2008 Phazer Issues?

[RX-Kid]

I've read a lot of posts related to 3 main problems: reverse engagement; cold starting, rear skid links. Do these same problems that effected the '07 Phazer also cause problems with the '08s ? I just bought a leftover '08 and was just curious if I should be on the look out for these same problems. I don't really care about rocking the sled a little to get it into reverse (I understand the gears might need to be aligned), as I very rarily ever use reverse. ...though if something actually breaks in the reverse mechanism which causes the sled not to engage forward or reverse, I would like to have the fixed under warrenty. I am very light (155lbs) and do not jump or ride my sled hard over rough trails, so I hopefully will not have an issue with the links. The starting problem is what I would really like to know about. Without a backup pull-rope or kickstarter, you're screwed on the trail if the starter doesn't work. Has this been corrected on the 08's? and what exactly is the problem? ..starter motor fails? freezes? covered under warrently?

P.S. I demo rode all the '09 Yamaha's up at Old Forge and the Phazer was a ton of fun (much different than my original Phazer & Phazer II). The trails were really rough (looked like the whoop section at an mx race), but I just stood up and pounded the phazer at speeds between 40-50mph. I few times I thought I might be in for a big hit, but the Phazer GT soaked everything up in stride. Though the Apex accelerates like a rocket, it is still much heavier than the Phazer, which showed in the turns and it bottomed out a few times. The Nytro had a problem with the rear suspension (defective shock I think), because it wouldn't handle worth a damn. It was all over the place and it was scarey to ride fast. I told the Yamaha Rep and he just clicked the torsion spring up to hard. I told the rep that I'm a Yamaha guy (first Yamaha was a SS440) and that it was bad advertisement to let folks ride a sled with problems like that, but they kept sending her out on demo rides. Bunch of folks not buying Nytro's after that wild ride I would suspect.

- Chuck
'08 Phazer GT
'03 RX-1 LE

 

[seanmurphy26]

you shouldnt have a problem with the 08 link, its a block instead of little metal strips. the only thing ive broke on the 08 skid is the W arm.

reverse ingagement, on my 07 it was a huge issue until about 3600 miles, now it works awesome.

starter, i guess the locktite on the bolts for the starter doesnt work, so the bolts back out, causing the armature and brushes to get out of alignment. you will definitly notice when it starts going bad.

searching will give you better info too.

 

[tkuss]

Your reverse should work very well as I think Yamaha did a little update for the reverse on the 08's. Like you said if it does not engage rock it back and forth, only takes a half a second and will make everything line up. I have a 07 phazer with an 08 motor. And I can tell you that the 08's cold start a ton better than the 07's due to some changes. Although when warm starting the engine if you find it clunks out alot, (you turn the key to start it and it fires so you let off the key but then it dies out) just keep the key turned for an extra second or two, this way the engine gets a couple more strokes in and fires right up. I might be the only one that has this problem, but I believe it is just because of the 180 degree, 540 degree firing pattern the engine has. The link on your sled is billet aluminum so even if you ride hard it should not break. I wouldn't worry about a problem with your starter. Some have had issues, a lot of people have not. I dont know where you live and how your ride, but I believe the GT windshield and additional air deflectors are a great add on, and they keep you alot warmer as well.

 

[RX-Kid]

Thanks for the feedback

Thanks for the feedback guys. It sounds like they made a few updates to the '08s. I will keep an eye out for any starting issues. Like I said, with no backup way to start the sled the battery and starter need to be in good shape.

I demo'ed the '09 GT and the windshield and knee deflectors did a good job of keeping the cold air away. I really was impressed with the sled. I am on the tall side (6'2"), and the Phazer gives me more room to stretch my legs. Plus it's so easy to go from sitting to standing. I love the riding position! I like the light weight too. My RX-1 is pretty heavy for my light weight. After a 150mile day I'm pretty warn out. Plus I have gotten stuck with the RX-1 when I had to get off the trail for the groomer. Three feet of snow and the sled gets stuck sometimes off the packed trail. It's a bear to get that thing unstuck! Without help from my friends I would have been in trouble.

 

[phaze5]

wrap the clutch to start it sledding 101

 

[200smk]

I've heard of people starting with a strap..... I don't want to sound dumb...but could you elaborate a bit?

6 feet of webbing wrapped counterclockwise??

 

[Motoman765]

Here is a video of myself starting the sled with a rope this winter when my starter went out. Just click the link to the video in the first post on the topic to watch the video. You may have to wait for a while for it to load (depending on your connection speed) as I didn't compress the video at all. It's 19 meg.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=55058

 

[RX-Kid]

Damn that was slick

I heard that you could start a sled that way, but never actually tried it myself. Thanks for the video to show everyone how its done. I always have some rope with me in case I need to tow a sled, so that will get r done! This is why I love this website, you get the best help and advice ...one last follow-on question to the pull start technique: was the belt still in place on the clutches when you started it that way?

Closest I've ever come to getting stuck on the trail unable to start my sled was when my Yamaha SRV pull rope broke. The nice thing was that my week long trip was over anyway and the last pull was enough to start the sled before the rope snapped. So I rode her all the way back to the trailer and loaded it before shutting it off.

 

[rfabro]

Yeah, belt's on for rope start. You can't put it on while it's running!

 

[Weapon X]

funny video

 

[80h4thephaze]

Hey,

I have an 07 gt and no link trouble, reverse is fine if you rock it.