If it is a 2001 model take it in immediatly and demand the dealer check the clutch parts...... the bushings and ramps etc......... i just had problems with mine which was three weeks out of warranty and was only driven a few times...........the problem after checking numerous other things was the parts in the clutch........took it in and the dealer fixed it and said suzuki would pic up the parts but i had to take care of labor, 250$ worth................

I went and picked it up tonight............I asked "What was wrong?"
The dealer showed me the list of clutch parts which were replaced, very lengthy.

I told him the machine was new and hardly driven and couldnt believe that they had been wore out already. I asked him if I should get rid of the machine if it would continually break.

He stated "Dont quote me on this but i think suzuki the way it sounds tried something new with this year and it didnt work like they thought. The new parts i got from suzuki and put back in the clutch look nothing like the parts i took out of the clutch which were broke, they look more like the old clutch parts from previous lt80 models."

Now when i heard this i was floored. Talk about getting the shaft, i had to pay 250$ for a brand new machine to get fixed when it was suzukis screw up but they would not stand behind it.

That is poor customer relations. Yes they picked up the parts but refused the labor.

The symptoms of mine started out to sound like a rattle also kind of like the exhaust was loose or something. I posted here and was told to check the head gasket, etc. They did all that and all was good. Thats when they found the clutch problem.

I was thinking of buying the z400 when it came out but considering suzuki's recent track history with this problem on my sons lt80 i think i will steer clear of it for now seeing as they would rather duck around there screw ups instead of facing up to it and taking care of the problem.

And yes it was 3 weeks out of the 3 month manufacturer warranty but like i said it had a grand total of about 4 hrs on it ridden on grass by a new 8yr old rider. No way this should of wore the parts in the clutch out.

Very poor on suzukis part in my opinion.

 

I take it that it was the front clutch? Did the brass bushing in the sliding face break? I agree that they should have picked up the tab,sounds like the dealer could have helped more,servicing the clutches is a 1/2 hr. job,I have it down to about 10 minutes..250 for 1/2 hrs. work is a lil high [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]