My brother and I each bought a Phazer FX this year. Both of them are constantly overheating. We had to make a screen for over the radiator, because just snowdust alone would clog it up. When we are riding in the powder they overheat about every 10 miles. A big block of ice and snow develops in front of the heat exchanger and then just the front of it melts away and prevents new snow from getting on the heat exchanger. So you have to tip the sleds on the side and clean the ice out. The gap between the track and the heat exchanger is about 4 inches. We were riding when it was 10 below outside and it still did it constantly. We have contacted Yamaha a couple of times and they say that its not an issue, they must not have done any testing on them. They have provided terrible service. So i was wondering if anybody else was having overheating problems, if not try riding in the powder.
Anyone having overheating light come on?
- Thread starter NorthMinn
- Start date
Yamahnator
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Re: Phazer OverHeating Problems!
Hmm, a guy with 1 post who's screen name is "Phazerjunk"... I'm gonna bet on troll from a certain other site...
But just in case, check the coolant mixture. No reports of overheating problems other than those with straight freeze.
PhazerJunk said:
Hmm, a guy with 1 post who's screen name is "Phazerjunk"... I'm gonna bet on troll from a certain other site...
But just in case, check the coolant mixture. No reports of overheating problems other than those with straight freeze.
SharkAttak
TY 4 Stroke God
my fx was overheating, so i took all the anti-freeze out and put it to a 50/50 mix and some water wetter, no more overheating issues
piperdave
Newbie
I have the exact problem. I changed the antifreeze as well and that doesn't change anything. When I leave the powder I stop and clean all the ice/slush out from the heat exchanger and then carry on. That works until I hit the powder again and repeat the same procedure. When I contacted my dealer they said that was the first they ever heard of the problem and told me I didn't know how to properly ride the sled!! So much for dealer support. That's when I found this website and started asking questions myself. I don't have any answer for this problem.....dont think it's going to go away magiclly though. The only other thing I can say is don't worry too much....you are far from being alone with this problem.
David
David
SharkAttak
TY 4 Stroke God
piperdave said:
did you get all the air out of the system, i thought i had until i went back and bled it again, it's been getting even better now that i have 500 mi. on it, the motor's breaking, hasn't over heated again
phazerfly
Extreme
Re: Phazer OverHeating Problems!
I have to ask how many miles are on your sled. I had the overheating problem when it was new, but by about 700 miles it pretty much dissapeared. It takes a while for that motor to break in. If that doesn't do it put the fan on it, that will take care of it.
PhazerJunk said:
I have to ask how many miles are on your sled. I had the overheating problem when it was new, but by about 700 miles it pretty much dissapeared. It takes a while for that motor to break in. If that doesn't do it put the fan on it, that will take care of it.
Blueheron
VIP Member
I have followed every overheating thread on this forum and also checked other forums. This has been an ongoing issue for many Phazers. If your dealer tells you it is not an issue he is full of s**t! I was told the Big Wigs from Yamaha CA were out at Yorkton SK. to look at that very problem. If this is not true then my dealer is full of s**t. I have been right in the showroom and watched the dealer send e-mails to Yamaha CA on these issues.
This is what I learned here.
1. Check your antifreeze as this appears to be an issue. Yamaha said they are using a different antifreeze and you will require a "refractometer" to test it accurate. Ask your dealer if they have one. I'm waiting for my dealer to get one. Try to get the mixture at 50/50 and add water wetter to help with heat transfer. Make sure to bleed all air from the system. There is a post on the forum about burping the system. I didn't do that but give it a try.
2. I have a screen covering the rad. It constantly plugs with snow so you will have to clean it off. RM Lightning products might be working on a screen for the rad, check it out. Also you can drill holes in the cover directly below the rad to let water escape when it melts off the rad. Of course that won't work when it is really cold. I believe if you read around the forum you will discover that the MNT Lite and Venture Lite owners are not experiencing this problem. This is soley do to the fact that they have a fan. It moves an enourmous amount of air and seems to keep the rad clear. Even if your heat exchanger is plugged the fan will always keep her cool. Yamaha should be providing all Phazer owners with a fan as this is likely the easy fix vs adding extra coolers etc.
3. The heat issue will drasticly improve once you get the engine broke in but it will not dissapear. If you are a heavy guy that engine is going to work. I'm 210 + and if I push it, it will flash me the warning light on a long haul.
4. Riding conditions as you have noticed play a part. Deep snow tends to plug the exchanger removing its cooling ability. Once the rad freezes over you know what happens. I believe phazerfly put on a 1.5 track and that helped keep the snow moving by the exchanger. Also if you ride aggresive like phazerfly its not likely any snow will stay stuck in front of the exchanger as I believe he spends more time in the air than on the ground (he likes to live it up and have fun). If you ride trail you may likely never see the temp. warning.
In the end I believe the fan is the only sure fix for this issue. Now if we can get Yamaha to pay for it??????? Doubtfull. Phone your dealer and see if he can get you one. I'm betting he can't but if someone knows where they are available post it. I'm sure there is a lot of Phazer owners who want one.
