Major Hot Rods Stroker Crank Issue

[udontknowme]

i dont see anything wrong with the rod. it just isnt machined down for a stroker crank. the only thing hotrods is guilty of is false advertisement i guess, for claiming the crankshaft is a drop in deal. you did say it swings through the bottom just fine but rubs at the top ?  personally i would pull the crank out and just grind the top front/back alittle with a dremel. while your taking it apart you might look at how much clearance you have through the full stroke with the cylinder and piston installed on one half of the case just to be sure you have enough. i wouldnt feel comfortable with anything less than .020", alittle more would even be better. probly have to do something like this

[Tbone07]

i dont see anything wrong with the rod. it just isnt machined down for a stroker crank. the only thing hotrods is guilty of is false advertisement i guess, for claiming the crankshaft is a drop in deal. you did say it swings through the bottom just fine but rubs at the top ?  personally i would pull the crank out and just grind the top front/back alittle with a dremel. while your taking it apart you might look at how much clearance you have through the full stroke with the cylinder and piston installed on one half of the case just to be sure you have enough. i wouldnt feel comfortable with anything less than .020", alittle more would even be better. probly have to do something like this

Is that a case-reed cr250 case halve?

[udontknowme]

Not sure what kind of case it is. JuSt for illistration to show where to grind

[rablack21]

Update: 1-14-15

Just got off the phone with Hot Rods. They concluded from their engineering department that they did in fact have a small batch of stroker cranks go out that didn't have the crank rod fully machined out on the sides of the lower part of the crank rod like they should have been. This can be seen in the pictures I attached and described earlier in this thread. They thought they had caught them all before they weren't out , but apparently some of them got out. So, if anyone else happens to run across this issue, hopefully they will take notice of this thread.

Now for the more interesting part, Hot Rods stepped up in a redeemed themselves. They were shipping me out a new crank with the correct machining and are sending me a return label to get this old incorrect one back on their dime. But that doesn't cover the money it cost me for the gaskets to put this engine together or paying my builder to install the crank and assemble the bottom end. So to help compensate for that, they are also sending me a full gasket set with the new crank, and sending my a bunch of Pivot works bearing kits to help offset my costs for the builder. They said they weren't able to send out actual money to compensate but could sent out some merchandise. I was surprised that they were willing to help make this right. But they did. In my eyes, they have righted this mistake and I am happy with their response.

[pinned250r]

Update: 1-14-15
I was surprised that they were willing to help make this right. But they did. In my eyes, they have righted this mistake and I am happy with their response.

So they stepped up, your turn. All those Whiney false advertisement claims were pretty neat. I'm sure you've never made a mistake Ryan.

[rablack21]

So they stepped up, your turn. All those Whiney false advertisement claims were pretty neat. I'm sure you've never made a mistake Ryan.

I'm not really sure what you are getting at, pinned. I did not bad mouth nor disgrace hot rods what so ever. And was willing to work with them. I did not accuse them of false advertisement. Go back and read again. There was a very large "if" at the beginning of my information. I would never bad mouth a company without getting them a chance to reconcile.

[thesmith87250r]

I'm glad they stepped up and helped you out . its good to here a company step up. taking care of a customer is not what all businesses do . This thread will not hurt them lol. Hopefully they keep up this kind of customer service.

[pinned250r]

The simple fact is , this is false advertisement and a design failure on their part. Just trying to pass this information on to other potential future buyers. I will get my engine taken care one way or another, just making people aware of this issue. Hopefully, they will recognize their mistake, fix this, and go back to their original process or alteast stop advertising these as drop in cranks with no machining required.

Reading things.....

[pinned250r]

Ryan I'm not out to make you look bad, just tryin to help a class act of a member out. Your opinion and facts are mostly  valued on here. Going on a rant is not in your best interest of being a leader

[rablack21]

Ryan I'm not out to make you look bad, just tryin to help a class act of a member out. Your opinion and facts are mostly  valued on here. Going on a rant is not in your best interest of being a leader

I value your opinion as well. I must be missing something. I really don't feel that I ranted about them, only gave observations and updates to a situation. I meant for this thread to be helpful to anyone that may run into this problem as well.  Maybe I am mistaken. If so, I certainly meant no bad feelings toward hot rods.

[rablack21]

Disclaimer: This thread is for information to possible consumers out there about a potential problem. This is not a "how to fix the problem" thread. This thread is NOT meant for bashing Hot Rods, though does show my initial frustration. I would never bash a company without giving them the chance to rectify the mistake. If you look at post #34 of this thread, you will see they did just that. I commend them on their customer service. They also mentioned that their intention for these cranks, #4107, are in fact to be a drop in crank without any case clearancing.  Just know that there might be other cranks from this batch that got out the door as well. So if you order a new one anytime soon, take notice of the previous pictures.

Update:1-15-15
I will take some pics to post of the new crank and rod once I receive it so everyone will know what they are supposed to look like.

[Hawaiiysr]

Hey right on. Its reassuring to hear that hot rods took care of this issue. I must applaud them. did you take note of who you spoke with? you should ask if they would possibly be a sponsor for our website. I'm glad they took care of your matter.

[rablack21]

Hey right on. Its reassuring to hear that hot rods took care of this issue. I must applaud them. did you take note of who you spoke with? you should ask if they would possibly be a sponsor for our website. I'm glad they took care of your matter.

I spoke with a customer service guy named Brad. Yep, they were willing to try to make the customer happy, and that goes a long way with me.
I didn't speak with them about becoming a sponsor. lol. Probably not the right conversation to discuss that, but it certainly would be a possibility.

[F-Red]

That's good to hear Ryan. :eagerness: In my opinion, you handled the situation, very applicable! :respekt:  It's the adversities, that keep you strong minded! :victorious:

[dem3500]

I'm not really sure what you are getting at, pinned. I did not bad mouth nor disgrace hot rods what so ever. And was willing to work with them. I did not accuse them of false advertisement. Go back and read again. There was a very large "if" at the beginning of my information. I would never bad mouth a company without getting them a chance to reconcile.

You didn't bad mouth them and at least to me, you never seemed pissed or demeaning towards them in any way.