new clutch. Me and the wife are going to tell him that the snow has melted on the mountain and that we will just have to wait till next winter, I cannot afford a to get all the parts at this time. The pucks were worn so bad that it cut grooves deep in the governor cup, the bushings are also worn down to the point that it cut into the clutch housing itself.

Sorry for all the rant but this pisses me off, why cant we be honest with one another. Its bad enough that we have greenies trying to take our sport away, now we have our own kind screwing us.

 

[polaris dude]

Man that sucks. You should check with the dealership he mentioned and see if they actually did do any work on it. If so, perhaps they will warranty it or something. If not, I say post the pictures of the shoddy clutch and a name. Certain members of snowest are good at finding jerks and publicly humiliating them

 

[m8magicandmystery]

well i sure wish ya could rent a sled for one day for the young fella and you two could get out for a bit...anyway you can swing that..??


then the silver lining is that you two can work on the sled together over the summer which the young fella just might enjoy as well..

yea...bummer...feel for ya, if i had spare parts i would be sending them but maybe some fella's will chime in..

 

[xc_rider08]

wow that really sucks! too bad he was just an hour or so away from ya.. u could cancel the check and drop the pile off in his yard. lol

 

[boone]

If I was in your position...my lawyer would be more than happy to give the guy a call and kindly let him know that he had two options, either cough up the parts or money to buy the parts, or refund your money and take the sled back, or...the conversation is about to become a whole lot more serious!! Lol

 

[redbull660]

I have decided to take the clutch off of my 2010 xp and put it on his sled for next weekend. This way he can at least get to ride it, we all know what its like to get a new sled and the urgency to ride it. I am going to ride our old 99 phazer for the weekend, this way he can enjoy his new sled for a weekend.
And your rite, the silver lining is that we will get to work on together, that alone makes it all worth it I guess. Im going to take some pictures of it and post later. I appreciate your support fella's, I will keep you posted on how things turn out. As far as canceling the check I cant do that cause I gave him cash. With the dishonesty out there most people don't want checks or money orders cause of the fraudulent documents so that's why I paid in cash. But, like I said in my post, its probably my fault that I didn't check it better. Maybe I should have pulled the clutch off rite then and there and looked at it, but hell if Im going to do that then maybe I should have pulled the engine apart also. Huh, where do ya stop. It will all work out in the end, all things happen for a reason and we will work through it. Have a good weekend guys and thanks for the support, snowmobilers are a one of a kind type of people.

 

[redbull660]

Here are some pics. Notice that on the cap that its so worn out that you cannot see the timing mark. Probably the dirtiest clutch I have ever seen.

 

[skidoorulz]

First of all don't lie to your kid and tell them all the snow os gone. Second that clutch is rebuildable. The dips in the ramps are engagement dips, it takes a certain amount of rpm's to get the rollers to come up over the hump. The paces where the buttons run look fine to me. New buttons and springs and orings will be fine. The black on the sheeve is only rubber from a burnt belt, that will clean right off. Not sure why you can't see the timing marks, I've never seen one worn off unless the clutch just disintegrated. Clean it up real good in a solvent tank, then use brake clean and scotch brite on it maybe some fine emery cloth in places. Looks like the big washer where the spring cup ride might have been missing you will need that and neww rollers and pins if they are worn bad. Also looks like you need a spring cup on closer look I see where the mark is missing. How many miles on this sled? I would use it and not buy a new one

 

[redbull660]

sled has 2800 miles on it.

 

[skidoorulz]

I just added a couple things on previous post. Check you bushings also they may be worn but at 2800 kind of doubt it. I don't think that clutch has been cleaned in 2800 miles. Might want to change the grease in the chaincase and check the chain. Check the brake pads, grease the skid, did you take a compression test on it. By the look of the clutch, that guy was a ride and parker. Where what town did you go to to get it?

 

[montanasledhead]

where are you located at I have a lot of skidoo parts and the tools
i might be able to get you up and running
i agree that clutch looks rebuildable

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I have some clutch stuff for a stock sled. Shoot me your address and I'll send you what I have.

I'm losing faith in sledders. As the sport gets more expensive, people start getting cheaper and screw over other sledders more often just to make a buck.

I will go out to the shop right now and round up what I have.

 

[skidoorulz]

I just looked up parts that I would replace. Without the cup they are about 100 bucks. The reason I did not look at the price on the cup is that the cup should not touch the face of the spider. The 3 bolts must have worked loose at 1 time and allowed it to touch causing that wear on the spider and the spring cup. If you want to replace the cup it is 34 bucks. Send it to Billings. I'll rebuild it. I have the tools

 

[redbull660]

Thanks for all the help guys, I do also agree that it is rebuildable and I have cleaned them before but haven't rebuilt one yet. The big problem is that we have a trip planned next weekend and I will be out of town most of the week so getting it fixed in time is the issue. I do have a friend that may have some extra rollers and stuff. I will let you know what I come up with. You guys rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My wife read all the replys from those you that want to help and she teared up. Thanks a million, I will keep you posted.

 

[Jeff C]

I have a clutch that I will offer to fedex it to you that you can borrow until the season is over. I will even pay for the fedex.

It is an 02' summit 700 clutch, but should work well on that sled.

You just get it back to me in a few months........

Our season is over for the year here in Minnesota.

Let me know your thoughts........

I want that kid to go riding!!

 

[redbull660]

Well we are going to be up and running. I guy who lives about 45 miles from me got a hold of me and said he had some good used parts. I went to his house and we got what we needed. He even had a bushing for the sheave, this one didn't even have the bushing in it at all.

I do appreciate all the help and offers fella's, this makes us feel awful good that there is people out there like you that will offer to help one another out. My son thanks you all also. At least now we can go riding next weekend and then we have all summer to work on it and get it rite. My hats off to you guys, Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Scott]

Redbull, where do you live?

 

[redbull660]

I live in Forsyth Montana.

 

[sno_mo_racer]

Awesome, great to hear that you have got it fixed. This is what the real sledding community is. The person you bought it from was just tryin to unload it and we all know those types, talk anything to make the sale, in his case, clean anything to make it look like a rebuilt clutch to make sale. From the look at inside of that clutch, you better take apart the chaincase and have a look inside, sounds like this person was just a ride and park as stated above. Do not want you guys to get out riding next weekend and end up having something break so also look over chaincase, sliders greased and check all bolts, make sure they aren't egged out. Cylinder compression make sure they are both within 10-15%, etc.

Enjoy the ride next weekend and have fun teaching your son the joy and pride of keeping a sled in top condition and for a real sledder, wrenching is half the fun of sledding.

 

[redbull660]

I did check the compression and it is around 150 pounds in each cylinder, I also checked the chain case. He had a 19 top gear in it that wasn't the rite one, the chain would'nt seat all the way down in the grooves when it would go around the gear. I had an extra 21 tooth that I stuck in there for now. I also checked the brakes and the pads are shot, the brake rotor has grooves worn into it. But its going to be our summer project to get it all fixed up like he wants. I guess the main thing is that we will get to go riding next weekend, things are getting busy for me at work so Im sure it will be our last trip of the season, we are going to enjoy it while we can. Thanks guys, have a happy Easter.