F7 Meltdown!!! Updated DEC 06 2002

1703 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by BlackSaber7, Dec 10, 2002

bosssho

Discussion Starter · Dec 6, 2002

Well,

I just got off the phone with my Dealer and things don't look too good for me and worse for everyone else who hasn't already gotten their parts in for all the Engine Meltdowns.

CAT was supposed to have my stuff shipped today, but isn't even answering the dealer's phone calls right now so I am out for this weekend...and praying the cylinders arrive on Monday. If not who knows...but this is it for me beeing patient, I am now officially worried and very frustrated, and after worried comes pissed off. :angry:

CAT has also released the Back order relief dates for all the other cylinders adn get this...it's January 15th, 2003....you got it...more than a month from now and 1/3 of snow mobiling season is over by then...if it's a good year at that.

This is unacceptable and I hope something changes real, real fast...

Rob (or anyone with CAT contacts) is there anyway to find out about getting these cylinders sooner...like next week before we start missing the season???

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deanm

· #2 · Dec 7, 2002

Hey bosssho,

Who or what was to blame for your meltdown?

If it was your dealer, I would strongly suggest you request a loaner during your down time.

If it was AC, make sure your dealer contacts his district sales manager if things are not happening in a timely fashion. If they still are not...then have your dealer contact his regional sales manager.

AC does have a consumer affairs ph. # 218-681-4999. Make sure you have your vin # and keep track of the phone calls made and how much time is spent on the phone. lol

ods dan

· #3 · Dec 7, 2002

If I were your dealer...I would see if they would accept a replating of your cylinders....That could have been a week or so turn-around.

deanm

· #4 · Dec 7, 2002

Good idea tos...you can request a "rush" delivery of your cylinder. Renicasiled cylinders do offer a warranty too. US Chrome and Millenium are both good to deal with and are out of WI.

bosssho

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 7, 2002

My failure, and all other failures that I know of where the F7's are simply shutting down after 4-7 miles with the blahhhhhhhhhh...dead, is because CAT did not correctly tell the dealers how to burp the sleds and the rear heat exchangers next air bubbles which don't allow coolant to flow, which doesn't trigger an idiot light, but simply swells the pistons until they cease up againts the cylinder walls and cause instant death. Nice Huh!!!

I will print out this thread before I go on Monday and see about either a loaner sled or God only knows what...The thing is, for a dealer to give me a loaner sled may be an admittance of guilt, that I don't even think they are guilty of...I feel 100% that this is a CAT problem because they had little to no clue how to prep and break in these sleds due to the cooling issues. So we'll see.

Any other info that I should bring up to the dealer will be appreciated. All I can say is thank God for Rob and this Forum.

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firecatsnopro

· #6 · Dec 7, 2002

Boss, I was told the same thing on my back ordered cylinder yesterday!
I told my dealer if no cylinders were coming, He had better get a complete motor on the way!
That's what they did when the first 98 zr-600 were burning down left and right!!!!!!

bosssho

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 7, 2002

Thanks for the support.

Who else has had their motor go south?

What have you been told exactly for a fix and time frame?

We all need to be professional and on the same page so that we cohesively get this done right asap for all of us.

got snow

· #8 · Dec 9, 2002

My sled is down also. was told today parts are supposed to be in DEC. 14, I"m in Ontario if it makes any difference, and if it makes you feel better I'll split the gas to go with you to Thief River Falls to open a can of whoop ass as required. :wub:

Mike C

· #9 · Dec 9, 2002

First of all, I would like to say that I am very sorry you guys are having these problems and I really hope Cat steps up to the plate and takes care of you guys.

I would also like to know it these meltdowns happened before or after we knew about the burping procedure? I have run my sled on the stand and checked the heat exchangeres and the side and rear heat exchangers get nice and warm and everything "seems" fine. But I only have 3.6 miles on my sled. I would hate to think you guys heard about the procedure, did it, and thought everything was fine, and then the sleds still burn downed.

Or was this all prior to the "new" information.

