701 steering break

[jpweeks173]

So apparently this is the first 701 quick steer to break according to Dave. The weld that holds the steering tube to the hood mount broke causing the whole thing to push down on to the hood and also breaking the steering cable. I couldn't pull the steering back up through the strap that secures the tube so I know it was tight. I ride half surf half lake on my rockered blaster. North Carolina surf isn't too big and I'm sure there are dudes going way bigger than me with this setup. Looks to me like the weld that holds the steering tube to the hood mount was insufficient but Dave said he's never seen this before. I already had my guy weld it up and made 2 passes so it should be solid now. Also went ahead and did a b2 cable mod while I was at it. Has anybody else had this issue?

 

[BruceSki]

Lol first one to break. That's a good one!

 

[Ducky]

@701dave .....you need to step up and make this right. Not only did your steering system break, but it also caused a steering cable to break and caused subsequent damage to the hood. This isnt a situation where one of your motor mounts breaks and you can limp the ski back. This is a dead in the water situation that could have caused loss of a ski, serious injury or worse.

This is where you step up like a man and admit the faults and make it right.

 

[modularjunk]

This is def not the first to break. I broke 3 of them until i threw itnin the garbage went to a UMI set up and never looked back. The welds on these steering systems look like a 8 year old welded them. I broke 2 cables and also 15 stitches to my face while i had it for 1 year.

 

[willcastner]

Really this is news to me? I thought this steering was supposed to be the bees knees. I am going to be all paranoid now. I have this steering, the exhaust tip for the carter b kit and the versiplugs from 701. The versiplugs leak wicked bad, the exhaust tip was welded like crap and the pipe is the wrong size so I had to make an adapter. I thought there steering was their pride and joy. If mine breaks im going to be pissed.

On my versiplugs I PM'd Dave letting him know they leak and he never sent me a reply so I took it as he didn't care. You get what you pay for I guess. I really hope he mans up and makes this right for you.

 

[Vumad]

So apparently this is the first 701 quick steer to break according to Dave. The weld that holds the steering tube to the hood mount broke causing the whole thing to push down on to the hood and also breaking the steering cable. I couldn't pull the steering back up through the strap that secures the tube so I know it was tight. I ride half surf half lake on my rockered blaster. North Carolina surf isn't too big and I'm sure there are dudes going way bigger than me with this setup. Looks to me like the weld that holds the steering tube to the hood mount was insufficient but Dave said he's never seen this before. I already had my guy weld it up and made 2 passes so it should be solid now. Also went ahead and did a b2 cable mod while I was at it. Has anybody else had this issue? View attachment 283366View attachment 283369View attachment 283370View attachment 283368View attachment 283371View attachment 283372View attachment 283373

Little side bar,

What do you have for a seat setup? A cut down stocker or something all custom?

 

[jpweeks173]

Lol first one to break. That's a good one!

This is def not the first to break. I broke 3 of them until i threw itnin the garbage went to a UMI set up and never looked back. The welds on these steering systems look like a 8 year old welded them. I broke 2 cables and also 15 stitches to my face while i had it for 1 year.

I figured this was the case. I've read a couple threads about junk 701 welds and the surf plugs leaking also. I did get the steering setup second hand from a member on the x, so I didn't really expect any remorse since I didn't buy straight from 701, but at first he said he would send me a new body and a new cable. Then goes back and says it's completely impossible for it to break like this. Obviously there are some design flaws. I'm not looking to get anything free out of it, just don't see how this weld could ever hold up (4th pic). I'm sure the weld on it now is way better than it was anyways (bottom pic).

 

[Dirtybird]

Should send Dave the last pic with instructional video from your welder on how to not f up a weld.

 

[jpweeks173]

Little side bar,

What do you have for a seat setup? A cut down stocker or something all custom?

Removed all the stock foam and cut down the stock seat base. Bolted a piece of 1/4" abs plastic to it. Used one layer of 1" under pad on the base and just turfed the rest. The seat makes everything easier. Only problem with it is it needs to taper off more towards the back because sometimes it will run your legs raw on the insides.

 

[jpweeks173]

Should send Dave the last pic with instructional video from your welder on how to not f up a weld.

