Stamford Boss Hoss & Nesco (LONG)

4122 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Zenbiker, Mar 14, 2004

V-MAN

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2004

I have been getting real anxious to leave the cold and head down to Daytona for a couple weeks now. This winter has been terribly cold so far and I have just had enough!

Last week before an expected big storm I wanted to move the Boss out of the garage and back it in place ... make it easier to load into the trailer when the time finaly comes. Once I backed the bike out of the garage (did not use reverse because drive slopes down) I got her lined up and put the trans into reverse to back up the drive into the garage ... NOTHING! I ended up pulling back in the garage nose first :x

I had already decided that I would never have my bike touched by the dealer I purchased it from ... NEVER. I had just spoken with Debbie and Bruce from Stamford Boss Hoss a week prior at a motorcycle show they were at. I was impressed with the bikes they had built and was impressed by their knowledge of the Boss when I talked to them. They were close to the top of "who" I could call for some help.

I called and spoke to Debbie, Bruce and Kevin a bunch of times. Kevin was in touch with Nesco the same time. I tried everything they suggested and checked everything they suggested. I still had ... NOTHING After trying everything possible here at the house (they were trying to save me the 4.5 - 5 hour trip south) with no promising results they (Stamford) moved their entire schedule around to squeeze me in! These are great people and an awesome dealership

I made the trip down yesterday and waited while Kevin did all the same steps he had given to me on the phone. He made the call to Nesco and spoke to Jim Calloway. He explained that the bike needs fixed before Daytona ... Jim said "no problem" get the transmission to him and he will turn it out in a day! Now Kevin, Bruce and Debbie have a ton of service work stacked up, new bikes to go out, new bikes being built including some very "special" bikes for Daytona YET ... get this ... Kevin was going to stay as long as needed yesterday to pulll the transmission and get it crated for shipping TODAY!

So three days down, one day to rebuild and three days back ... The bike will be ready for Daytona in plenty of time! These guys are AWESOME. They even allowed me to leave my trailer in their yard so I would not have to drag it back to Maine empty then back to CT ... empty

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HogV8

· #2 · Feb 6, 2004

That's great that it will be fixed for Daytona, hope I get to meet you down there . I will be there from the 21st of Feb to the 13th of March.
Isn't your bike still under warranty ? I'm courious what was wrong with it also .

MBFsupport

· #3 · Feb 6, 2004

I hope you had them ship that high stall coverter while you were at it. :wink:

V-MAN

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 6, 2004

HogV8 said:
That's great that it will be fixed for Daytona, hope I get to meet you down there . I will be there from the 21st of Feb to the 13th of March.
Isn't your bike still under warranty ? I'm courious what was wrong with it also .

Jack

Yes the bike is under warranty until August so that was/is also good news! I will post exactly what the problem is once Jim gets it apart and back to me. Hopefully we'll met during Daytona WOW ... you'll be down there for a longtime! I plan to get in on the 29th and have to leave early on the 7th.

Don

V-MAN

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 6, 2004

LaMonsterV8 said:
I hope you had them ship that high stall coverter while you were at it. :wink:

Great minds think alike! 8) Thanks Lamont! The new #7 converter will ship attached! I spoke to Jim on the phone ... ANOTHER really great guy. He was not rushed at all - he spent A LOT of time explaining some of the inner workings of their transmission. Man I feel good, if it weren't for the snow and cold today it would be the "perfect day"!

HogV8

· #6 · Feb 6, 2004

Vman , would you mind telling use some of the things Jim told you to try to make your reverse work. These things might help some of us if we ever have a similar problem. I know they didn't work for you but I've heard that some of Jims suggestions have worked for other people . Also do you or anyone else know when they started using the new style reverse servo piston with a O ring instead of square rubber ring in the reverse servo piston ?

V-MAN

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 6, 2004

HogV8 said:
Vman , would you mind telling use some of the things Jim told you to try to make your reverse work. These things might help some of us if we ever have a similar problem. I know they didn't work for you but I've heard that some of Jims suggestions have worked for other people . Also do you or anyone else know when they started using the new style reverse servo piston with a O ring instead of square rubber ring in the reverse servo piston ?

Jack

He first asked me a bunch of questions:

1) When was fluid changed last

2) How many miles on tranny

3) Known time when it did work

4) Any fluid leaking

5) They were real concerned about the type of fluid used. I use the Mobil 1 MX4T 10W40 ... that was the right stuff.

6) Outside filter when replaced last.

7) Kinks in the lines

Bruce and Kevin from Stamford were the ones giving most if not all the suggestions as far as I know. He was in touch with Jim a few times ... not sure who's ideas were who's! With that being said here is a quick rundown of what they had me do:

1) They wanted to be sure the bike was at operating temps and run for minimum of 15 minutes or more. (torque converter will drain when sitting long periods) (this was already done but did again)

2) After the bike was warm they first suggested shifting through ALL the gears ... multiple times. (this was already done but did again)

3) Asked to check and see if solenoid was pulling in. I pulled the fuse the fuel/waterpump so I could hear. I just pushed the reverse button while listening low to transmission. The solenoid was working. If the solenoid was NOT working then there would have been an adjustment that could have been done. Kevin showed me the adjustment while I was down there. You need to remove the pan to gain access to the adjustment nut. It is located to the "inside" of the reverse piston.

4) Because the solenoid was in fact working the next thing to check was the O-Ring on the piston itself. If the O-Ring had been torn fluid would leak past and reverse would not. If a piece of dirt/debris got caught between the wall and the O-ring fluid could also leak past. My O-ring was in good shape and fluid only had 800 - 1000 so it was clean.