I hope there isn't to many spelling mistakes and that this helps you out. I'm sure there are things I have missed here so read as much as you can. Likely someone will add what I have missed.
Good Luck
This is what I learned here.
1. Check your antifreeze as this appears to be an issue. Yamaha said they are using a different antifreeze and you will require a "refractometer" to test it accurate. Ask your dealer if they have one. I'm waiting for my dealer to get one. Try to get the mixture at 50/50 and add water wetter to help with heat transfer. Make sure to bleed all air from the system. There is a post on the forum about burping the system. I didn't do that but give it a try.
2. I have a screen covering the rad. It constantly plugs with snow so you will have to clean it off. RM Lightning products might be working on a screen for the rad, check it out. Also you can drill holes in the cover directly below the rad to let water escape when it melts off the rad. Of course that won't work when it is really cold. I believe if you read around the forum you will discover that the MNT Lite and Venture Lite owners are not experiencing this problem. This is soley do to the fact that they have a fan. It moves an enourmous amount of air and seems to keep the rad clear. Even if your heat exchanger is plugged the fan will always keep her cool. Yamaha should be providing all Phazer owners with a fan as this is likely the easy fix vs adding extra coolers etc.
3. The heat issue will drasticly improve once you get the engine broke in but it will not dissapear. If you are a heavy guy that engine is going to work. I'm 210 + and if I push it, it will flash me the warning light on a long haul.
4. Riding conditions as you have noticed play a part. Deep snow tends to plug the exchanger removing its cooling ability. Once the rad freezes over you know what happens. I believe phazerfly put on a 1.5 track and that helped keep the snow moving by the exchanger. Also if you ride aggresive like phazerfly its not likely any snow will stay stuck in front of the exchanger as I believe he spends more time in the air than on the ground (he likes to live it up and have fun). If you ride trail you may likely never see the temp. warning.
In the end I believe the fan is the only sure fix for this issue. Now if we can get Yamaha to pay for it??????? Doubtfull. Phone your dealer and see if he can get you one. I'm betting he can't but if someone knows where they are available post it. I'm sure there is a lot of Phazer owners who want one.
I hope there isn't to many spelling mistakes and that this helps you out. I'm sure there are things I have missed here so read as much as you can. Likely someone will add what I have missed.
Good Luck
phazerfly
Extreme
Hey bluehorn, how's the snow in Canwood, is it still soft or really hard like down here. Yes I did put on the 1.5" track and that made a huge difference in the cooling, I forgot to mention that in my earlier post. As far as fans go Proline in Saskatoon has on I believe because they brought it in for me, but then I didn't need it. Hopefully Yamaha owns up to this and supplies the fan. If not it's about $130.00 canadian. Not that bad I guess but its alway better if you don't have to pay for something they should do. IMO
teerex
Expert
I have ordered the fan, one expensive little thing. But when the sun and the turbo kicks in I guess it could pay off.
Blueheron
VIP Member
Thanks Phazerfly, I might call S'toon in the morning. Heading out Sunday morning for a ride along the west side of the PA Park to Big River. Hopefully the wind lets up. The fields are a little hard but there is a lot of snow here. Should be a good ride.
fletch83
Veteran
i just ordered a fan for my fx, $121.15 cdn, backordered, going to be waiting 2 weeks
pat the rat
Lifetime Member
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same here,backorder and same price,make sure you order the bolts that holds the fan in place cuz they dont come with it
fletch83
Veteran
ya, i did that, only $1.25 each, that fan should just bolt right in correct? the dealer had no clue
cdnredline
Veteran
My FX hasn't had the light on for me (have about 1400kms now) but it was on once when a friend was riding it. I was also riding with a GT earlier and his came on but not mine. I don't have a fan yet but a couple in the Yorkton area that have had problems have put on fans and tested in identical conditions. Their opinion is no problem once the fan is on. The are also a number of Phazers in this area that owners have closed off the top of the tunnel. Seams to keep the amount of ice blocking the exchanger down.
Ask your dealer to talk nice to their rep, the fans have been covered under a special customer relations program. As for the tunnel being closed in you are on your own as Yamaha is concerned about liability in this area.
As for your comments on the techs being in Yorkton, this is true. Just before Christmas two Japanese techs and three Canadian head office service staff were at Schrader's. The area had early snow and they tested all models of the 80hp's looking at steering freezing, heating, ice build up, etc. Very promising to see this level of commitment but it will take a bit for a corporate answer to all of our concerns.
Ask your dealer to talk nice to their rep, the fans have been covered under a special customer relations program. As for the tunnel being closed in you are on your own as Yamaha is concerned about liability in this area.
As for your comments on the techs being in Yorkton, this is true. Just before Christmas two Japanese techs and three Canadian head office service staff were at Schrader's. The area had early snow and they tested all models of the 80hp's looking at steering freezing, heating, ice build up, etc. Very promising to see this level of commitment but it will take a bit for a corporate answer to all of our concerns.
frees-tyler
Extreme
The customer relation fan fix option is up to the dealer. It still costs the dealer but, if Yamaha doesn't have this resolved soon I will supply a fan to my customers...gotta make it right 
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