Broken W arms, who's had one?

[welterracer]

I put gussetts in all the corners as well the first time it broke. I thought that it would Never break again. WRONG! it cracked right below the gusset. Thats why I put plates on top and bottom and welded it. I hope yours hold up.

My brother had his metal fabricator weld in 1/8 inch steel gussets (a little overkill) and an awsome weld job..

 

[TonyVT]

Crap!

I guess Im gona pull mine in the spring and sure it up for sure!!!

 

[dmaxx]

Broke another one Friday on my nephews 03 RX1. What a way to ruin a weekend. This one broke clean near the bottom of the arm. What a piece of crap. Yamaha should have corrected this by 1998!

 

[TonyVT]

Anyone have pics of a good way to fix this????

 

[INLINE4]

Broken three times in 9000 miles. 04 Warrior.

I do not have pics. My father welded the w arm. Over 30 years experience welding. Every time near the weld never in the weld, even the first time. I would think better or thicker metal of equal strength would do the trick. Painted mine white, only at the weld joint to better see the cracks in the future.

 

[Rockmeister]

Repaired mine a couple weeks ago.
Would NOT have made it through another trip!

Broken in 3 places and cracked in a 4th.
Lost a day of riding. : (

 

[low slung]

Was cleaning my sled for its summer nap when i noticed mine was cracked on the inner W-arm.Over 4600 miles before it cracked.Going to pull it out this summer and have it welded,makes more sense than buying a new one.I wonder do powder-lites still sell that fancy red W arm.Picture of it is still on there site but no listing of it anywhere.

 

[mikeRX]

Mine broke at 9000kms. in the middle of the bush at about 9:30pm on a Wednesday night. Good times!!!

 

[Grunter]

W arms failing

I solved by utilising a 3/4" solid plate and welding on one inch pipes with brass bushings...It cost me 765.00 - Haven't had any problems yet! LOL

On a serious note - check your suspension carefully every 3,500kms depending on how you ride - and you will be able to stay on top of it!

There are updates(05') - which are margianlly better - but I'm afraid Yamaha skimped on the steel a bit! Don't feel bad - my 05's front arm cracked right smack in the middle of the tube right at the support tube's weldment..then the rails etc. Heck mine didn't even have grease fittings - I had to add my own(Yamaha claimed they weren't needed on the 05) and all my bushings were shot by 500km's! After I added the grease zerks i went another 7,500km's and my connecting rod let go!

Anyway, the 06-09 all have the same exact skid(but with grease fittings)
I'd like to hear Yamaha explain this one without sounding retarded!

Anyway, I believe in the old saying - " you wanna play, you gotta pay" but lately it's been rediculous....

Note: If you are gonna weld it, try putting a small plate etc. over your weld to reinforce...normally if you weld - it cracks right beside it, or best just change the arm that way you start with a stress free piece which restores a certain reliability or predictability etc...

 

[low slung]

While taken mine apart i noticed the bushings in the pivot points on the rails had the plastic bushings inside turned to dust.Ordering new bushings and installed grease fittings on the joints today(very easy).

 

[Mark O]

Here's a picture of mine taken yesterday. ('05 RX1) Only 1,400 easy miles. Brought the skid to the dealer & ordered all the replacement parts with grease fittings. I bought this sled new in April '06 & the dearler is going to talk to the rep about it. Hopefully, I'll get some help.

BTW, all of the suspension welds are pretty ugly.

 

[Paul 03 & 05 RX1]

I have 03 and 05 .... my 05 swingarm broke at 2600 miles.... so the new mono is no good as well... i wonder how the Nytro's, attacks and apex's are doing cause they have very similar mono tubular set-ups as my 05..... why trade to a newer model ???