Changing chain case oil with evacuator, bad idea?

[tnc110]

Thinking out loud here. Changing the chain case oil with an evacuator is not doing yourself any favors. The oil itself should last SEVERAL thousands of miles. The reason for changing is primarily to get the metal shavings out correct? Maybe also to inspect/look for wear. Maybe if the sled was run on a stand a good while or ridden, then IMMEDIATELY pulling the oil while the junk was still suspended in the oil...otherwise most of the metal is going to remain in the case.

Thoughts?

 

[1320]

Thinking out loud here. Changing the chain case oil with an evacuator is not doing yourself any favors. The oil itself should last SEVERAL thousands of miles. The reason for changing is primarily to get the metal shavings out correct? Maybe also to inspect/look for wear. Maybe if the sled was run on a stand a good while or ridden, then IMMEDIATELY pulling the oil while the junk was still suspended in the oil...otherwise most of the metal is going to remain in the case.

Thoughts?

You will laugh I blow compressed air into it with a long thin tube not too much pressure though and then when it stirs up the particles I suck it out with a turkey baster that has a long tube attached to it and then I fill it again and repeat the process and then drain it out of the bottom obviously warming the engine up first

 

[alswagg2]

I change the chain case oil every year usually in the spring I do this at the same time as engine oil changes. Yes I suck out the chain case oil.

 

[grizztracks]

If it had a drain plug would you pull the cover to chain oil just so you could inspect it. If the oil is being changed at proper intervals there shouldn't be much wear but I'd recommend at some point the cover should eventually come off for a proper inspection.

 

[iam_canadian22]

If it had a drain plug would you pull the cover to chain oil just so you could inspect it. If the oil is being changed at proper intervals there shouldn't be much wear but I'd recommend at some point the cover should eventually come off for a proper inspection.

I agree, i pull the cover off every time on every sled ive owned. I feel more comfortable visually inspecting everything in there.

 

[blueironranger]

I agree, i pull the cover off every time on every sled ive owned. I feel more comfortable visually inspecting everything in there.

same here, I always pull the cover and wipe as much of the surfaces clean.

 

[1320]

I have pulled the cover on two different sleds since I started this process with great success there was very little build up inside the key is flushing it twice .I do agree it's good to pull the cover and check everything though

 

[grizztracks]

So for those that elect to pull the covers for every change how often do you discover a need to do additional repairs? Ive been doing this a long time and as long as normal oil change intervals are maintained I've never seen a Yamaha chain case failure. The only failures I've seen over the years is when a seal blows out but I doubt you change those on every oil change. It doesn't hurt to pull the cover every time but I don't believe it's actual necessary. I bet most dealers don't pull the cover when servicing a case if there is a drain plug.

 

[RTX]

So for those that elect to pull the covers for every change how often do you discover a need to do additional repairs? Ive been doing this a long time and as long as normal oil change intervals are maintained I've never seen a Yamaha chain case failure. The only failures I've seen over the years is when a seal blows out but I doubt you change those on every oil change. It doesn't hurt to pull the cover every time but I don't believe it's actual necessary. I bet most dealers don't pull the cover when servicing a case if there is a drain plug.

I pull the cover at the end of every season. I change out all bearings in the chaincase every other year.
While it is open i check the chain stretch and gears for wear. And wipe out all the fine metal that builds up on the inner case or magnets. I have been doing it this way since 2002
It is very seldom that i have caught a problem, but i have caught problems.
I found a worn chain (beyond yamaha specs) on my 02 viper and on my 06 apex.
I also found a worn top gear on my 14 viper at the end of last season.
Im anal about my stuff and hate breakdowns plus i just enjoy getting in there and checking things out, it gives me something to tinker with.
i get most all of my bearings for free through work so it cost me almost nothing.
I think for most people pulling the cover every year is overkill, but in my opinion its better to be safe than sorry.

 

[gitrdun]

Thinking out loud here. Changing the chain case oil with an evacuator is not doing yourself any favors. The oil itself should last SEVERAL thousands of miles. The reason for changing is primarily to get the metal shavings out correct? Maybe also to inspect/look for wear. Maybe if the sled was run on a stand a good while or ridden, then IMMEDIATELY pulling the oil while the junk was still suspended in the oil...otherwise most of the metal is going to remain in the case.

Thoughts?

I'm thinking you may be overthinking the regular chaincase oil change with regards to possible metal shavings. In the manual, it doesn't even mention warming it up first, as it does with motor oil change. Also, something that hasn't been mentioned and another reason for regular oil changes, is possibility of water(condensation) in your oil. I have had it once(slightly grey, milky?) and I have heard others mention it on this forum.

 

[YukonMP]

A rare earth magnet glued to my dipstick does a nice job of trapping metal particles thus keeping the oil clean all the time. And the added bonus is seeing the big shiny junks start to show up and know trouble is around the corner. Last month a friend limped his sled home slowly after checking his chain case dipstick on a break. He got home ok but the sled needed bearings.

 

[1320]

I'm thinking you may be overthinking the regular chaincase oil change with regards to possible metal shavings. In the manual, it doesn't even mention warming it up first, as it does with motor oil change. Also, something that hasn't been mentioned and another reason for regular oil changes, is possibility of water(condensation) in your oil. I have had it once(slightly grey, milky?) and I have heard others mention it on this forum.

The warming of the engine is simply to make the chain case oil flow better just a matter of preference seems to be easier when it's hot

 

[kinger]

So for those that elect to pull the covers for every change how often do you discover a need to do additional repairs? Ive been doing this a long time and as long as normal oil change intervals are maintained I've never seen a Yamaha chain case failure. The only failures I've seen over the years is when a seal blows out but I doubt you change those on every oil change. It doesn't hurt to pull the cover every time but I don't believe it's actual necessary. I bet most dealers don't pull the cover when servicing a case if there is a drain plug.

Maybe on stock sleds. My boosted apex eats chains for lunch. I have to change the chain every year if I get 1000+ miles on that year. Otherwise I do every other year. The chain stretches so far you can hold it out and it will stay extended in your hand and not wrap! Once it gets to that, the links are so long that it will wear the gears. Its part of my PM now yearly on the apex. That said it never breaks! haha I can't image the shock loads it endures as I am jumping a 950lbs of mass in the air, landing under full boost at 12psi and it grabs and reverses the momentum of the skis and instead of touching the ground they almost get to the ground and then lift back up. I have said for years in that scenario I swear I can hear the whine of the chain stretching!