Varg - Gear Oil Change

[Chaconne]

Anyone order the new plugs and receive the new design yet?

Unhappy to report that Stark sent me the old style for a second time. I complained originally and they said the would send the correct one. The "correct" one arrived and was wrong again.

 

[Foss]

I had a suspicion this was going to happen. Stark doesn’t have a good communication with its warehouse. Also the leftover inventory they want to use up so it’s not wasted.

 

[Chaconne]

I had a suspicion this was going to happen. Stark doesn’t have a good communication with its warehouse. Also the leftover inventory they want to use up so it’s not wasted.

Agreed.

They don't even have good communication among service/parts themselves. Some know they have a new design others don't. Also, they must have some newbs working there because when I complained about getting sent the wrong bolt twice he/she accused me of trying to get free bolts and that the bolts were excellent... Like I would spend 13k on a machine only to try and rip them for a few oil change bolts

Anyway, I ripped them a new one and told them I would be happy to send the bolts back and eat the cost plus the shipping to get the item I ordered.

 

[Chaconne]

It wasn't easy but I finally got the magical new design. @Foss was right after much back and forth and getting sent the old style multiple times finally got what I wanted.

This was shipped from Spain and was not shipped the typical way things are from the Stark store. I think the deal is the US warehouse only has the old school design.

 

[AL_V]

Same here, I wrote to Support saying I was aware there was a new design and could I get one under warranty. They asked me for a picture of my old one, which I sent them. And they sent me a new one of the old style.

 

[Chaconne]

Same here, I wrote to Support saying I was aware there was a new design and could I get one under warranty. They asked me for a picture of my old one, which I sent them. And they sent me a new one of the old style.

They weren't very happy about me demanding the new design. Also, more than one service person insisted I was wrong that there was no new design. Then when I reposted the picture from here they said yes there was a new design and then proceeded to send me the old one again. Finally after some back and forth they came through.

Can't understand why they readily ship other expensive and costly parts and then go non-linear with a stupid bolt. I would have gladly used the bolt on Amazon but I have awful luck and would somehow have negated my warranty. From experience I stick with the stock stuff till my warranty is up.

 

[AL_V]

They weren't very happy about me demanding the new design. Also, more than one service person insisted I was wrong that there was no new design. Then when I reposted the picture from here they said yes there was a new design and then proceeded to send me the old one again. Finally after some back and forth they came through.

Can't understand why they readily ship other expensive and costly parts and then go non-linear with a stupid bolt. I would have gladly used the bolt on Amazon but I have awful luck and would somehow have negated my warranty. From experience I stick with the stock stuff till my warranty is up.

I'm still using the Amazon one, but if I need warranty service, I can switch...

 

[Bert]

Want to added my experience with the gear oil change to this thread.
Did mine after 13h 23min, was having to much fun riding the bike and kept missing the opportunity to do the gear oil change.
But was able to remove the drain bolt without stripping it. It’s definitely a tight fit and if the torx bit doesn’t sit in properly it will strip. I inserted the torx bit by hand to make sure it was straight and then used the extension to lightly tap it in further with a small hammer.
For sure that bolt is way over tighten from the factory as it took a lot of force to break the bolt loose.
Had the same results like others here with a milky color oil which seems that is the result of water getting into the gears. I have done around 6 washes with a hose and a shower nozzle. Going to use a clamp to seal the breather hose when washing to see if that helps with not getting a milky oil since I don’t ride in wet conditions.
Overall taking it slow to remove the drain bolt and then tightening to 12 nm felt plenty tight to me.

