ATTENTION ALL M50 OWNERS! My issue resolved! FIX YOURS NOW B4 IT'S TO LATE!

[vtbme]

So, any reason I should NOT take it to the Yami/Kawi dealership I have a relationship with? They work on most major models. If mine's in trouble too, would Suzuki not accept the report as "official" because it was not from one of their dealers? I'm wondering how it might affect the case trying to build be for a recall and/or reimbursement for expense of fixing this potential problem.

About how many dealer hours are we talking here? I'm trying to get an idea of what $$ to expect.

Probably will have them check this out as part of 4k mile service.

Of course...I"m crossing my fingers that my '08 might be okay and escape the case of the missing/inadequate grease.

Speaking of grease...sounds like I should be specific with the dealer and demand they use a marine grease...or would they have that on hand/know it do that anyway?

[burnchassis]

1 hour easy for an experienced tech with proper tools. I can do it in under an hour,so they should too.
My shop told me under 200 to have them do it.I paid 140 for parts,and 35 to overnight them.
The Suzuki USA hot line told me it has to be an authorized Suzuki dealer.
CS

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by vtbme

So, any reason I should NOT take it to the Yami/Kawi dealership I have a relationship with? They work on most major models. If mine's in trouble too, would Suzuki not accept the report as "official" because it was not from one of their dealers? I'm wondering how it might affect the case trying to build be for a recall and/or reimbursement for expense of fixing this potential problem.

About how many dealer hours are we talking here? I'm trying to get an idea of what $$ to expect.

Probably will have them check this out as part of 4k mile service.

Of course...I"m crossing my fingers that my '08 might be okay and escape the case of the missing/inadequate grease.

Speaking of grease...sounds like I should be specific with the dealer and demand they use a marine grease...or would they have that on hand/know it do that anyway?

Team Charlotte did mine. I have the DJ drive now. I will be sure to have it checked when I replace the rear tire some time early next year. BTW I have over 20k miles on the DJ drive w/ no problems.

[ozoner]

Not to be a Debbie Downer here, but how many people have actually experienced this problem. There is a lot of smoke, but how many fires?

In this thread, I count 2 or three total??

Just trying to balance the time and cost for taking this on vs. the chance that it is more isolated than we are all thinking...

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by ozoner

Not to be a Debbie Downer here, but how many people have actually experienced this problem. There is a lot of smoke, but how many fires?

In this thread, I count 2 or three total??

Just trying to balance the time and cost for taking this on vs. the chance that it is more isolated than we are all thinking...

It's easy and simple to check if your bike has the issue or not. If you want to risk your bike's parts rusting and grinding themselves to peices, that's your choice. The reason why we havn't seen many is because Burn is one of few high mileage M's on the forum.

[ozoner]

No disrespect intended! I am just trying to get a feel for if this is a 20% problem, a 50% problem, or an 80% problem, and if it is any particular years being affected.

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by Manuel

It's easy and simple to check if your bike has the issue or not. If you want to risk your bike's parts rusting and grinding themselves to peices, that's your choice. The reason why we havn't seen many is because Burn is one of few high mileage M's on the forum.

So is there a particular year, mileage or driving style that should be checked?

I've had an '08 for about 6 weeks now with almost 4k miles. Bought off craigslist...so can't really vouch for riding style or service. Although the claim from 2nd owner was that 1st owner did 600 mile service. He gave me an oil filter with it...that might have come from 1st guy, passed down.

I'm generally not a rain rider, but it happens...plus washing, etc. No garage, but bike is kept in a CycleShell...I'm sure it gets condensation there when it otherwise would not in a garage.

Anyway, I'll be having a dealer check it when it's time, so I'm guessing I might as well have them take a peek at this service.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by ozoner

No disrespect intended! I am just trying to get a feel for if this is a 20% problem, a 50% problem, or an 80% problem, and if it is any particular years being affected.

It's all good my friend, didn't mean to sound rude. I understand what your saying. It would be nice to know if this is year related, or only bikes from a certain factory are affected. But since mine is a 2006, and so many M50's are still low mileage like my own, by the time we see more of this (if more happen) my bike will be high mileage as well, and too late to prevent the issue. I have 6 months of winter down time since I live in canada. That's plenty of time to rip into the bike and see if I have the issue. It may not be rusty this early, but I may see some water in there, or a lack of grease.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by vtbme

So is there a particular year, mileage or driving style that should be checked?

I've had an '08 for about 6 weeks now with almost 4k miles. Bought off craigslist...so can't really vouch for riding style or service. Although the claim from 2nd owner was that 1st owner did 600 mile service. He gave me an oil filter with it...that might have come from 1st guy, passed down.

I'm generally not a rain rider, but it happens...plus washing, etc. No garage, but bike is kept in a CycleShell...I'm sure it gets condensation there when it otherwise would not in a garage.

Anyway, I'll be having a dealer check it when it's time, so I'm guessing I might as well have them take a peek at this service.

We won't know if it's year related until the newer bikes either 1: Get some high mileage and break. Or 2: Get inspected and find lack of grease or water inside or some rust.

