New AC Alum Handlepole :-(

[zeski25]

For the price it seems like a solid pole. Im sure if Gomez has not broken one in 2 years they must be good for some thing. I do agree when you buy a product from a manufacturer it should not come with defects or bad customer service. Im sure Gomez will do every thing he can to make it right. Jeff you can borrow my -10 pole

 

[Big Kahuna]

These pics clearly show that the issue is the pole. The crazy thing is the good people at AC want to blame it on everything else, and can't assure me the next one they send to me will be correct.

That is assuming your bracket is perfectly square.

 

[jeffski]

That is assuming your bracket is perfectly square.

Seeing that every other pole I mount on the my ski lines up straight, I will assume my bracket is square.

 

[jeffski]

I'm back to an oem pole for now, AC refunded my $. Just cost me $20 shipping, and about 5 hours time. Thanks for trying to help Mark, I wish you could of guaranteed me a pole that would line up.

 

[Mark Gomez]

1/2

These pics clearly show that the issue is the pole. The crazy thing is the good people at AC want to blame it on everything else, and can't assure me the next one they send to me will be correct.

I'm back to an oem pole for now, AC refunded my $. Just cost me $20 shipping, and about 5 hours time. Thanks for trying to help Mark, I wish you could of guaranteed me a pole that would line up.

We measured and confirmed that the pole that Jeff sent in was off 5/8 of an inch to the left. which was opposite the side that the pole rubbed on his hood. Understandably Jeff wanted me to assure him that this pole we were going to send would be straight. I worked with Mike Meade the owner of AC Racing to assist me in measuring and determining that the new pole that we would be sending Jeff would be a straight pole. We clamped straight bar aluminum to both sides of the bushings. We measured from the bushing mounting points which is as straight as the pole will be from the handlepole bracket. we measured an OEM 2008 bracket i had at home like such that is on Jeff's ski and found that the thicknesses on both sides of the bracket is off, Thus that wouldn't give us a straight realistic means of measurement such as using a square. We used another clamp up top on the straight bar to make sure that the measurement of 6 5/8" from the bottom between the two straight bars was the same at the top being 6 5/8". From there we measured from each inside edge of the straight bar to the center of the turn plate hole at 3 5/16" both sides. This measurement showed that from the base of the pole and to the top the pole is straight from side to side. I relayed this to Jeff to see if this was the reassurance that he was looking for before we had the pole painted and shipped. Jeff was still not quite assured the pole was going to be straight on his ski. Jeff inquired that the holes for the pole were drilled wrong. This was no problem, I just had to get with mike again on how to measure the hole positions which Jeff was concerned with... (see next post needed to split for more image hosting.)

 

[Mark Gomez]

2/2

Continuing from last post with relevant photos..
...Mike set the pole on the table with two identical billet blocks from there we used the rod the welders use for the jig which is the same diameter as the OEM handlepole bracket bolt. Displayed in the photo, resting the pole on the even blocks with the rod through the pole with bushings we measured from the front of each bolt up to the center of the turn plate hole. Both sides measured 37 5/8" from bolt to center of turn plate hole. This determined that the CNC watercut holes were dead on together. Both of these measurements confirmed that the handlepole we were going to send back to Jeff was going to be a completely straight Pole from the base it bolts onto.

So Yes, I could not guarantee that this pole would line up straight on his ski between his hood again. What I COULD guarantee, and maybe I didn't phrase the right way, is that our product that we were going to send him is straight and true. Thus it will only line up dead on straight as the bracket and ski that it is installed onto. Because Jeff's ski was not here to test this pole on, Yes I could not and would not guarantee him that this pole would line up in between his hood correctly.

I am doing my best here at AC to do damage control like this to back products that I myself have not been around to oversee and put any form of QC together during and after their production. I have decommissioned the Superjet pole Jig because I don't like the way the production has gone on them. I am working on a new handlepole that will be much more efficient and cosmetically better looking than this superjet pole.The bends in the skin must be cut in a v to bend into the shape on the pole and then must be welded together again. The welding of these seems makes the pole look wavy combined with the lack of consistency from our sander who finish the poles.

So again I am sorry Jeff your experience with AC Racing products was not ideal. However I refuse to leave this thread lingering without the closure from the manufacture being the proof that we did everything we could do to assist Jeff in providing the support and requested assurance that the handlpole we were going to send back was a straight and true, AC Racing Aluminum Handlepole within a 16th of an inch of tolerance. I do not mean to beat Jeff down here at all but rather get our point across to defend our position in this thread.

