Would you call this poor quality control?

[slofox]

So The Vixen went for a 48k service, including valve clearance check.

Exposure of the cams revealed a sad scene. One of the eight "buckets" - tappets or cam followers I guess - has had the hardening fail and has worn to the shithouse. And managed to munt the cam lobe as well. So up for replacement of both.

Given that there appears to be no lack of lubrication or anything else amiss, why the hell does one bucket fail whilst the rest are just dandy?

I reckon the bucket hardening must have been dodgy to start with. Can't see why else it would fail.

Wadda you reckon? Should I go firebomb Suzuki HQ?

[The End]

So The Vixen went for a 48k service, including valve clearance check.

Exposure of the cams revealed a sad scene. One of the eight "buckets" - tappets or cam followers I guess - has had the hardening fail and has worn to the shithouse. And managed to munt the cam lobe as well. So up for replacement of both.

Given that there appears to be no lack of lubrication or anything else amiss, why the hell does one bucket fail whilst the rest are just dandy?

I reckon the bucket hardening must have been dodgy to start with. Can't see why else it would fail.

Wadda you reckon? Should I go firebomb Suzuki HQ?

Worth a shot, nothing to lose really. 48,000kms though...they might argue that the bike is outside of any applicable warranties or guarantees.

[Drew]

The hardening fails due to heat and wear, not because it wasn't done right. If the clearance was too tight, then it 'rides' the back of the cam, overheats, and degrades real quick. It wouldn't have done 50,000k's if it wasn't made properly.

Those items can be re surfaced, and it's quite cheap to have it done.

[slofox]

The hardening fails due to heat and wear, not because it wasn't done right. If the clearance was too tight, then it 'rides' the back of the cam, overheats, and degrades real quick. It wouldn't have done 50,000k's if it wasn't made properly.

Those items can be re surfaced, and it's quite cheap to have it done.

Well, yeah - we'll never know about the clearance now eh...

I did think about resurfacing but the bucket is truly fooked...even resurfaced, I'd fret that it might fall to bits.

[Madness]

Bugger. I hope your kids are still feeling flush.

[Drew]

Well, yeah - we'll never know about the clearance now eh...

I did think about resurfacing but the bucket is truly fooked...even resurfaced, I'd fret that it might fall to bits.

The shim bucket wont be worth fuck all, it's likely the same part for several models.

Get the cam ground, prolly cost all of a hundred bucks.

[slofox]

The shim bucket wont be worth fuck all, it's likely the same part for several models.

Get the cam ground, prolly cost all of a hundred bucks.

I've already got one coming. Got a sister in Colorado to sort it - new part, OEM, same part No. $US50...cheap at half the price.

EDIT: Oh, the NZ new price of the bucket is over $100...

[Dodgy1]

So The Vixen went for a 48k service, including valve clearance check.

Exposure of the cams revealed a sad scene. One of the eight "buckets" - tappets or cam followers I guess - has had the hardening fail and has worn to the shithouse. And managed to munt the cam lobe as well. So up for replacement of both.

Given that there appears to be no lack of lubrication or anything else amiss, why the hell does one bucket fail whilst the rest are just dandy?

I reckon the bucket hardening must have been dodgy to start with. Can't see why else it would fail.

Wadda you reckon? Should I go firebomb Suzuki HQ?

Mate I would be making some serious noise with Suzuki NZ !! For something like that to fail at such low km's is nothing short of crap quality control. It worked for me. I had fuel problems with the bandit and road and sport(Suzuki dealers at the time) didn't want to know about it. They dragged it out untill the bandit was out of warranty then washed their hands....bastards....So I emailed phoned shouted and all manner of other things at Suzuki NZ and the following day I got a phone call from Road an ripoff sayin get that bike back here we need to sort it!! Worth a shot mate

[Crasherfromwayback]

Mate I would be making some serious noise with Suzuki NZ !! For something like that to fail at such low km's is nothing short of crap quality control.

Think you'll find it's nothing of the sort. If it was 'soft' or defective, as Drew has already said...it wouldn't have made it to 48000km's.

[Woodman]

What Drew and crasher say is correct. No faulty manufacturing or quality control. Shit just happens sometimes.

Is there an oil blockage to that lobe? maybe the damage is a symptom of that or something else?

[slofox]

What Drew and crasher say is correct. No faulty manufacturing or quality control. Shit just happens sometimes.

Is there an oil blockage to that lobe? maybe the damage is a symptom of that or something else?

The oil supply appears normal - in so far as you can tell without seeing the thing running...

Personally, I think it's probably just shit luck.

Anyway, I have sourced parts (new. same parts numbers.) for around $US100 plus freight (have a sister in Denver). Much as I'd like to support the local industry, I simply cannot afford to do that at this time, having only 20 hours per week of income.

[ckai]

Personally, I think it's probably just shit luck.

Like someone told me when I was a wee lad too young to understand, "if it's mechanical, it wears end of story. Shit happens sometimes".

It's a shitter but like you've said (and others) sometimes it just happens. One of those things. Asshole for you though. But as Dodgy said, no harm in contacting Suzuki and asking them. The worst they could say is "just one of those things sorry". You'll know then. No point bitching about it though.