07 Apex SE stuck in between Reverse and Drive

[howard.briel]

Does anyone have any information regarding Yamaha Apex mechanical reverse sticking?

Background: I was out in the backwoods and utilized my reverse. I put the snowmobile back in drive but when I went to move forward the snowmobile made a horrible sound as if it were between gears. I continued messing with the lever but to no avail. Ultimately I limped the snowmobile another couple miles (if that) since I didn't have a choice in the matter and ultimately, it quit moving at all and we spent the next six hours or so getting it to a point where I could pick it up with my truck and trailer. It seems the snowmobile was stuck between gears. I tried adjusting the linkage all the way to disengage the reverse but nothing worked.

Question: Has anyone else experienced this problem and if so what should I expect to see when I open up my Chain Case? Is there a fix or periodic maintenance which might have prevented this issue from happening? I ensure the linkage is adjusted and the machine goes in and out of reverse. It just stuck and that was it. I figure I will have to replace some gears and possibly the chain and anything else scarred by metal shavings from whatever made the horrible sound coming from my chain case before it eventually quit working all together.

Problem: It broke in the middle of nowhere (which is the way Murphy's Law intended for it to happen!) and anyone who owns a Yamaha knows they aren't the lightest mountain sled around. It took two and sometimes three sleds to tow the beast out and we also ended up pulling it up a couple of the hills manually. It was a nightmare but it beat leaving it there until Spring which was quickly becoming a possiblilty. Fortunately members of the snowmobile club I belong to are dedicated and helped me avoid that end.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

V/R,
Howard.

Ps. If any Yamaha engineers read this, please make your sleds lighter like the competition so those of us still loyal to Yamaha can be competitive!

 

[Grimm]

Maybe you broke a driveshaft? Maybe the bearings?

 

[helmic]

sled

X2..sounds like the main drive shaft to me also...

 

[howard.briel]

Well it seems the Jackshaft bearings were shredded which may have allowed the shaft to sit crooked. The crooked fitting shaft most likely complicated the mechanical reverse from working properly. Gear looked good. Most of the bearing were shot (i.e. needle bearings, jackshaft bearings, etc.). Will post more later.