This is my 3rd month working for AC Racing and I am still learning a lot, regardless I really want to do the best I can to help customers of watercraft products. Also I still encourage people to email me with any questions regarding problems or sales they need help with to my work email MGomez@acracing.com. Doing my best to pick things up over here, in the mean time thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thank you
-Mark Gomez
Watercraft Part sales
AC Racing

 

[BruceSki]

good deal mark. Way to check out the issue and remedy it. They make a strong, light pole. It just left a bit to be desired in the fit and finish. It seems like you guys are taking care of those issues now. Thank you for your work.

 

[tightithrash]

Way to clear it up mark. but, i have one question... who puts a new pole on a stock bracket? that brackets a POS..... basically if this would have been bolted to a AM bracket this would have never been an issue.... hot damn!

 

[jhall752]

Way to clear it up mark. but, i have one question... who puts a new pole on a stock bracket? that brackets a POS..... basically if this would have been bolted to a AM bracket this would have never been an issue.... hot damn!

i agree i have had an AC pole on my ski for the past 7 years. it is a very strong pole and didnt line up with my stock bracket. once i broke my oem bracket and got a new AM one it straightened right up with a little bracket alignment

 

[Sanoman]

Mark,l think what you went through to explain the process to attemp to satisfy a customer is first rate! l really don't think anyone could ask more of AC.Glad to see you are representing them.

 

[KR]

Way to clear it up mark. but, i have one question... who puts a new pole on a stock bracket? that brackets a POS..... basically if this would have been bolted to a AM bracket this would have never been an issue.... hot damn!

x2

Most jet ski parts are not just bolt on and go. You have to take the proper steps to go in the right direction. You can't just spend $700 on a B-pipe, bolt it on and go. You have to get the carb tuned to work with the pipe. If you want Hydro-Turf, you need contact cement. If you want UMI steering, you have to drill holes. If you want an AC pole, an X metal pole, a RRP pole, any AM pole, you need to get an aftermarket pole bracket to support that pole. Another user on the forums and I share parts. We broke 5 stock brackets with 3 months of easy riding, so don't even bother with stock ones.

Its difficult for me to fathom some of everyones frustration with AC Racing and their "customer service" when Mark is clearly going out of his way to do the very best he can to make sure all of you get the best product possible. Like Mark said, send him an email at Mgomez@acracing.com. If you don't receive any assistance from from AC after you email, then go ahead and vent on the forums about their lack of understanding and low quality services.

Fun fact: Any guy that represents USA at an International venue for free ride - has an AC pole or a reinforced stock pole. Food for thought.

 

[ckjetski]

Mark is a great guy, great rider, and good businessman. As shown above his dedication to his company and our sport is undeniable. I have also watched him beat the SH@# out of his AC pole and show up the next day ready to ride. (if only he would stop blowing up motors). Many of the oside crew riders run the AC pole and have been extremely happy with them. And let me tell you, the new pole mark is working on is going to be a great product.

 

[tightithrash]

I have also watched him beat the SH@# out of his AC pole and show up the next day ready to ride.

What about my pole...:wavey:

 

[ckjetski]

What about my pole...:wavey:

Hahaha zack, like I, landed many flips on his head during the learning process and his AC pole made it thru the beating!

i cant believe i forgot you...what a dick.

 

[jeffski]

Take the Gomez Challenge

I'll make this real simple for you Mark, no tape measure needed.

Lay the pole I shipped back to you on a bench.

Push a 2-3' straight rod thru the pole bushings (same diameter of the bushings).

Put the short edge of the square on the rod and have the long edge run up the side of the pole.

Check out the detailed blueprints below, that I had professionally drawn to assist you in this challenge.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Way to clear it up mark. but, i have one question... who puts a new pole on a stock bracket? that brackets a POS..... basically if this would have been bolted to a AM bracket this would have never been an issue.... hot damn!

I bought my first AC pole in 2001. Installed it on a stock bracket. It was crooked. I later purchased a R&D Lowered Bracket. The pole was crooked still. No change. I tried to adjust the bracket, even went as far as slotting the holes in the hull to twist the bracket around some. This helped a little bit. I later installed a wamiltons type bracket when I went with a lowered hood. The Pole was still crooked with that bracket when the bracket was mounted just like the stock bracket (Bolts pushed back towards the rear), Twisted it up like I did on the R&D and it was somewhat better. 2004 Installed XMetal Pole with XMetal bracket. Straight.

