Harland Sharpe rocker arm failure....
#1
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From: Estero, FL
Harland Sharpe rocker arm failure....
I just got through running the Pony express 130 Open Road Race in Battle Mountain NV. I was running the Harland Sharpe 1:7 rocker arms for the event. Prior to the event the rockers had less than 200 miles put on them.
During my practice run one of the bolts sheered forcing the rocker and shaft at a downward angle into its partner rocker arm splitting the trunion in 3 different directions. During the process it tore the windage tray in the valve cover and beat the corner of one of the valve stems to hell.
This valve train was checked, rechecked and checked again prior to the run just because I was possitive that I was probably the first person that would be running them this hard. It is pretty obvious that the bolt sheering was the culprit of the problem.
When we got back from the event I call HS and explain what happened. The Customer Serivice guy tells me "yeah, the first batch of rockers we sent out had weaker bolts because we had them turned down for a better fit." THEN, he tells me he will SELL ME THE REPLACEMENTS!!!!! this is right after he just tells me that he KNOWS that the bolts were weak!
I was hoping that HS would be able to stand behind thier product on this. I guess not. I will more than likely have to purchase the replacements from him just to have a complete set, only to turn around and sell them to someone else. I will not run parts that the manufacturer cant even stand behind.
Here are the pics of the busted stuff
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/f80cc478.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/f80cc468.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f80cc46c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...5/f80cc47b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f80cc481.jpg
During my practice run one of the bolts sheered forcing the rocker and shaft at a downward angle into its partner rocker arm splitting the trunion in 3 different directions. During the process it tore the windage tray in the valve cover and beat the corner of one of the valve stems to hell.
This valve train was checked, rechecked and checked again prior to the run just because I was possitive that I was probably the first person that would be running them this hard. It is pretty obvious that the bolt sheering was the culprit of the problem.
When we got back from the event I call HS and explain what happened. The Customer Serivice guy tells me "yeah, the first batch of rockers we sent out had weaker bolts because we had them turned down for a better fit." THEN, he tells me he will SELL ME THE REPLACEMENTS!!!!! this is right after he just tells me that he KNOWS that the bolts were weak!
I was hoping that HS would be able to stand behind thier product on this. I guess not. I will more than likely have to purchase the replacements from him just to have a complete set, only to turn around and sell them to someone else. I will not run parts that the manufacturer cant even stand behind.
Here are the pics of the busted stuff
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/f80cc478.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/f80cc468.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f80cc46c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...5/f80cc47b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f80cc481.jpg
#4
Originally Posted by NataSS Inc
If the tops of your bolts are silver they have been turned down for a better fit. those are the first run. If the are black on top, they havent been turned down.
really sorry about your luck though, that definitely sucks and is enough to destroy one's confidence in a given product.
#5
They KNEW they were defective and are trying to make you pay for replacements?
Me thinks you should be talking to someone higher up the food chain. If that doesn't work, post this on 30 car boards. And in your signature.
Me thinks you should be talking to someone higher up the food chain. If that doesn't work, post this on 30 car boards. And in your signature.
#7
Originally Posted by Country Boy
The pics arent working anymore Imiagestation wont let you hot link for long and they stop it It says "Forbidden"
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#8
Holy ****!! That's terrible. Damn, my overpriced Yella Terra's don't make me feel so bad now at all. I broke one of them a while back (my fault) and they sent me another with no questions asked.
#9
Originally Posted by Country Boy
The pics arent working anymore Imiagestation wont let you hot link for long and they stop it It says "Forbidden"
I don't understand why they wouldn't replace them. It would be great customer relations- I just ordered a set.
#11
That's bullshit dude, I hate it when companies know something is defective, ie: the bolts are weak, and first off DON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR WARNING TO CUSTOMERS!!!!! and then secondly don't stand behind their fuckup and product. What dipshits, sorry you have to go through this, I would get new ones, sell those and bad mouth the **** out of them, a bad comment/review and problem REALLY hurts a business!!!
#13
That's BS. What kind of customer service is that ?
Maybe talk to the vendor you purchased them from and get them envolved ? Maybe they can talk to someone higher up than the help desk monkey ?
Good luck getting things straightened out.
Bad30th
Maybe talk to the vendor you purchased them from and get them envolved ? Maybe they can talk to someone higher up than the help desk monkey ?
Good luck getting things straightened out.
Bad30th
#14
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From: Arlington, TX Congestion City
That is bullshit. I'd call and talk to a different rep. Or even better if you bought it with a CC dispute the charges, and get your damn money back. Then send them back and by another set with the new bolts supplied Either way good luck.
#15
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From: Estero, FL
I got them trhough a sponsor here and I dont want to get him mixed up in this. He did a great job on helping me get these things dialed in and ALWAYS returned my calls. He has offered to get involved and clear things up.
#16
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From: Estero, FL
Just got off the phone with Randy (owner of HS) and he is sending me a replacement set at no charge. Looks like HS is willing to stand behind thier stuff. He said that is the first time in 20 years he had ever seen one of those bolts sheer in half like that.
#19
Originally Posted by NataSS Inc
Looks like HS is willing to stand behind thier stuff. He said that is the first time in 20 years he had ever seen one of those bolts sheer in half like that.
#20
Thread Starter
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From: Estero, FL
Aparently they had to trim the bolts a little bit to get them to fit better in the rocker arm. They took a very minimal amount out and it was only around the bolt head. He was suprised to see the bolt sheered where the threads started. He was expecting to see the bolt sheed at the head. He told me that it would take 14,000lbs of sheering force to break the bolt where mine busted. Randy said it was the fist time in 20 years he has seen one of the bolts he uses sheered like that.