Apex: 06 vs 07 Chaincase??

[SERPAGS]

ok, I just dismantled the chaincase cover and I beleive I have the same cover as the O6 Apex (mine is a 07).

Should I go further to see if a seal failed or should I change the cover to the updated. The gasket DOES seem to have twisted where the lip gets smaller.

Advice please.

 

[berge75]

As least do the cover. If you have warranty left they should cover it. Clean the seal real good,it'll stay in place better. You caught yours in time before something happened.

 

[SERPAGS]

I spoke to 2 dealers down here and both of them say that they never replaced a cover. What I did for now (none in stock) is cleaned everything out with brake cleaner, and beaded the gasket with rtv on both sides in order to make the gasket sit straight. I figured I will first try this (no warranty left and may trade for 09) on the week-end and see if it leaks.

 

[RacerDave]

Wow. What did I start here! I forgot about this thread after I read Dans first reply. I'm a little concerned now. I use this Klotz in all my sleds, including the Apex. Any comments on it? Got 800 miles on it this year. Mostly aggressive trail and several high speed lake runs. Guess I better check the level before this weekends ride.

Here is a link to Klotz:
http://www.klotzlube.com/storeProdDetails.asp?pi=41

 

[marq]

I spoke to 2 dealers down here and both of them say that they never replaced a cover.

You know, this stuff really bugs me. I'm glad my dealer isn't like this.

Next time one of these Service Managers tell you that, walk behind the counter and plant your foot in their A$$. Their job isn't just to tell you whether they've seen a problem like yours, it's to be a liason between YOUR problem and Yamaha. Less than 2 minutes on the phone and they can verify whether Yamaha has anything in their system regarding a similar issue. Another 2 minutes and they can find out whether Yamaha will help you out, regardless of whether or not you are still in warranty.

Have one of the dealers make a call to Yamaha. It's a known problem and there is a very good chance that you'll get the parts at no cost to you.

 

[SERPAGS]

I spoke to 2 dealers down here and both of them say that they never replaced a cover.

You know, this stuff really bugs me. I'm glad my dealer isn't like this.

Next time one of these Service Managers tell you that, walk behind the counter and plant your foot in their A$$. Their job isn't just to tell you whether they've seen a problem like yours, it's to be a liason between YOUR problem and Yamaha. Less than 2 minutes on the phone and they can verify whether Yamaha has anything in their system regarding a similar issue. Another 2 minutes and they can find out whether Yamaha will help you out, regardless of whether or not you are still in warranty.

Have one of the dealers make a call to Yamaha. It's a known problem and there is a very good chance that you'll get the parts at no cost to you.

I totally agree, especially given the fact that I own a Auto Dealership, I know too well that you are correct. Unfortunately, when it comes to Recreational dealers, even t he good ones, are not very up to date with reality, and when we meantion, internet, forum..etc, they go balistic!

It pisses me off as well because often, we end up educating them on a given problem and they could care less!

As I said above, I am out of warranty and the cover is 207.00$ plus $37.00 for the gasket, so what I did for know is applied some RTV on both sides to ensure that the gasket stays in place. I will know on the week-end if it leaks. If it does, then i will have no choice but to begin with changing the cover at my expense, once again !

That felt good, a little venting

 

[4Fighter]

you were misinformed....this site has the best info here on TY....

there was a change on the 07 chaincase covers.....it has a slightly larger LIP around bottom inside gear,in which the rubber gasket can SEAT better...with more surface area to help the slight seaping some saw.

I know cause I got the new 07 cover under warrantee,and compared the new to old.

the VENT issue was something SOME thought was the problem....the VENT is in the DIPSTICK,and has NOTHING to do with the cover.

some dipstick rubbers at top where vent is,were not opened very well....so we simply cut them open more with an exacto knife....but most didnt need to do this.

IMO there were two big problems....first,the factory lube is not synthetic....and secondly,the lube was only filled to reverse line,which IMO is NOT enough oil.....and i believe on hi speed runs it would overheat and cause the seepage afterwards from heat on gasket.

either way,if you have seepage,get the new cover under warrantee and install synth lube filled to standard line...done!

Dan

A few clarifications (IMO):

The cover used on virtually all of the 07 Yamahas is the same as the 06 cover. Both 06 and 07 Apex/Attaks are prone to having shifted chaincase gaskets and chaincase oil leaks (potentially leading to chain/chaincase failures). For the 07 season Yamaha made available an updated cover (that was "known" as an "07 updated cover", but was not included on 07 sleds) that improved the seal securing abilities and essentially fixed the oil leak issue. This updated cover was supposed to be installed whenever an 06/07 Apex/Attak suffered a chaincase oil leak and was in for warranty service (not all dealers read the bulletin though, so sometimes the cover was not updated).

Although I can't confirm this first hand, my understanding is some time very late in the 07 sled build, Yamaha started to use the updated cover (after all of the original "leak prone" covers were used up). Every 07 I'm aware of, including mine, came with the same cover as the 06 sleds.

I concurr on the venting information above. No one I know had any issues with the vent.

I don't agree with the oil statements above. From the factory every Apex I've seen came with the oil filled to the "std" full line. This means that all reverse sleds were overfilled from the factory, not underfilled as stated above. This and the type of oil used by Yamaha have nothing to do with the oil leaks and chain failures. Once the cover is updated, as long as the oil is filled somewhere between the reverse full line and std full line, there have been no reported chaincase leaks nor premature chaincase failures.

Although there is a discrepancy on what the correct oil level should be, filling the chaincase to the "reverse full" line on a sled with reverse is exactly what the Yamaha owners manual tells you to do. Running this oil level and/or using a high quality non-synthetic oil will not cause a chain failure. It is oil leaks that cause the failure.

For the best protection and life span for your chain use the updated cover, change the oil regularly (more often is always better), use a measured 250ml to fill (which brings you slightly over the "reverse full" line), and use a high quality 75w90 synthetic oil. If you or your dealer happen to have used a high quality non-synthetic oil and/or filled it to the "revers full" line, don't worry about it. As long as the updated cover is installed you shouldn't have oil leak issues (without the updated cover I'd recommend checking the oil level regularly; personally I'd get the updated cover one way or another, even if I had to pay for it).

I believe you. This past weekend, I kept noticing the smell of burnt oil, while riding my '07 Attak GT. Then it started to vibrate at high speed. When I stopped to check it out - I had no lube on the chain case dip stick, and it smelled burnt. So we took engine oil drips from the oil sender, dropped them into a gatorade cap, and used the air breather hose from an '05 RX-1 as a funnel, to put something in it to get me to a gas station where I could get some gear lube in it. I made it back to the truck. Now the sled is at the dealer, awaiting their inspection (warranty).