ESKIMO
Extreme
I have a 2007 RS Venture GT, newly acquired from a previous owner. What a beautiful sled.
I know this sled is specific, but the problems are general so I am posting here.
Some issues have come up from a lack of maintenance. Nothing major but as follows.
1) The starter will spin a lot, without catching, then suddenly catch on for a second, then spin some more. Not like what I see in friends starting with good, consistent catching and hard, consistent turning of the engine. The starter catching is sporadic on mine and loud clanking noises, I don't think anything is broken, just that the shaft is going in and out, catching sometimes, mostly just spinning. My question is, which parts do I need to repair that?
2) The shocks have SOQI Ski shocks with remote reservoir, I think the rears are KYB rebuildables. Does anyone know where I can get repair kits for these shocks (Seals, wear pads, o-rings etc..)? Also what settings should I use for the IFP depths?
3)My buddies RS Venture (regular) blew an engine apart. He said it originated from a blown chain for the valve timers. Has anyone else had this problem? I would like to make an assessment of how often this problem has come up. I am sure its something like 1 in 100,000, but just need confirmation from you all.
Thanks for the help, advice, suggestions ahead of time.
Jonathan (AKA ESKIMO)
I know this sled is specific, but the problems are general so I am posting here.
Some issues have come up from a lack of maintenance. Nothing major but as follows.
1) The starter will spin a lot, without catching, then suddenly catch on for a second, then spin some more. Not like what I see in friends starting with good, consistent catching and hard, consistent turning of the engine. The starter catching is sporadic on mine and loud clanking noises, I don't think anything is broken, just that the shaft is going in and out, catching sometimes, mostly just spinning. My question is, which parts do I need to repair that?
2) The shocks have SOQI Ski shocks with remote reservoir, I think the rears are KYB rebuildables. Does anyone know where I can get repair kits for these shocks (Seals, wear pads, o-rings etc..)? Also what settings should I use for the IFP depths?
3)My buddies RS Venture (regular) blew an engine apart. He said it originated from a blown chain for the valve timers. Has anyone else had this problem? I would like to make an assessment of how often this problem has come up. I am sure its something like 1 in 100,000, but just need confirmation from you all.
Thanks for the help, advice, suggestions ahead of time.
Jonathan (AKA ESKIMO)
Doogs
Extreme
ESKIMO said:
Sounds like it could be a burnt hold-in winding on the starter solenoid. This would cause the plunger (moves the fork to engage the starter gear) to bounce in and out. On most automotive starters, you can buy a new solenoid. However, this would not apply if they use a starter like a snowblower engine has, which uses a helix between the gear and shaft to angage the gear.
hondo
VIP Member
I have an 05 RS Venture with 35,550 miles,
My starter has never been an issue. Works every time!
Can't answer the shock question. My rear shock went this year at 33,000 miles. The old one was not rebuildable. It was replaced with a new shock that is rebuildable.
I had a valve train inspection done a 22,500 miles. There are four valves per cylinder. Only 3 valves (one per cylinder) were slightly out of spec tolerance. They were shimmed with the smallest shim back to spec tolerance. Everything else cam lobes, timing chain, etc, was perfect. I change oil every 2,000 miles.
With some repairs as you suggest, the sled should run well.
Hope this helps!
My starter has never been an issue. Works every time!
Can't answer the shock question. My rear shock went this year at 33,000 miles. The old one was not rebuildable. It was replaced with a new shock that is rebuildable.
I had a valve train inspection done a 22,500 miles. There are four valves per cylinder. Only 3 valves (one per cylinder) were slightly out of spec tolerance. They were shimmed with the smallest shim back to spec tolerance. Everything else cam lobes, timing chain, etc, was perfect. I change oil every 2,000 miles.
With some repairs as you suggest, the sled should run well.
Hope this helps!
ESKIMO
Extreme
Hi Doogs and Hondo,
I think part of my problem with the starter, as it turns out, is that my battery was too weak. After running it for several hours throughout the day, the starter seems to be behaving now. (My GF had flooded the sled when it was minus 34 outside in the morning, where the battery ended up dying.)
