Torsion Bar Losing strength-2010 3326

[ZekenSpider]

CAUTION This thread has been revised in a major way. See my 4/28/2013 post.

I recently inspected my 2010 3326 (Purchased new in July of 2009) TM a few days ago in preparation for up coming summer usage and found the front shell very hard to lift. The RF (curb side) was heavy and pressing down hard on the RF frame rubber bumper. The RF side latch also was found latched but hanging loose from the shell clete. The LF shell popped up normally off the rubber bumper about 3/8" when I released the LF side latch.

My wife and I struggled to raise the shell and it worked, although it tried to settle back down until we got the lock bars in place. I just figured I would need to adjust the RF torsion bar again like I did last year. Our inspection found all things OK in the TM.

After lowering the top shells and latching them down I found the RF side latch would not engage without shortening the adjustment nearly 3/8". I paid closer attention to the RF lift arm and torsion bar to see what might be wrong. I checked the adjustment bolt for the RF torsion bar (over at the LF anchor point) and found that it had not moved from where I set it last year.

Over the years that I have owned this TM I have found it necessary to increase the tension of this RF torsion bar several times. Last year I assumed that the adjustment bolt was loosening from road vibration so I painted some yellow indicator on each bolt just to see if that was the case. This year, upon inspection, there was no movement of any of the eight bolts but I still lost lift on the RF side. This time I noticed the RF strut/bar end was up closer to the bottom of the top shell. The torsion bar 90 degree end appeared to have bent under the load of being down all winter. It looks like it may have a soft temper. Perhaps the entire torsion bar has a soft temper.

Attached are a few of pictures of that RF torsion bar/strut assembly. All of the other seven strut/bar attachments have the bar centered in the strut end. This RF torsion bar end is bent down inside the strut end and is distorting the strut end.

I e-mailed the pictures and this discussion to TM and received a call from Bob Eickhoff. He is not certain the torsion bar end is bent and wonders if it may be a strut end failure. Regardless, he is sending me a new torsion bar and a strut. I am now faced with replacing them myself or finding a qualified service center to do it. My nearest service center is in Covina, CA so I think I will try it myself.....one question though.

Has any one on this forum had experience with removing the strut pivot pin on the late model TM? It has a round button on both the inside and outside of the shell. The earlier models have an Allen head bolt with an elastic stop nut. There is a picture attached showing that pivot pin head on my TM.

I have yet to ask TM how to do this so do not worry unless you have experience with this detail. I will keep this post open until I have the repair completed.

Jerry