Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum, and I have a question on the reverse problem in the King Quad. It sounds like it's resolved in the 2006 model, but is it the same fix as what was done to the mid-year 05's (replace the ECM), or did Suzuki do something else to fix it in the 06's? If the fix is nothing different in the 2006 model, then I think I'll save a few hundered bucks and get an '05. Thanks in advance your input.

 

They changed from a bushing to a bearing and added an oil passage to the reverse shaft. The later 05 models have this up date, but be careful I got burned by a dealer here that promissed it was the "new version" and it wasn't.

 

Thanks for your reply. Do you happen to know what was the lowest serial number of the 2005 models that have the fix?

 

On the '05 KQ's, all models with the last 8 digits higher than 52115956 have the new bearing fix.

It's my understanding that all '05's (even those with the new bearing) will get the extra warrantee against reverse failure.

Jaybee

 

Thanks! It looks like an '05 for me!

 

Cut from a longer post on another thread...

Dealers are still selling the early ones off the floor, and as of this message there are still early serial # KQ's in crates not yet unpacked! Dealers all play 'dumb', or else are truly out of the loop, but they love to tell you that the ones on the floor are all 'Fixed" if you ask about reverse troubles.
I am just now negotiating a new KQ for myself. Due to pick it up this coming tuesday! (done. Love it) There are after all, many many fine plusses to this machine after the bearing issue is put to rest.
Here's how my search went....

Me, on phone to dealer: "I'm going to buy a new King Quad and I'll buy it where I get the best price, What's yours?"
Dealer: (The owner, not just some salesman!) "We have it (yellow one, not my fave but...) now for $9299.00 plus taxes"
Me: "What about the reverse bearing issue. Is it the older one with the bushing?"
Dealer: What's that you say? (The eternal response)
Me: (Explains the old bushing, inadequate lubrication in some circumstances...broken cases...)
Dealer, "Oh, all the ones on the floor are fixed..." (!!!)
Me: "Unlikely. A dealer would have to remove the engine/transmission, strip it down and replace the engine cases with newer ones, as the new bearing won't fit the bosses in the old case. Very uneconomical thing for any shop to try. Suzuki's 'fix' was an ecm that limits throttle in reverse."
Dealer: "oh" ('dang' those informed consumers!)
Me: "Will you do me the favour of telling me the serial # of the motor?"
Dealer: (long pause) "552 100972" (below 115956)
Me: Thank you"

Several dealers later, all trying to sell me old KQ's that are 'fixed'...

Me: "...King Quad 700. Price. Serial # last 6 digits"
Me: (The bearing speech)
Salesman: Uh... Green one on the floor. 2.5 Warn winch included for $9999.00...113536
Me: "Too old"
Salesman: "Shouldn't be, it was built in May and got here in June..."
Me: "That's all you have?"
Salesman: (Seeing a sale getting away) "The ones in the warehouse are crated up and I can't read the serial #s... wait, I'll go on the computer and draw up the regs! ... Yeah, we can have a green one 118***"" And a red one 121883 and a red one 122115!"
Me "Start pulling the nails out of that crate of that green one!"

 

On a recent visit to a Suzuki dealership (not my visit from yesterday) =

Me: "Yeah, I came to look at the KQ; they sure do look nice and I've heard so many good things about them."
Salesman: "Yeah, they certainly are great machines......blah, blah, blah......"
Me: "So, has Suzuki gotten the reverse issue straightened out on the 2005 KQ, yet?"
Salesman: "What reverse issue?"

Me (or what was going thru my mind directly afterward): "And, you expect me to buy one of these things from you when I obviously know more about them than you do, or so you're making it sound?!"

LOL.....

 

Yeah, tell me about it. Back in June I bought a k/q for the wife from a dealer I had been doing business with for years. When I called to see if they had one in stock I asked if it was the updated model, and was assured it was. Now I had bought several quads from this dealer, and always felt like these guy's were good for their word, so no need to check the vin#. Just prior to signing the paperwork I asked again if it was the udated model, and was told by the manager it was without a dought the new model. Well needless to say NEVER TRUST A DEALER.
I got home and went to install the winch, and saw the p# on the ecm and knew it was the old model. When I called them on it, I was told oh well, nothing we can do now it's been titled. I will never spend another dime in their store, thats for sure.

 

Yeah, I'm not going to chance it. Will wait three months, or so, for a new 06' KQ (olive or black).

 

dshoe, I 2nd that. I just hope that for '06 it is fixed right not their simple quick fix that everyone is complaining about.