I found a place for shock parts. http://www.shocktec.ca
The sled with blown motor via timing chain is now in a dealer. I read in here before that this is like a one in 100,000 problem that might come up.
Yes, the sled needs a little TLC and should be running great soon.
Thanks,
Jonathan
I think part of my problem with the starter, as it turns out, is that my battery was too weak. After running it for several hours throughout the day, the starter seems to be behaving now. (My GF had flooded the sled when it was minus 34 outside in the morning, where the battery ended up dying.)
I found a place for shock parts. http://www.shocktec.ca
The sled with blown motor via timing chain is now in a dealer. I read in here before that this is like a one in 100,000 problem that might come up.
Yes, the sled needs a little TLC and should be running great soon.
Thanks,
Jonathan
dmsrx700
Newbie
Yamaha updated the chain tensioner on the early sleds. Check with a dealer or with Yamaha tech, I think it was a free upgrade.
hondo
VIP Member
Eskimo,
A weak battery would certainly make perfect sense.
I use an Optimate III to keep the battery charged.
Flooding: I have noticed at temperatures below minus -20 deg F, 1/2 choke is required instead of full choke.
I flooded mine only once when the sled was new at minus -25 deg F.
I since have learned to use 1/2 choke. The coldest that I started the sled this year was minus -32 deg F, with no problems.
Hope this provides some insight.
Let the sled warm up good before you ride and it should perform well.
All the best!
A weak battery would certainly make perfect sense.
I use an Optimate III to keep the battery charged.
Flooding: I have noticed at temperatures below minus -20 deg F, 1/2 choke is required instead of full choke.
I flooded mine only once when the sled was new at minus -25 deg F.
I since have learned to use 1/2 choke. The coldest that I started the sled this year was minus -32 deg F, with no problems.
Hope this provides some insight.
Let the sled warm up good before you ride and it should perform well.
All the best!
Metallicat
TY 4 Stroke God
I can count on one hand the number of Vector engines I have heard of letting go prematurely. Go onto any other forum and check the same with any other engine from any other manufacturer. I don't have enough digits to count the number of 2 smokers that blow up each year, stock. Your sled has the most reliable engine in all of snowmobiledom.
Someone once suggested, when the temps are WAAAY below zero, that you should crank the starter over and then slowly move the choke lever to the left until the sled fires and that is as far as you need to go with the choke. Never had to try it myself, since temps here in Michigan seldom dip below -10F on any given winter morning.
Someone once suggested, when the temps are WAAAY below zero, that you should crank the starter over and then slowly move the choke lever to the left until the sled fires and that is as far as you need to go with the choke. Never had to try it myself, since temps here in Michigan seldom dip below -10F on any given winter morning.
ESKIMO
Extreme
Hi Hondo and dmsrx700 and Metellicat,
I'll check the chain tensioner, this was a 2007 sled though and they might have addressed that in prior MY sleds.
I will also try the progressive choke technique as mentioned.
Hondo, the starter is still spinning without catching, even after driving all day. So I don't think its a battery level issue now again.
In your earlier reply, you wrote "Sounds like it could be a burnt hold-in winding on the starter solenoid. This would cause the plunger (moves the fork to engage the starter gear) to bounce in and out."
If we had a drawing for this, which I can find here http://parts.yamaha-motor.com/?ls=sport Then can we get specific part numbers that you suggest pointed out here? That would be great. I can't see the starter, so I imagine that I would need to take the motor out completely to service the starter. Would I be correct there?
Thanks,
Eskimo
I'll check the chain tensioner, this was a 2007 sled though and they might have addressed that in prior MY sleds.
I will also try the progressive choke technique as mentioned.
Hondo, the starter is still spinning without catching, even after driving all day. So I don't think its a battery level issue now again.
In your earlier reply, you wrote "Sounds like it could be a burnt hold-in winding on the starter solenoid. This would cause the plunger (moves the fork to engage the starter gear) to bounce in and out."
If we had a drawing for this, which I can find here http://parts.yamaha-motor.com/?ls=sport Then can we get specific part numbers that you suggest pointed out here? That would be great. I can't see the starter, so I imagine that I would need to take the motor out completely to service the starter. Would I be correct there?
Thanks,
Eskimo