[tbone57]

The oil seal, for a C50t, #09283-30051 OIL SEAL (28.4X48X15) $5.30, which seems to be a likely/possible culprit, as well as the lack of grease in the assembly, and not marine grease at that, covers the years of 2004-2009. So at least we know Suzuki did not change the oil seal for those years. So in my mind, the same seal that failed in the 2004/05 models, will probably fail in the rest, same part #!!!. Now, if Suzuki had changed their production assembly requirements at the factory, to the assembly at question from 2006 and on, and called for either marine grease, or at least any grease to protect from water, we can all sleep comfortably. Suzuki should be able to investigate at the factory if a assembly advisory had indeed come out on this.
I for one doubt it, as this is obviously a problem that they did not anticipate or they would have revised the seal also. RECALL-RECALL-RECALL. This SHOULD NOT COME OUT
OF OUR POCKETS!!!!!!! Even if the seal kind-a-works, unless there is adequate grease, (marine or equivalent) in the assembly, it WILL eventually rust when water gets trapped.

[vtbme]

Only at 3k miles on my '08 Limited, but I'm taking it in today for the 4k service and to have them check this issue. Bought on Craigslist, so I need to get the once-over anyway. Will post outcome...then we'll have at least one report from a newer, low mileage model.

[burnchassis]

If it is possible print off this pic,and take that to show them.

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...e-100_4777.jpg

CS

[vtbme]

Dealer said mine was "pristine" but they added a good amount of water proof grease anyway. So, as far as we can trust that, '08 with 3k miles was okay.

Took in the picture and some of the copy from this thread explaining what was going on...along with that phone number. Guy actually stapled it to the service order - that was impressive.

[burnchassis]

Let me tell you from my experience.That dealer didn't have that oil seal in stock....which means they more then likely didn't cut it off to inspect what was inside.I called every dealer I could find in a listing within 200 miles of cincinnati,and no one had ANYTHING drive parts in stock all was 3-5 days to order it.
I hope they did..but I bet they didn't.
CS

[vtbme]

Yeah I was kind of thinking that and meant to ask them if they had the seal in stock...letting them know that I knew it had to come off. What's a girl without a garage, tools, and know how gonna do? Went to this place because it was Suzuki dealer...maybe I'll try to ride the heck out of it such that I need new tires and go back to my regular place in a few months and get them to check it.

[draf]

Originally Posted by burnchassis

Let me tell you from my experience.That dealer didn't have that oil seal in stock....which means they more then likely didn't cut it off to inspect what was inside.I called every dealer I could find in a listing within 200 miles of cincinnati,and no one had ANYTHING drive parts in stock all was 3-5 days to order it.
I hope they did..but I bet they didn't.
CS

I had to wait one week for the seal after I placed the order at my dealer, so I can confirm too that they don't usually have it in stock.

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by tbone57

The oil seal, for a C50t, #09283-30051 OIL SEAL (28.4X48X15)

This part number ( and it matches Burns for his M50) was definitely not on the invoice.

But this was 09168-14004 Gasket...for the oil drain plug from what I can tell: 09168-14004 WASHER, SUMP PLUG, FITS MOST SUZUKI.

Guess I should go back and grill them because I'm sure they wouldn't "forget" to charge me for an oil seal.

The guys also kept referring to it and listed it as the "splines on the differential"...is that the same thing?

So If I've been following this thread correctly, according to the service manual on pg 143, part 23 which is labeled (and we've been referring to) as Oil Seal - should have been removed (ie the only way is to cut it so it can NOT be used and new one is needed) to even verify if the (25) Propeller Shaft and (21) Final Drive Coupling were adequately lubed.

The only other part number on the invoice is for the oil filter 16510-03g00-x07...which checks out according to another post on this forum, but oddly enough is listed as an oil filter wrench on Oneida Suzuki.

Then of course there is the mysterious "Supplies" (usually on any vehicle work) at around $11 and oil for $14.

So, based on this and before I go plead my case demanding at least my $62.40 (what the charged me to check/grease it) back for them not doing what I asked them to do:

Is there anything else they could have possibly "checked and lubed" instead? ...remembering that the picture of the shaft and coupler was stapled to the service order

Just trying to learn a thing or two here, fellas...thanks for your patience.

[tbone57]

The seal would have to be removed to; 1. Inspect the area in question. 2. Disassemble, clean and grease with waterproof grease. 3. Replace with new seal during assembly. I'm afraid unless they can show you the old seal, the only thing that got greased was their pockets. Report this to the service manager NOW!, and the dealers owner if you get no where with the service manager! If they offer to disassemble the bike, do not leave it out of your eyes, I'll bet they just greased the splines on each end of the drive shaft, not yet realizing the the problem uncovered by Burnchassis even though you shoved the evidence right in front of them before they even started! Get no satisfaction, call Suzuki direct and report the fraud if it indeed took place, or tell the service manager that you are having another mechanic inspect what they just did, because you don't believe it could be done without replacing the seal on the shaft, and you have many friends that will back that up with pictures!!!!

[burnchassis]

Take your final drive off ,and look.
You can have it apart ,and back together in 30 minutes.
The only way to see inside the oil seal is to remove it ..it is a 1 time seal,no way a dealer should have reused it...or possibly even could have ,and if they did ,it isn't sealed anymore.
If they did or didn't,you can clearly see upon removal
CS

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by tbone57

I'll bet they just greased the splines on each end of the drive shaft

Not trying to defend them, but if that is what they claim they did...they could claim "honest pay for honest work?" ...Even though they ignored the very specific written and pictured information that I gave them.

Just trying to think through the angles.