Broken W arms, who's had one?

[TonyVT]

This evening, I just broke the rear arm (arm, pivot 2 on parts diagram) on 03 RX1with 4600km. Didn't hit any big bumps. Two short 2x4's jammed under the broken pieces gave me enough clearance to ride to the truck. Is there a problem with this one breaking like the w-arm?

Al

All we have to do is carry a couple of 2x4's with us and were good to go!

 

[VT_BluYamaha54]

My '04 Warrior has about 3700mi. I will be pulling the skid in the next few weeks (hopefully) and definitely plan to inspect it closely then.



I think the big problem we TYers all face is that we may be a bit too vigilant about maintenance + repair of our sleds (and probably everything else we own too) which means WE ARE FIXING PROBLEMS FOR THE MANUFACTURER(s). While there is nothing really wrong with that, I maintain that this actually does the "Larger Yamaha Community" a huge disservice since Yamaha is many, many times completely unaware of a problem because their dealers are not seeing the failures and Yamaha is not seeing warranty claims!

I'm not saying we should stop fixing and tinkering but somehow we need to make sure that our dealer is aware of ALL WARRANTY ISSUES AS WELL AS ANY ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON DESIGN OF A PART/IMPROVEMENT/DEFECTS IN PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT REASONABLY FAIL, ETC. NO ONE CAN IMPROVE IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS!!

Let's face it, Yamaha makes a very good product but imagine how much better it could be if they were aware of ALL their failures. The Japanese are a very proud people and do not like to make things that are anything but THE BEST!

 

[4Fighter]

My '04 Warrior has about 3700mi. I will be pulling the skid in the next few weeks (hopefully) and definitely plan to inspect it closely then.



I think the big problem we TYers all face is that we may be a bit too vigilant about maintenance + repair of our sleds (and probably everything else we own too) which means WE ARE FIXING PROBLEMS FOR THE MANUFACTURER(s). While there is nothing really wrong with that, I maintain that this actually does the "Larger Yamaha Community" a huge disservice since Yamaha is many, many times completely unaware of a problem because their dealers are not seeing the failures and Yamaha is not seeing warranty claims!

I'm not saying we should stop fixing and tinkering but somehow we need to make sure that our dealer is aware of ALL WARRANTY ISSUES AS WELL AS ANY ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON DESIGN OF A PART/IMPROVEMENT/DEFECTS IN PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT REASONABLY FAIL, ETC. NO ONE CAN IMPROVE IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS!!

Let's face it, Yamaha makes a very good product but imagine how much better it could be if they were aware of ALL their failures. The Japanese are a very proud people and do not like to make things that are anything but THE BEST!

My dealer is and they sure are quick to say "NO!" aren't they?

 

[CC Rider]

Well, I've sat back for the last year now, just reading the forums. I guess it's time for me to say a few words. 1998 SRX - broken w-arm, 2000 SRX- broken w-arm, now my 2003 RX-1, broke a control rod at the beginning of second season, broke relay rod and w-arm in this third season. It is quite evident that undercutting on welds are a problem. This season I would knock out the ice and check out the suspension after every ride, looking for cracks on the welds. I have an arc welder at home and have welded and reinforced the suspensions a number of times, all without taking it out. However this summer I will remove the suspension and do a proper job of repairing and reinforcing it. For all those who have not broken something in that suspension, IMO , it really is only a matter of time. I really thought that the new '05 suspension would be the answer not only in durability but also what Yamaha was lacking in .... ride quality ... as compared to other companies. It seems the ride quality may be there, but, after reading some of the problems relating to durability in just the first year , I really don't know quite what to think.

 

[rxrider]

I broke w-arm at 4000 kms on my '03 rx-1, actually my dealer replaced it under warranty before it went into pieces, it had started to crack up. I have to take a look at it after this season, 2500 kms since the replacement.

W-arm on my '05 monoshock RA was also starting to crack up at 1800 kms. Dealer took a closer look at the mono when sled when it was in for som smaller adjustments. Yamaha had told him to check out all mono sleds he got in for service to look for signs of skids cracking up. Yamaha wanted him to take the skids apart, and take pictures of what he found and return them to Yamaha. Grease zerks was installed and all welds was reinforced with new welding as a warranty job. I hope it holds up now..

I do ride my sleds hard and trails around here are not groomed. I have broken skids on most of my sleds over the years except my '86 SRV540 and '01 SX700R

 

[mikeb]

Add another Warrior. I found cracks in my W arm during routine maintenance

 

[outlawrx1]

broken w arm on 99sx,2000srx,2001srx,02 viper,03 rx1

 

[Yama-Crazy]

Add another W arm broke on my 05 Rage with a mere 5,400 miles.

 

[TonyVT]

Hmmmm, not sure, but would consider this a broken arm? That happened just a couple weeks after my sled came off warranty...if the sled wasn't down for a month while the dealer screwed around with the seat issue, it would have broken while still under warranty. Less than a week after the warranty ran out both relay rods broke. Naaaa, couldn't POSSIBLY be a suspension problem...

Jim

I was lucky I caught mine this fall with almost no welds left uncracked. Dont know how it never snapped!!! My buddy welded it up extra...

After I fixed my w arm I broke a relay bar. I bought Viper bars which have roller bearings...added a 3/8 high carbon steel bar to both of them..

I can send pics if anyones interested...

It aint gona break again.. (but somthin else might)

 

[TonyVT]

My '04 Warrior has about 3700mi. I will be pulling the skid in the next few weeks (hopefully) and definitely plan to inspect it closely then.

Dont wait... it could kill you! No joke..

I jacked mine up in the garage and after it was all melted out I could easily see all the cracks in the welds with a drop light...

I was lucky!!!!!!!!!

 

[dmaxx]

97 SX700 broke one, my brothers SX, and my RX1 broke at the end of last year. This is very disappointing for Yamaha not to have corrected this when the problem existed with the introduction of the proaction. They should have corrected this with a stronger arm. I have reinforced mine. Best update to do is to add a Edge or any other suspension.

 

[scott boddie]

w arm cracked again

i have a 04 warrior broke w arm in 3 pieces at 1500 miles and i replaced w arm with a reinforced one from pionner proformance last weekend i had to weld cracks again this is a big problem now i dont trust hitting a big bump ill have to check for cracks before every ride THANKS YAMAHA !!! 10 grand for sled this SUCKS

 

[kkraus]

2001 srx, broken W arm twice, 2004 Warrior Broken W 3 times. Welded 1/8 plates on top and bottom of W arm from top to bottom. If it breaks now FORGET IT! I agree Yamaha should build a stonger one and exchange them out no questions asked. It's called a recall. Auto makers do it all the time.

 

[welterracer]

my old rx-warrior finally had a broken W-arm at 5000 miles.. Its was shattered..

welded it back up and added gussets .. should be good to go for ever..

 

[kkraus]

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.