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Pictures of the QuadAbusers ATV Swap Meet April 1st 2007
 

12/10/07   Helloooo....long time no update huh. Just been a few developments that I can recall. One is I have now upgraded all 4 corners of the quad with Crutchfield Performance shocks and the Precision Steering stabilizer. Man this was probably the best mod ever. I can roll over almost any terrain at any speed that I can pucker up on. Plus with the extra load capacity of my rear single stages (I got the dual stage on front), I can now load the 50 Gallon brine tank full.  Contact Ed at crutchfieldracin@aol.com / 706-931-2513 or see http://www.crutchfieldperformance.com/

Check out the links below for pics of rides since the first of the year.

2/3/07  Newest salt brine mod now documented. Small rebuild of site so pages load faster.

1/19/07   Update: Had a chance to try the system on a couple condo complexes. It works VERY well I think. Problem is we did not have the snow they were predicting. I want to have picture proof to go along with the write-up when I post it. Waiting for snow...and waiting....

1/10/07 Happy New Year!  For our next trick, I'm going to setup a salt brine tank mixing/application system. This is similar to the salt trucks you see that spray liquid salt solution to pre-treat roads before a snow, or to aid in ice melting.  I don't want to give it away, but I think I can use the bike wash pump system in conjunction with valves and tank to setup a system that can pinpoint spray in tight applications such as driveways and condo complexes.

12/23/05 BRP Snowplow over Ricochet skids mod online.

12/21/06 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! And an update: I'm currently installing a BRP Plow Mount System over my Ricochet Skids. The purpose is you will not have to remove the skids to attach the mount.  Should have it documented here in the next few days.

11/17/06  Just a note to wish everyone a big turkey day, and to say I do not document most accessories added to the ATV like the Ricochet skid plates and Kimpex hand warmers and Tamarack box and such. If I add an aftermarket product that doesn't perform or that I alter in a big way I might. I'll be adding a Can-Am plow soon and I'll try to mount it without having to remove the skid plate so that will likely be the next documented mod here. Stay tuned.

10/31/06  Observation: After the most recent Windrock and Evarts ride of 9 days, which I might add I had zero problems with the ATV, I feel I learned how the ATV wants to drive. Yes, drive. It seems the faster you go the better the Outlander Max acts. I feel like I'm "driving" this machine, rather than riding it. This isn't a bad thing at all.
 

10/7/06  So here we are on a little night ride with the Quadabusers and I roll  up a slight incline to a dirt road and hear something rubbing my right rear tire. I know there has been much talk about springs sagging and low ground clearance but have you seen something like this?

I'll be taking this to the local BRP dealer in the morning. Stay tuned for more info to come. As a side note, I ALSO found that the CVT casing is leaking. It's a sad state of affairs when you pay $10,000 for a machine that breaks this easily and requires all the upgrades I put in this thing already. I do like the ride but I bought this machine and expected a dependable ATV that will get me through a minor river bottoms ride at least!  

I am rethinking my whole expectation of what I want and need in a ATV. If I have to stay on flat ground, less than 3" of water, don't drive slow or it will melt down, don't go fast cause it will break, don't ride on rocks cause the frame will dent as easily as a damn metal trash can then I'll buy a bicycle. I take that back, most metal cans would hold up better than this stamped hunk of crap. I WAS intending to spend about 2 weeks this month riding Windrock and Evarts. I bought this thing THINKING I was buying a dependable machine that would not break at nearly every turn.

I have a lot more to rant about this, but I'll reserve that until I hear what BRP is going to do about it, Honestly at this point I want my money back.

UPDATE 10/10/06: My dealer says BRP is taking care of the damage under warranty. Problem is when will I get the parts? I had the next 2 weeks booked for riding for months now, dealer says keep my fingers crossed. Good gawd.....

Update 10/12/06: Went to dealer and they would not use a shock from the display to get me going since I did not buy the quad from them. I went to another dealer that sold me the exact same machine for more than $1000 less. I called BRP about the CVT case taking on water. I now have a case # but have not heard from BRP rep. The dealer said they would fix the case if I pay for it. I said I'd pay if it wasn't leaking where I said , against the inner CVT cover and engine. They refuse to do the work unless I pay regardless.

