So minigun, from your experiences with this paper air filter and from what the dealer has told you do you think an aftermarket foam filter such as the Uni or Twin Air would prevent this from happening altogether? I heard someone say that their KQ had the wrong piston rings and I'm wondering what your dealer said. So when you had it rebuilt did your dealer suggest it was from a bad filter?

 

My dealer agrees that the filter is the problem. He has inspected every filter and intake that has come into his dealership on a smoking KQ. He told me that on all of them, (at least 4), the sealing surface was clean. I think the "bad rings" theory is from a mechanic that was misinformed, misguided and speculating, albeit under good intentions. My dealer got my fitler covered as part of the rebuild and replaced it with a Uni. I talked to him yesterday and I can pick up my quad this weekend, (about three months). He wont sell a KQ unless it has a Uni or TA installed or he makes the owner agree to install one of the aftermarket foam filters. From what I understand, Suzuki USA has admitted an air filter problem but Suzuki Japan hasnt.

I know my machine had a bad filter and I will post pics if I get it back (when I pick up my quad). I havent heard of a single KQ with a foam filter, (installed on a new KQ), that smokes. I am quite certain that if someone had a toasted engine from a foam filter we would have heard of it by now (and everyone would blame that damned foam filter). Furthermore, my dealer has had a number of machines that smoke, (four as of September), and they all had paper filters.

 

Hey there. I'm the guy that was told by the dealer that my machine had the wrong rings in it. After talking to the suzuki rep he told me that statement was incorrect and that was just the mechanics opinon. The rep told me that suzuki does not know what the problemis. they are trying to figure out the problem at the factory. So that is all I can tell you. They put new rings in never changed the piston as they said it was fine and they put the old air filter back on as they thought it was fine. You would think just for the sake of customer relations they would give me a new air filter. today i received a new unifilter which I will instal soon. I just have to figure out what type of grease to put on it. It came with oil and cleaning agent but no grease. or should i say sealing grease, any ideas. My machine takes a few more cranks now that the weather is getting colder, and I hear if you complain they will change the ecm, any truth to this. I also know of two other machine that are waiting to get rebuilt soon. good luck guys,and keep the pressure on suzuki. they are idiots.

 

Just to follow up with another filter observation.

The filter, at least mine, does not FIRMLY seat. What i mean is when the filter is tightened all the way down, there is still play/movement. I wonder if this movement allows dirt to penetrate through the bottom foam? Riding over rough terrain would surely unseat the bottom enough to allow dust/dirt to enter.
My solution to this problem would be a re-desgn of the filter with a soft rubber element for the bottom. That would allow a firm seal and prevent damaging dust/dirt entering.
For those of us unfortunate enough to have this happen, Suzuki should be held 100% liable. Does anyone know who/where to contact and resolve this ugly situation?

 

On who to contact with our problems. This is a quote from the Suzuki website:

Who to contact if you experience problems?
Your Suzuki dealer can provide you the fastest response to your questions or concerns
about the recall campaign program. If you have any difficulty with this recall campaign
you may contact the American Suzuki Customer Service Department for assistance using
the direct Customer Service telephone line at 714-572-1490. Please have your Vehicle
Identification Number ready when you call. You may also leave a brief message at 800-
444-5077 and a representative from the American Suzuki Customer Service Department
will contact you.

I think the last number might be the most help.

 

For you guys that will be getting a partial rebuild of your King quad insist that they give you a new air filter and replace the piston beside the rings. when they did mine two weeks ago they replaced the rings and the cylinder but they did not replace the piston and they installed the old filter again. I don't know if this will have any long term affect on my machine. I would rather have a brand new engine instead of a rebuilt engine. I received the unifilter yesterday and I will use that instead of the poor suzuki filter. Remember if your machine blows blue smoke take it in to the dealer and have them do the compression check and a leakdown test, if it fails they better rebuild it, and welcome to the club of new rebuilt KING QUADS, good luck guys.

 

I've discovered that one of the KQ plants is in ROME GEORGIA. If anyone has contacts with this location, or can coordinate, i am willing to bring my quad up to them for inspection. I happen to live in Georgia and will trailer my quad up to them so they can see exactly what the issue is. Perhaps having a hands on view may eliminate further owner suffering, and fix those that are experiencing it now. The bottom line is that this issue needs to be fixed ASAP!

If anyone can provide guidance, feel free to email me: gladesteen@hotmail.com

-Mark

 

*bump*

KQ owners - Please dont let this thread die, this is serious! We are the ones that can get this resolved......i hope.

 

Well thanks for the heads up. I had heard about the filter issue on the KQ's in some other threads as well and I do have a Uni on backorder. Unfortunately I am being told it will be 3 weeks before it comes in[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

3 weeks with the stock filter won't hurt, just keep an eye on it and make sure it is tightened down.