Who else is getting hosed by Kodiak?

[Ben Beacock]

After calling every day for a week, I finally got an answer that our wheels won't be ready for a week to 10 days. Aparently there are 3 other schools in the same position? Anyone on here?
We're only just slightly pissed http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Ben Beacock
Chassis Design and Technical Coordinator
Gryphon Racing - University of Guelph

[Ben Beacock]

After calling every day for a week, I finally got an answer that our wheels won't be ready for a week to 10 days. Aparently there are 3 other schools in the same position? Anyone on here?
We're only just slightly pissed http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Ben Beacock
Chassis Design and Technical Coordinator
Gryphon Racing - University of Guelph

[Brent Howard]

kodiak?? Nah, keizer kinda screwed us this year with very poor manufacturing.

brent

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)

[Richard Lewis]

Took us a long time to get our Kodiaks... but we got them about 6 weeks ago. Order early! We got screwed by keizer last year with some pretty shotty service, and product.

-------------------------
UVIC Formula SAE Team
http://members.shaw.ca/drax77/Formula%20UVic%20Sig.jpg
http://uvic.fsae.ca

[Akos]

Shocks and custom wheels are always long lead items. No matter which company we delt with they were on average around 2 weeks late.

Badmouthing companies that try to help FSAE teams is bad for everybody so next time don't wait till the last minute to order these items.

Cheers,

Akos Toth
Toronto FSAE 97-02

[Lyn Labahn UW-Madison]

We were one of the first teams to run Kodiak wheels back on our 2001 car. We liked them back then, as they were very nice, and the machined center sections looked awesome.

However last year we had some major problems with Kodiak. We ordered our wheels very early last year, around late fall/early winter. To make a very long story short we called millions of times and got told the same story that they would be there next week all the way up to competition.

Finally the guy said that he would deliver them at competition. So all is well right? Wrong, once we got the wheels there they didn't fit because the center bore was too small. So we had to play juggle the tires/wheels with the goodyear guys the whole time at competition.

As if that weren't enough, we found out our first set of wheels that we got from them are worthless because they developed stress cracks on the spokes near the hub area.

So, in conclusion, to respond to the gentleman who said not to badmouth Kodiak, I say hello First Amendment: AVOID KODIAK LIKE THE PLAGUE

I dare anyone affiliated with Kodiak to walk within our paddock come next week.

2002/2003 Team Leader
Best overall average finish of the new millenium http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Ben Beacock]

Ok, i did sound a bit harsh (tense times) but I am more interested in what the other teams are doing to resolve the situation. As it stands now, we've cancelled our order and managed to source some Panasports 1/2" off the offset we designed for.
Anyways, I beleive my criticism of Kodiak is justified because it took a week for them to give me a straight answer after constant calling (messed up a batch of shells) and never once called me back. Not having any experience I figured 7 weeks is enough lead time for rims. I was given a 4 week estimate and I didn't account for any longer. Thats mostly my fault. They did, however, realize there was a problem with the shells and decided to not ship them. I applaud them for their quality standards.

Ben Beacock
Chassis Design and Technical Coordinator
Gryphon Racing - University of Guelph

[Brent Howard]

Our Keizer's had messed up splines, didn't fit even close to the same as last year, the holes were not de-burred, and when we mounted them one fell in on itself. We had to order another 1/2 rim and when it came back the didn't even bother to polish it. Pretty disappointing.

Brent

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)

[MercerFSAE C. Burch]

I was wondering if any team has wheels that they really like!? I've read the "how much do your wheels wheigh?" post a few times and now this post, and I'm beginning to think that the only teams who are truly happy with their wheels are the ones who made their own!

I've heard everything from the stuff about Keizers deflecting, Kodiak having delivery problems, and wheels from other companies wheighing to much because they're designed for heavier vehicles. What I'm basically trying to say is that, when I go to purchase my team's first set of wheels, I'd like to be able to go to a company with good customer support that sells a wheel that is lightweight and doesn't bend or break during use. What company does this?

Thanks,

Chris

Mercer University - Drive!
Coming to an Auto-X course near you, May 2004!