Good luck and keep us updated.

got snow

· #10 · Dec 10, 2002

:blink: My engine failure involves the pto cylinder. Sled has about 180 miles. I can't vouch personally for the possibility of air in the coolant since my first miles were put on the sled in early November before the air pocket/ burping issue came up. The coolant level had never dropped and my warning lights have never come on except very dimly after pressure washing the sled :blink: .I'm sure that the water must be forming some kind of electrical path which dissapears after a couple of minutes of warming up the motor. The engine had been running fairly strong at the start of the ride but began to idle poorly and loose power, the sled also seemed to be using oil properly. After pulling the y pipe at the dealer you could see that the piston was badly scuffed and the rings were welded to the piston. The mechanic told me that the piston ring had turned and got the ring gap snagged in the ports. I'm no authority but looking through the exhaust port I could see no ring gaps therefore I can't buy that story. I want this put behind me pronto , this silliness is not what a person wants after buying a new sled !

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bosssho

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by got snow@Dec 9 2002, 02:46 PM
My sled is down also. was told today parts are supposed to be in DEC. 14, I"m in Ontario if it makes any difference, and if it makes you feel better I'll split the gas to go with you to Thief River Falls to open a can of whoop ass as required. :wub:

lol...I needed that

bosssho

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by Mike C@Dec 9 2002, 02:54 PM
First of all, I would like to say that I am very sorry you guys are having these problems and I really hope Cat steps up to the plate and takes care of you guys.

I would also like to know it these meltdowns happened before or after we knew about the burping procedure? I have run my sled on the stand and checked the heat exchangeres and the side and rear heat exchangers get nice and warm and everything "seems" fine. But I only have 3.6 miles on my sled. I would hate to think you guys heard about the procedure, did it, and thought everything was fine, and then the sleds still burn downed.

Or was this all prior to the "new" information.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Mike,

"We" are the reason for the "new" burping procedure...that should tell you if we came first or not.

If you did the procedure that Rob was kind enough to post last week and then followed all his updates you should be A ok. Lemme know if you have any other questions.

bosssho

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by got snow@Dec 9 2002, 10:00 PM
I want this put behind me pronto , this silliness is not what a person wants after buying a new sled !

I feel your pain. The good news is that CAT called my dealer and told them that they had enough cylinders, etc for everyone involved in this problem and hopefully we will ALL be ready for the official start of the season this Sunday.

got snow

· #14 · Dec 10, 2002

B) that sounds fantastic, by the way is that dog just sittin pretty on that sled or can he ride too?

jager

· #15 · Dec 10, 2002

I FEEL FOR YOU GUYS,I HOPE YOUR DEALER IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON AC TO MAKE IT RIGHT FOR YOU GUYS..WINTER IS HERE!!

G

· #16 · Dec 10, 2002

Sounds like you guy's are getting the typical dealer run around to me. I'd be on the phone with arctic cat if I were you. :angry:

Mike C

· #17 · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by bosssho+Dec 9 2002, 10:32 PM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Mike C

Click to expand...

@Dec 9 2002, 02:54 PM
First of all, I would like to say that I am very sorry you guys are having these problems and I really hope Cat steps up to the plate and takes care of you guys.

I would also like to know it these meltdowns happened before or after we knew about the burping procedure? I have run my sled on the stand and checked the heat exchangeres and the side and rear heat exchangers get nice and warm and everything "seems" fine. But I only have 3.6 miles on my sled. I would hate to think you guys heard about the procedure, did it, and thought everything was fine, and then the sleds still burn downed.

Or was this all prior to the "new" information.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Click to expand...

Mike,

"We" are the reason for the "new" burping procedure...that should tell you if we came first or not.

If you did the procedure that Rob was kind enough to post last week and then followed all his updates you should be A ok. Lemme know if you have any other questions.[/b]

Thanks for the info. I was just wondering when these problems had occurred. It is bad enough that these things are happening. But if you guys were aware of the procedure and performed it, and still had these problems, that would be the worst. I guess there was no way to fix, what you didn't know was broken.

I can only imagine what you guys are going through, and I truely hope everything works out for you.

bosssho

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 10, 2002

Got Snow...That is Mandi...She rides around with me on the sled and the ATV...she loves it...The Sled is harder though b/c her right paw keeps hitting the throttle...lol

Mike, thanks for the kind words, and yes it's one of those things where we got to ride early and blow our sleds up doing it...with the new burping procedure hopefully we will ALL be ok.

BlackSaber7

· #19 · Dec 10, 2002

Yeah, like john said, "WE" Are the reasons....

Cat has done a stand-up job on this, Ahh... AFTER they KNEW what they were facing. During my problems, It seemed to be a scramble to figure out what exactly was happening.

It does suck that it happened, but its the price you pay to be one of the FORTUNATE EARLY FEW.

thanks for keeping us happy, CAT.

h34r:

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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