Fast Forward to 2007, I purchased a used hull from Pair-A-Dice, this was one of Bogarts first Wamilton’s Prepped OEM hulls. This ski originally had an AC Pole on it. Along the right side of the hood channel., the paint is all rubbed off of it. Why, I would say this is from another AC Pole that was crooked. This has been an ongoing problem.

I am happy to see Mark working with the owners of AC Products to try and make this a better setup. They are the oldest AM Pole manufacturer out there. I am looking forward to what they have new coming out. Nice Job on communication and explanation.

 

[Mark Gomez]

I'll make this real simple for you Mark, no tape measure needed.

Lay the pole I shipped back to you on a bench.

Push a 2-3' straight rod thru the pole bushings (same diameter of the bushings).


Put the short edge of the square on the rod and have the long edge run up the side of the pole.

Check out the detailed blueprints below, that I had professionally drawn to assist you in this challenge.

I don't understand why measuring that old pole is now important again. What was important and the whole reason for my reply was making sure the new pole you were going to be warrantied would be straight.
I said above your old pole was off. I did not deny that, and what was more important than going into detail on that old pole, is again making sure you got a quality replacement.
The first measurement we did above on the new pole is the same as this measurement if you are trying to have me perform. The first form of measurement I provided above actually put the sides of the hood being completely flush with the bushing surface and flat all the way up. If you look at the picture from above and at the straight bar you can see where the pole lines up on a straight edge which is the same thing Jeff is trying to explain with a short edge.
I can't measure that old pole to begin with because the pole was disposed of because of its defect, I personally did not want to keep around a blem product anymore.
However, as soon as the pole showed up we did the same 2 measurements above which confirmed the old pole was off to the left. The second measurement of the bushing holes confirmed that the CNC watercut bushing holes were not any further back or fourth from each other I got the same measurement of 37 5/8th from the bolt holes to where the true center line of the steering hole, which would of been 5/8th of an inch over to the right.
No I did not take photos of these measurements because it was for Mike and I to both understand the ultimate problem with the warranty issue and take notes for the new pole production and QC strategy.
I am not playing any smoke and mirrors with our measurements, these are means of measuring from the head manufacturer who is a long time professional machinist and knows what he needs to do in order to get a certain measurement and who will not settle for using a short edge to determine that a handlepole is mechanically straight. There is no need to continue this discussion more about a part that is no longer relevant. It was a manufactured item, it was a blem, we had the customer return it, we then provided the best evidence and assurance that his new warranty pole would be straight, the customer was still not satisfied, so we returned the money to the dealership he purchased it from upon demand. We did our best to assist a customer and that was my main concern.

 

[jeffski]

No, the pole I sent back to you was off (about 3/4" at the top) to the right (the throttle side).

You way of measuring doesn't really tell me anything, cause the point at the top of the pole could be off-center a fraction, and give you a false measurement.

The only way (and simplest) is how I mentioned in my previous post. I don't know why you can't see that.

 

[Big Kahuna]

No, the pole I sent back to you was off (about 3/4" at the top) to the right (the throttle side).

You way of measuring doesn't really tell me anything, cause the point at the top of the pole could be off-center a fraction, and give you a false measurement.

The only way (and simplest) is how I mentioned in my previous post. I don't know why you can't see that.

Jeff, twice Mark has said that the holes were drilled incorrectly..... Not sure how your missing that. Also they (Mark) is working to make sure your replacement is perect for you. Even to the point of bringing a OEM Bracket to test it on as well. Looks like they are doing a pretty good job of making it right. I think this may be way more than UMI would have down. I know XMetals policy.

 

[Waternut]

No, the pole I sent back to you was off (about 3/4" at the top) to the right (the throttle side).

You way of measuring doesn't really tell me anything, cause the point at the top of the pole could be off-center a fraction, and give you a false measurement.

The only way (and simplest) is how I mentioned in my previous post. I don't know why you can't see that.

You sound like you're trying to turn this into a witch hunt. You say that the top of your pole was off by 3/4" at the top. Myself and a couple others stated that by simply adjusting the pole bracket you can bring the pole back into alignment by a few inches. You stated that every pole you tried was straight but you didn't mention anything about what kind of poles they were nor did you mention anything about you adjusting the bracket. If you step back to high school geometry, that 3/4" difference on a 40" pole equates to 1° off. In order to compensate for that 1° off, you would need to twist the bracket a whopping 0.050" to get the pole perfectly centered. The average engine gets shimmed more than that.