2004 RX Warrior overheating

[9374768]

my 2004 RX Warrior has been overheating lately, on our recent trip to Michigan (KEEWANAW) it overheated 4 times in 4.5 days, does any one else have this problem, I asked YAMAHA reps and they said that as far as they know YAMAHA does not have a fan kit to ease the problem
thanks DAVE SAUCIER

 

[mikeb]

Overheat

common problem and bad for the engine

I put a rear heat exchanger on and have never had the problem. Search the forum for heat exchanger. You will find tons of information.

 

[Bob Miller]

I made up a set of "Cooling Fins" for my 04 Warrior

Got the idea from Simmons Skis, No More Overheating, not even once!

Check them out:
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?p=338807#338807

 

[seahound]

Add a rear cooler I had the same problem 90% cure is the cooler But keep in mind you must protect it if you run studs

 

[sleddheadd]

i had to put the rear cooler on mine and made protectors for it here is a link
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=45203

 

[Rockmeister]

It is because the edges of the snowflakes melt away with the warm temps, so the snow (more like little ice balls) has no surface tension and wont stick to your track and just bounces off your exchanger rather than sticking, melting, and carrying away heat.

I just added the coolant to air exchanger from the Apex to mine.

It is the one by your right knee on the Apex.
Worked pretty well, still had to throw snow on my running boards a few times last weekend.
(That works really well also!)

Think after I open up the cowling (Like the Apex) for more air flow it will take care of it. It ALMOST took care of it, when I went faster it would cool down, so more air flow through the radiator will most likely do it.

The Apex exchanger was a bolt in (The Apex chassis is almost identical) Just had to copy the Apex reverse linkage, otherwise one of the links will hit the exchanger.

Just another possibility, hope it helps!

 

[Rockmeister]

Thats a cool idea Bob!
Gonna make a set out of ABS, see how they do!
My ZR had something like that on the tunnel, and they worked pretty well also.
May have to make some for the tunnel too!
Thanks for the idea!

 

[RaWarrior]

I really don't have that much of a problem with overheating. Most cases if I start running hot (190+ on the gauge), the other sleds in the group are as well, so it doesn't seem the cooling on the RX is any worse IMO. Since installing a carb coolant shutoff valve, I've actually noticed it runs a bit cooler and there's a lot less underhood heat. Runs a LOT better in above-freezing conditions too.

In marginal snow/snirty conditions it tends to run a little hot since I'm keeping the speed down to prevent melting the hyfax, but it only once tripped the idiot light at 210. Groomed trails it runs around 150-160. Powder or lake runs drop it to like 140.

If there's not enough snow, don't ride. It's not any fun, and it's even less fun later when the hyfax melted and took out your rails or you're rebuilding the scorched motor. Running the motor at high (180+) temps all day may not trip the idiot light, but it's not good for the motor either. Cooler is better.

 

[Rockmeister]

If there's not enough snow, don't ride. It's not any fun, and it's even less fun later when the hyfax melted and took out your rails or you're rebuilding the scorched motor. Running the motor at high (180+) temps all day may not trip the idiot light, but it's not good for the motor either. Cooler is better.

Since marginal snow conditions are what we have available most of the time, most of us are looking for solutions to these issues.
IE Overheating, hifax wear, etc.

Simply saying "don't ride" isn't much of a real solution, or at least not the one most of us are looking for.
On my last 4 riding trips, I had my light come on, and everytime I had my EXT riding with me, and/or a friends Apex. Neither had a single issue while I did.
So that says 2 things;
1) They don't have the heating issue and,
2) The issue CAN be solved on the RX1.

At this point I am working to duplicate the Apex cooling system (Adding the radiator and fan, this appears to be the only difference in the Apex cooling) to help solve the issue, as I feel not riding isn't a viable solution provided there is enough snow.

 

[INLINE4]

I have the same year sled and had the same problem. I added water wetter, and that seemed to help. I do not have a temp. guage, just the light. So am curiuos if anybody has done the same as I did, with a temp. guage and noticed a differance? My case could be due to better conditions.

 

[mikeb]

anyone have the part number for the apex air to oil heat exchanger

or the model number for the apex so I can look it up on the yamaha site

 

[Rockmeister]

The Radiator is actually a coolant to air exchanger, not an oil cooler.

Its like a small radiator in a car, was going to use a heater core out of a car, but thought "what the heck, why re-invent the wheel?".
lol

I used a 2007 Apex RTX ER to order the parts from.

The Yamaha part number for the radiator is:
8FP-12461-00-00

I used (2) 1/4-20 x 1/2 inch well nuts (the rubber blind hole ones) from a hardware store for the top two mounts, the bottom mount is just a 1/4" hole drilled in the foot well. (Tighten the top two, THEN mark for the lower mount.)
Just duplicated what's on the Apex. (Had a friends Apex down the road to look at.)
Make sure there is a minimum of 1/8" anywhere around the radiator to anything that could touch it. (Except for the mounts of course)
There is 3/8" between the radiator and the delta frame.

I used the existing cooling hose because the Apex ones I had ordered hadn't come in yet & I was leaving to ride!
I just cut the hose to match the outer lower radiator inlet and it fit perfectly!

The stock Apex fan is about $150, I used one out of an old computer, it was free and only draws .5 amps.
Wired it to the blue/white headlight wire that is already right near there, that way it comes on only while the sled is running, and turns off when you shut the sled down. May add a temp sensor switch to it later.

There are 3 control relays under the cowling near your right shin when sitting on the sled.
I moved the right two over to the left and ty-wrapped them to the left one.
That gave me room for the fan. I opened up the existing hole to allow air to the fan. (the fan is wired to draw air through the radiator and blow it towards the back of the sled, same as the Apex).

Mounted the fan to the sheet metal and was done!

I am going to open up the fake cowling vents to allow more air out of the fan, other than that, it worked great!


If you have reverse:

The reverse linkage part you need is part #:
8FR-18198-00-00

I didn't buy this part, I re-drilled the lower linkage hole and cut & reshaped the existing linkage to match the Apex one.
Buying the linkage part will save you a couple hours and it only costs about 8 or 9 bucks.

The only other thing you have todo is re-drill the reverse linkage mounting hole on the part that goes into the chaincase. It is currently about 1-1/2" out from the center of the shaft, it needs to be 1" out from the CENTER of the shaft.
Its just a 1/4" hole.

I drilled a 1/2" access hole in the footwell to get to it, so I didnt have to tear the chaincase out.
Drilled the hole in the lever, then put a 1/2 plug in the access hole.

Also added water wetter when I re-filled the cooling system.

Will try to get some pics and post them.

Hope this helps!