In his last message he "recommended" I get my fabricator to fix it. Which I already had done so I sent him a picture to compare to his weld.

 

[SXIPro]

Those welds...LMFAO...look like a skinny bead of caulking. Wonder why it broke.......

 

[hooter]

I.m sure Dave will be doing things to fix this problem ,he has sold a lot of steering and its not like every steering is breaking , those welds do look small , but its an easy fix for future steering systems

 

[Fro Diesel]

Its still a pain to disassemble a running ski just to fix a problem the manufacture should have caught. I will be inspecting mine before surf season for sure.

 

[Ducky]

I.m sure Dave will be doing things to fix this problem ,he has sold a lot of steering and its not like every steering is breaking , those welds do look small , but its an easy fix for future steering systems

Doing things to fix his production problems in the future doesnt help all the customers that have already suffered damage. What about for the people that have broken down in the water? Had steering cables break? Got stitches? Is he going to fix those issues?

 

[willcastner]

Doing things to fix his production problems in the future doesnt help all the customers that have already suffered damage. What about for the people that have broken down in the water? Had steering cables break? Got stitches? Is he going to fix those issues?

I agree. Not to mention all you hear is them preaching about how everything has been "surf tested" and gone through "extensive R&D". Looking at the original 701 steering threads the welds look much better than this one. It sounds like a quality control issue to me and if that's the case he should be jumping to replace at least the faulty part and in my opinion the broken stuff as a result of it. Some of these companies piss me off so bad. They need to take a business class. 701 has built up a pretty decent reputation and they will quickly ruin it continuing on like this. Any product is only as good as it's customer service. If they were to accept responsibility we would all be talking about how, 701 is a great company and they even replaced your steering cable...wow, but instead we are all on here bashing their stuff because their products have flaws and if you happen to get one with a flaw your stuck with it.

 

[hooter]

I know what you are all complaining about , but i look at it like this , It is a dangerous sport , but it is also a very small sport , people trying to make parts should be encouraged , , I'm in no way saying don't do anything about a problem or issue , There is a lot of manufacturers that have made products , had faults ,then remodelled there faults , its r&d ,
I m sure Dave will be looking at the welds and the quality of it ,the steering was 2nd hand as said ,and there is no way to know what had been done to it previously , The best thing to do is make him aware , see what can be done to help out the bloke who's steering broke , although by the looks of it he has done a good job welding it back in place,and also see what happens with future steering stems ,

 

[jpweeks173]

Might be a little easier to encourage manufacturers if they tried to accept that their product quality is not up to par instead of trying to tell me it was a "collision impact" and to provide a "logical story"...

 

[Fro Diesel]

Most AU guys don't post here, they have a more regional site. So if they were having problems, they wouldn't post it here.

Edit: I have owned three of these steerings, and the first one had a good weld, I don't remember looking at the other two. @blaster800 but I am going to be quite upset if I have to remove this to reweld it so it doesn't break if I ever see surf again.

No one should pay a premium to be a guinea pig.

But I don't think its expected to be a warranty issue if he owned it for more than one year, or subject it to conditions outside its intended environment, AU. Its not the weld, its crappy 'Mercian surf.

 

[Ducky]

Hey @701dave ....I was there riding the day @jpweeks173 broke his steering. You say these steering systems dont fail even under extreme conditions...and that is BS. We have footage from that day, and you can see the conditions were we riding in. I would call them moderate at best. Just a bunch of sloppy waves. It absolutely failed instantly.

So the logical story is....your steering system failed in weak a$$ conditions. Man up...you know this isnt the first time.

 

[MADMAT]

IMO any member on the X that buys garbage and doesn't report it back to the X is as guilty as the scumbag who knowingly sold junk to a member of the X.

I had no idea about these.....maybe I missed it.

I have bought pure garbage on here and report it immediately.

You could save someones face or ski or money IMO.

Man I remember reading some crap about 701 in general and now I see why!

I would like to see people speak up on motor mounts.....I know of one that sucks ass but I always wonder about the supposed "good ones".

I am too jaded to try much of anything these days other than OEM or stuff with lots of good feedback from known members that I have actually met at freerides....and even then I have doubts because they may have lower standards or be easier on their stuff...