July 31st, 2011, 01:56 PM
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#20 |
Member
Joined: Apr 2011 From: Cobble Hill,BC Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 I Ride: | Re: What is the failure rate and cause of FE450 fuel pumps?
Let me go a little off topic for a moment. Think you have had problems? Think you have bought a lemon? Here is my short history with my new 2011 FE450:
1. Fuel pump failed completely after two and a half hours.
2. Handle bar clamp recall.
3. Stripped upper and underside bolts in the sub frame assembly. Sub frame replaced.
4. Bike goes in for fifteen hour service. Oil is replaced. Engine is started and is now making a horrible noise. Engine is torn apart. Explanation from service "engine spit a shim associated with the exhaust valve. Valve spring, shim, shim holder, and rocker damaged". After almost another two week wait for parts, bike was finally fixed yesterday.
5. If anyone from Husaberg thinks any of this is not factual, check you service database. VIN is VBKHAM405BM390329.
5. Stay tuned. Entire matter is at my lawyers. Keep my fingers crossed? Wait for the next failure ? Or spend money now at the lawyers?
Now, back on topic with some interesting gossip. Now this is gossip from a few sources, but don't flame me, go beat on your dealer to discover the truth. I know that Husaberg / KTM and several dealers regularly read this forum.
Husaberg / KTM admitted to least some of their dealers in the past week that there is a problem with most of the fuel pumps delivered to date. This is referred to as the sticking / stuck impeller problem.
So, if this is more than gossip, the challenge is up to Husaberg / KTM to come clean with their customers that buy their products (read "junk") and pay their salaries.
There are many unanswered questions. For examples,
1. Which of the many versions of these fuel pumps delivered to date are potentially bad? By versions I mean the ones with a black end, the brown end, the ones that say made in China, made in Austria, made in Italy, etc. Is there a date after which the pump was manufactured that the pump can be assumed to be good?
2. For the recently delivered fuel pumps that many of us waited for weeks on back order, are these pumps good or still potentially bad? Are these still a ticking time bomb that could fail and leave you stranded?
3. Is there going to be a general fuel pump recall as Aprilia did quietly on their affected models through the 2010 model year?
Don't be too hard on your dealer. They can only do so much when the manufacturer delivers junk.
Cheers,
Blaine
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