Went out and bought several domain names, outlandersucks.com, outlander800sucks.com, canamsucks.com and brpsucks.com. All are pointed to this page for now, if things continue as is I'll build a site just for them. Am researching a class action suit. Anyone interested in joining please email me at doneplaying@canamsucks.com.  Since it looks like I'll have plenty of extra time to use instead of riding, I'm thinking of adding a forum for others to vent about the mighty cantam. 

UPDATE 10/13/06 Friday the 13th: The dealer calls about noon today. Says that BRP called and they want to replace the whole shock and if I want to pay overnight shipping to get it before my trip they will have it shipped that way. My response was "you told me you had the shock shipped and it was to be here today or Monday!" I was not told they were going to replace shock PARTS and not the whole shock. Anyway he said and I quote "If you don't like it you can come get the ATV" unquote. Wait, it gets a LOT better....

I tell him I'm calling BRP and hang up, pissed btw.  So I call BRP and get a runaround and a 20 minute wait to be told the rep was at lunch, I leave a voice mail. I call the dealership I originally bought the quad from and he agrees to order the shock overnight, and look at the CVT case water leaking problems. He said if the part doesn't come in by Monday he'll take a part off a display. It gets better, keep reading....

I go to hookup the trailer and tell the wife to call S&S that I'm coming to get the ATV. I get there and there sits the ATV, WITHOUT the rear right spring/shock assembly. I tell the dealer I need the shock. He goes to the service area to get it and returns 10 minutes later saying he can't FIND the shock. I say I aint leaving without my shock as I was loading the ATV they come out and say they have the shock. THE SERVICE MANAGER OF S&S POWERSPORTS IN NEW ALBANY INDIANA says I owe them $65 in RESTOCKING fees for the shock parts that was warranted by BRP. I say I'm calling the police and that's what I did.  The cop on the phone said it was probably a civil matter and he would send a car anyway.

I decide then to use the $50 gift card this manager gave me because they screwed me at the 10hour service and caught them at it. Anyway, I pay the difference and leave. I take the quad 80 miles north to Pleasant Valley Outdoor Power where I bought the ATV and I'm confident they are going to do me right. WAIT, IT GETS BETTER!!!!

On the way home, Remy the rep from BRP calls. I pull into a Rest Stop and we have a nice 45 minute conversation about BRP, dealers, the general public and all the problems I have with this quad. Let me say this and be sure you read this part:

BRP IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT COVERS AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION! They are also VERY aware of the suspension and frame problems and are working on that. I REALLY NEEDED to hear that. So everything that the dealers tell you is what THEY know, not necessarily what BRP tells them. I told him there are hundreds of people out here very upset with BRP and the seemingly lack of response to problems we have. His response is unless an end user contacts them, they are not made aware by what may be too proud dealers to admit they may not know something and they are neglecting to report problems to BRP. They just assume the answers.

We wrapped up our conversation with him telling me that BRP would certainly make allowances if there was a change in plans to warrant a part and that all the dealer has to do is tell BRP what extra he was out, be it extra shipping or labor involved to steal a part from a display.

That only makes sense. Honest conversation. VERY REFRESHING!!! After this, I'd recommend a Can-Am to EVERYONE!  I can deal with faulty parts, if they recognize there is a problem and NOT ignoring or otherwise trying to skirt responsibility.

I do now hereby revoke, rescind, and or take back all the nasty things I said and did about BRP, Can-Am, Outlander 800 altogether!  I'm not hard-headed so much that I can't admit I was wrong. BRP can admit there are design issues and  they are working on it. However S&S Powersports in New Albany IN deserves a boycott and a ban from dealing Bombardier. Remy said he was disturbed about the way they treated me and will document their actions. He said the problem with bigger dealers like this is they can steer customers to other brands and still get sales. He did stop short of saying BRP will take any action against them. I can get over it.

SOOOO.....Looks like I WILL be up at the Windrock Fall Benefit. Look me up, I'll talk you your head off about the sweet ride and power of this BRP OUTLANDER 800 MAX XT!

I usually have pretty good luck on Fridays the 13th.....

Cheers, Mike       

1/14/07  -Added Fender Extensions from BRP
At first I could not see going that expense but after seeing others so clean after the same ride as I, I'm convinced.

26" Carlisle ACT stock tire between 26" Bighorns, yes they are about an inch taller!