 

[Chaconne]

Want to added my experience with the gear oil change to this thread.
Did mine after 13h 23min, was having to much fun riding the bike and kept missing the opportunity to do the gear oil change.
But was able to remove the drain bolt without stripping it. It’s definitely a tight fit and if the torx bit doesn’t sit in properly it will strip. I inserted the torx bit by hand to make sure it was straight and then used the extension to lightly tap it in further with a small hammer.
For sure that bolt is way over tighten from the factory as it took a lot of force to break the bolt loose.
Had the same results like others here with a milky color oil which seems that is the result of water getting into the gears. I have done around 6 washes with a hose and a shower nozzle. Going to use a clamp to seal the breather hose when washing to see if that helps with not getting a milky oil since I don’t ride in wet conditions.
Overall taking it slow to remove the drain bolt and then tightening to 12 nm felt plenty tight to me.

View attachment 12912

View attachment 12913

View attachment 12914

Stark has changed the design of the bolt. It now comes with a 13mm head. If you get a new bolt make sure you ask for the new design or they might send you the old one.

 

[Theo]

Here is a tip for when you reinstall the skid plate: make sure that the notches and their tabs indicated via the yellow arrows are aligned, by pressing the sides of the skid plate: if the tabs miss the notches as you slide the skid plate into its position, the skid plate will bulge.

 

[Bert]

Stark has changed the design of the bolt. It now comes with a 13mm head. If you get a new bolt make sure you ask for the new design or they might send you the old one.

I got the new bolt. I was concern since it was coming from the Stark US distribution in Texas and not from Spain so I was thinking it was going to be the old bolt design. So if you order from the stark site now you should get the new bolt design.

 

[Foss]

I got the new bolt. I was concern since it was coming from the Stark US distribution in Texas and not from Spain so I was thinking it was going to be the old bolt design. So if you order from the stark site now you should get the new bolt design.

I just order 4x, I will post back and see if the new design in fact is being distributed.

 

[LTJ]

Add me to someone who had issues getting the drain plug out. I tried every torx head I had to make sure it was snug. As soon as I applied torque the flippen head stripped. Tried an impact driver and it just removed all the teeth. I then hit it with a torch and vice grips and it finally snapped loose. It was WAY too tight. By the way the Amazon link (on this thread I think..) to the drain screw with hex head didn’t fit. The head is too big to fit in the space.

 

[LTJ]

I am using this one (M10x1.5): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCL4ZRFK/?tag=sce0f-20

WTF??? I selected this link but noticed when I ordered it, Amazon sent me another design (see below). It appears you link is for a part that is not in stock, so Amazon sent me another one!!!

 

[Foss]

Confirmed.

New design is being distributed.

SMX1-PT-CS-15
Gear oil drain plug

 

[LTJ]

Confirmed.

New design is being distributed.

SMX1-PT-CS-15
Gear oil drain plug

View attachment 12998

I contacted stark and they want pics and VIN number of my bike. I'm hoping they just send me a new drain plug with the hex head. Or I might just chuck up the one I got from amazon and machine a smaller hex head.

 

[Foss]

It’s $2.90 a piece just buy it directly from starks parts page?

 

[AL_V]

I contacted stark and they want pics and VIN number of my bike. I'm hoping they just send me a new drain plug with the hex head. Or I might just chuck up the one I got from amazon and machine a smaller hex head.

They want pics and VIN to replace it under warranty.
I don't think that Toyota plug has the right threads, should be M10 x 1.5 for the Varg.

 

[LTJ]

They want pics and VIN to replace it under warranty.
I don't think that Toyota plug has the right threads, should be M10 x 1.5 for the Varg.

As you can see from my picture, the head of the toyota plug is way to big to fit between the threaded hole and side cover (see my pic holding the hex head plug up to the varg). The treads look correct to me, it's the size of the hex head that's the problem.

 

[LTJ]

It’s $2.90 a piece just buy it directly from starks parts page?

I guess I'm paranoid SV will send me the old plug design. I'm hoping if they do warranty it, they would make sure I get the correct design. Maybe it just doesn't make a difference, but with my warranty request, I asked they please send me the updated plug. I rememer someone (maybe this thread) got the old dumb design when the purchased it through SV.