BD Flexplate Damage

[D45]

Well I thought my starter went out today, so I removed it in the parking lot of a grocery store.....

I pulled the inspection plate coverand my jow dropped........

The entire outer ring on the BRAND NEW BD Flexplate was sheered off!

I drove the truck all day doing errands, without any issues

I tried to start it in the parking lot to leave and nothing, just heard the starter spinning

The mounting area of the flexplate is still bolted up and looks fine....just the outer ring with the teeth is just laying there, one solid ring


BD Power - Product: FleX-Plate

1041210 1994-2007 5.9L

Not happy......had to have it towed back to the trans shop

There was only like 2-3,000 miles on the trans, since the flexplate was installed.....

I could maybe understand this happening under WOT, but not with just trying to start the truck with a brand new "heavy duty" expensive BD Flexplate

[Shagginwagon]

D that's no good. Sorry Bro. What'd BD have to say?

[patracy]

Should have a 1 year warranty on it...

[dave@BD Power]

Originally Posted by D45

Well I thought my starter went out today, so I removed it in the parking lot of a grocery store.....

I pulled the inspection plate coverand my jow dropped........

The entire outer ring on the BRAND NEW BD Flexplate was sheered off!

I drove the truck all day doing errands, without any issues

I tried to start it in the parking lot to leave and nothing, just heard the starter spinning

The mounting area of the flex plate is still bolted up and looks fine....just the outer ring with the teeth is just laying there, one solid ring


BD Power - Product: FleX-Plate

1041210 1994-2007 5.9L

Not happy......had to have it towed back to the trans shop

There was only like 2-3,000 miles on the trans, since the flexplate was installed.....

I could maybe understand this happening under WOT, but not with just trying to start the truck with a brand new "heavy duty" expensive BD Flexplate

Sorry to hear that D45, have you started a claim department yet, these plates are rating for big torque, obviously a flaw if it spun on start up. Should be warranty but still bad news with the tow bill and pain in the aZZ though, let me know if there is anything I can do to help out

[D45]

I am highly contemplating NOT putting the BD flexplate back in, when and if it gets warrantied.....I am going to call BD this morning and see what happens

I just want to trust my truck, and this is a huge failure.....I will gets some pics posted of the flexplate ASAP

I wonder is a solid one piece unit would be better, like one from ATS

[BBRam]

Sorry to see this.

I have been running the BD plate for a few years now, no issues. But any part can fail.

[dave@BD Power]

Originally Posted by D45

I am highly contemplating NOT putting the BD flexplate back in, when and if it gets warrantied.....I am going to call BD this morning and see what happens

I just want to trust my truck, and this is a huge failure.....I will gets some pics posted of the flexplate ASAP

I wonder is a solid one piece unit would be better, like one from ATS

I can relate to not having confidence in the Flex Plates after that... BD has a lot of Flex Plates out there and this is definitely a first, Goerend Transmissions buys hundreds of these from BD as well and has never had a single failure that I know of. I will be interested to see what R&D's report on the plate is.

Like I said before, let me know what I can do to help, I have already send an e-mail to claims on your behalf.

Dave

[D45]

Dave
Thanks for the help

The trans is out and the shop owner said this is the second BD plate he has seen do this, the other was in November

I have my RMA number with BD, and I just bought a new BD plate from Summit Racing and had it over night shipped to the trans shop

I have to send back the damaged plate and the new invoice......and BD will review the info and reimburse me

Will they help, at all, covering the $450 labor fee?

[ruidosododge]

hope it works out for ya brotha!

[dave@BD Power]

Originally Posted by D45

Dave
Thanks for the help

The trans is out and the shop owner said this is the second BD plate he has seen do this, the other was in November

I have my RMA number with BD, and I just bought a new BD plate from Summit Racing and had it over night shipped to the trans shop

I have to send back the damaged plate and the new invoice......and BD will review the info and reimburse me

Will they help, at all, covering the $450 labor fee?

I can understand your situation, keep working with the man you were dealing with in claims, he is a reasonable man. If it is a product defect which seems like it is, I believe it is policy to cover labor, I am not sure what the rate is or what the actual policy is but will freshen up on it after I post.

Dave

[D45]

Dave,
Do you know if the outer ring with the teeth is just press fitted onto the plate or is is supposed to be fully welded?

Thanks for all the help and info

[D45]

I ordered a new flexplate from Summit Racing, and had it overnight shipped directly to the trans shop

The truck is back running and doing alot better

According the BD, the flexplate tooth ring is press fit onto the actual plate....and welded

The damaged/broken flexplate that was taken out of my trans HAD NO WELDS.......ANYWHERE!

The new flexplate has a serial number of 001855
The old flexplate has a serial number of 000443

Also, when the flexplate failed, it also chewed up the bendix gears/teeth on my starter......I had to pay a local starter rebuild shop $50 to install a new gear assembly.

At 73,000 miles, the inside of the starter looked brand new.....according to the rebuild shop

I am going to send BD the broken flexplate, my invoice for the labor, invoice for the starter, and the invoice from Summit for the new flexplate.....this should have never happened

$489.20 New BD Flexplate
$450 Labor Fee
$50 Tow Fee
$50 Starter Gear

Does BD have a quality control inspection department??????