They believe (without tearing into the transmission) the end of the reverse band broke. I'll find out if that is what happened once he gets inside. You guys have been around this bike for awhile so you probably knew all this already! Kevin did mention the "old" style seal and the problems of them becoming lodged in the passages but I don't know when they changed. Hope somebody finds something useful here :roll:

BTW when I talked to Lamont earlier he told me there is another adjustment for the reverse on outside of transmission ... if there is one on mine they did not mention it - maybe because my solenoid was working properly or maybe mine only has the one point of adjustment on inside?

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HogV8

· #8 · Feb 7, 2004

Thanks Don, I think it is all usefull information. My Boss is a 2000 and it had the old style piston and ring and with that set up if you were having a problem with reverse you could make an adjustment useing the adjustment screw on the back of the trans. I upgraded my reverse piston to the new style with the o ring and once you adjust the piston travel inside the trans. by using the adjustment screw on the back of the trans.according to the instructions , you never have to use the adjustment screw on the back of the trans. again. I wanted to varify this so I called Jim Callaway and he confirmed this.

I'm sure most of you know this , but when you use reverse you should hold the button in until you are thru backing . Pushing the button in and out makes the reverse band keep opening and closeing and could break the band. Also I've seen guys abuse reverse by trying to back up a steep incline or out of a hole or something of this nature. Reverse was not intended for this , it was intended help you back up on relatively flat ground . Sad but true .

Well good luck with your repair.

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fasteddie

· #9 · Feb 8, 2004

sorry but very sad!! Pusing the reverse button in and out could break the reverse band. WOW!!! What a strong tranny they make. The reverse band must be made of cardboard. That is absolutely insane. Another fine cure for the Boss Tranny, it's the way we use them nothing to do with the design!!

NESCO and the Factory work great with us but we shouldn't even have to be in that type of situation. Dam get us a better tranny!!!! Stamford Boss people are absolutely super people!!

V-MAN

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 9, 2004

fasteddie said:
NESCO and the Factory work great with us but we shouldn't even have to be in that type of situation. Dam get us a better tranny!!!! Stamford Boss people are absolutely super people!!

Eddie

I think Boss Hoss/NESCO are doing a good job in the trans dept. Considering the power/torque these bikes produce and they had to build a transmission for it ... first they started with a clutch then refined to a one speed and now a two speed with reverse ... they are improving. I can say with 100% certainty that the two speed trans TODAY is better the the two speed trans from 2000! The seals are all different, where there used to be rubber o-rings (used to fail often) are now replaced with cork gaskets ... they are making improvements for the better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy about my problem with my trans but I do UNDERSTAND!

I knew before I bought my Boss (looked for about 3-4 years) that the transmission was the "weak" point on the bike. I decided for me the risk of trans problem was worth owning one of these massive machines! I love my Boss even with it's "not perfect" transmission. I expect the transmission will continue to improve and eventually it will be close to bullet proof as can be considering what we have driving that sucker! I just think we have to be patient ...

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fasteddie

· #11 · Feb 10, 2004

Absolutely no doubt they have made tranny improvements but still have a long way to go. Like you, I also knew before I bought my Boss of tranny issues and bought it anyway. Like I told other people and use the same analogy, I own a Boss, do all my own work, and therefore want the best possible Boss and am critical of their quality and failures. I enjoy riding it but also enjoy riding my other motorcycles. I would rate the Boss as pretty high on the wow/fun factor scale, though. Would I buy another one? Not a new one!!! Maybe a trike someday.

Take care
FastEddie

crazy_rick

· #12 · Feb 10, 2004

Trans

Vman,
Sorry to here of your trans problem but glad that you have found a dealer that takes care of you. I don't know of any Harley, Honda, Yamaha, etc. dealer that would do what your Boss dealer has done for you.

My trans has well over 30k on it with no problems. I hammer it in first gear only. The rear tire don't last too long though???

See at the Highlander.
CR

HogV8

· #13 · Feb 10, 2004

Rick , I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with a 2 speed with close to 30,000 miles that has never had a problem. Mine is a small block and I only hammer on it in low gear also. Is there anyone else out there with a 2000 - 2001 that still has their original tranny?

NcChopper

· #14 · Feb 11, 2004

Jack,

My 2000 smallblock had a little over 20K when I sold it. No problems.

Chris

Zenbiker

· #15 · Mar 14, 2004

Jack
I treat my 2000 small block respectfully and am on my third tranny. The first went south in 700 miles! Sent it back under warranty once, had ithe second one rebuilt with the HD upgrade the because it was getting sloppy. Quite frankly, the trans is an enormous disappointment. Would you tolerate changing your trans twice in 20,000 miles in your car??
One of the best things I've done with respect to the power delivery system is to go with the Coan torque converter. Has a stall speed of 2500 rpm and hooks up like a bandit. I wish I had the same confidence in the trans as I do in the converter.
We've debated the trans issue to death which bespeaks volumes about it's inherent problems.
Always having to be careful is not why I bought a Boss. To the contrary, it's because I don't want to be so that I bought it. A few power shifts will blow it up with ease.
Until the factory decides to get serious about the trans, sales will stay in the doldrums. This is the major weak point in the product but the factory doesn't seem to really get it. A trans which was reliable and added $500-$1000 to the cost of the bike would not deter anyone who wants the beast. Just My 2 cents.
Joe

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