I'm sure most of you are familiar with me now. I've had some problems with the charging systems on the two Cannibals.

Mine is still running great. No more complaints... until now.

My buddy went riding tuesday night. He went up a hill, and when he came back down, it stalled. It wouldn't start. Only this time, it turns over fine. He took it to the dealership, AND THE ENGINE IS BLOWED!!! This thing has maybe 10 hours on it at the most. Now I'm scared. Does anyone know what could have caused this? I know he broke it in right, cause we did it together. Yeah, he rodded the heck out of it, but not until it was broke in by the book. That is what they are made for! He is super pissed, and I don't blame him. It is new and broke down more than he rides it. I just pray mine doesn't do the same thing!

 

As much as I feel for you and the one problem you have had that a **** poor dealer has failed to take care of....I think you are being a little ridiculous thinking that maybe your engine will "blow" just because your friend's did. That is like saying his wife left him, so yours might too.
Don't let a crappy dealer get you down on what is the greatest quad produced in recent times. I know all about **** poor dealers, I have talked with Cannondale higer ups many times due to this, but I don't think it would be necessary for me to come on here and throw mud at a company that has proven to back it's product.
Your dealer sucks, period. You know you have a problem with your charging system of some kind, get proactive and take care of it. Maybe you need to fix it yourself, maybe drive to another dealer; no matter how far it is from you. I live in Alaska and am left hanging as far as a dealer goes, so I am not blowing smoke here.
There are many reasons that your friend's motor could have went away, it didn't sieze right? You said it cranks fine. On a positive note, if your friend gets a new motor from Cannondale the charging problem will likely be fixed too.........JIM

 

Alaska,

I'm not trying to put down Cannondale. I'm sure they will stand behind this. I'm talking about reliability. So far I have seen none. I hope this changes. The reason I am worried is because I figure mine is made from the same lot of parts as his. Also, I don't think this problem has anything to do with the dealer (you are correct though, they do suck), they can't be blamed because the engine blew.

What are the reasons for failure that you mentioned? No seizure, but no compression, and a clunking sound when it turns over.

 

BTW, turn the situation around, wouldn't you be a little paranoid? I will not ride the quad by myself without a cell phone. Walking sucks. I love my quad when it runs. It is running fine now. But everytime I ride it I have the fear in the back of my head "is it gonna make it home today?". After being stranded twice, and my friends wasted engine, I think I have every right to be scared.

 

hey Black Bird, that is bad news. I'd be paranoid too! While these kinds of failures shouldn't happen, they do. they happen with every make too. My quad has not been back to the dealer since new and most of the 'dale engines in bikes and quads have been bulletproof. I believe i'd ride the hell out of your quad and if it's gonna break, then make it. I got mine October of last year and honestly expected to have problems, so I beat it hard and it has taken it all, with NO failures. A few small problems but all worked out.
Ride that thing and when he gets his back yours will be completly broke in and you will smoke em!
or you'll get a new engine too [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
either way you own a revoutionary quad by a visionary American company. It'll work out.

 

I had something happen just today of how well cannondale takes care of their consumers.

We have a customer who has an early Cannibal with a serial number under 100[wont give the exact #].

He drag races with his and after a run, right when he started to head back, the engine seized up entirely. We took it down and the engine is fried.

Called Cannondale and they are sending another engine AND the EC1000 upgrade.....at NO ADDITIONAL COST!!!! Everything is paid for by Cannondale. Engine and the computer.

I have heard where in some cases, the computer upgrade is something the customer is left paying, but not this time.

Many may say that it should be replaced if under warranty. True...but his warranty expired long ago.

 

Sooner or later cannon is not going to pay!! At this point they have no choice but to fix ALL problems. If they fail to they will be out of the market. If the quality does not get better they will have the same problem. I am not bashing here. I am sure the higher ups at cannon are bitching at there people also. It cost them money to fix what they believed to be a good product. Cannon does not want your quad to have problems for sure. Why are they having a lot of little problems? All outside vendors? or there own design people? I would be mad if my new quad would not run.

Knowsalot- does cannon pay to fix quads or just give the dollar amount in parts?

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]
BlackBird1100XX
Take the Quad back to the dealer and let them fix it.
You and your friend should have done that when your batteries first failed. You never had the problem diagnosed and fixed in the first place. The batteries should not have run the dry the first time you rode your quads. The fix was not to simply to replace the batteries and ride with your headlights on. Any mechanic worth a damm would know this. There is simply no reason to cause c'dale owners and prospective buyers worry about all of the things that you have been posting lately. If your dealer gives you any kind of runaround on this issue call Cannondale and have them handle the situation. You do have the responsibility to point out the problem to the dealer and demand that he fix them to your satisfaction. Again riding with your headlights on so you will not overcharge the battery should not satisfy you. I personally feel that you would cause a lot less worry and misinformation if you would get all of the facts strait about the problems before you post. For example exactly what "BLOWED" in your friends engine.
Anyway I will return to lurking now.

 

Blackbird,

I would not be paranoid about this. Something was wrong with his engine. These engines are very reliable. I have full faith in my engine.

The factory recorded the rpm's on an engine while it was raced. They matched it to a film and the rider went over it and was looking for mistakes....well a guy got an idea to load up the race details, and run an engine on it and see how the engine was responding to the "race pace". Well, they ran the engine nonstop for 100+ hrs without any failure! They tore the engine down, and it did not show any pre-mature wear.

 

I know a guy on his fifth motor. He gets a new one and goes to Idaho or Utah and starts climbing Sand Mtn or Choke Cherry hill. Doesn't break them in at all. ERRRRRRR!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]