happy1426
Expert
on my 2011 when I start it up sounds like the donut gaskets are a little noisey or some kind of leak cokming from up underneath around the header area... just wondering if the 11's and up were any better for not going as much?? all the sites I look at only list them for 06-10 apex..
canadian nytro
Extreme
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2009
- Messages
- 98
- Location
- Port Perry, ON
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2011 Yamaha Apex
2002 Yamaha Viper
Mine were still good when I changed them out at 5000 miles. I'm sure they would have lasted a lot longer. Everything wears out in time, yours could be shot how many miles you have on your apex?
happy1426
Expert
17000 miles lol I'm sure they were changed a few times lol
13k miles on my 11. Still on stock exhaust and sounds like the day I bought it.
happy1426
Expert
I just bought mine and it sounds a little noisey under neath I'll get it checked out when I get back home!!
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
- Messages
- 21,490
- Age
- 54
- Location
- Schofield, WI
- Website
- www.totallyamaha.com
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2020 Sidewinder SRX
I have 13000 miles on my 2011 Apex and they are original.
Winderallday!
VIP Member
I have 9,000 miles on my 2011 and have noticed the same exhaust leak sound as the OP. The leak/noise has not really gotten any worse over the last 2,500 miles, but recently I removed exhaust, EXUP and header pipes. I had a good look at the EXUP chamber and weld joints as it sounded to me like the exhaust leak was coming from that area under the tunnel when it was running on the stand. I noticed several small stress cracks adjacent to the weld joints on the Ti pipes, some you could only see with a magnifying glass. Since the pipes do enter the exup cast chamber a good 3/4" to 1", I opted not to weld/repair the stress cracks until such time I saw a significant failure. There was only one spot that I saw that maybe had enough of a crack to think there could be a minor exhaust leak, but in my opinion wouldn't make the kind of exhaust leak noise I was hearing.
Then, looking at the 4 exhaust donut joints, one of the band clamps spun sideways so I figured that donut must have been worn enough to make the joint loose/leak, and I also saw some carbon deposit on the header cover above to the loose joint. The donuts overall were not in bade shape not like the 06-10's that basically disintegrated. The OEM donuts now appear to have a metal mesh imbedded into them and possibly this is why they are lasting longer than the original 06+ design.
I also noticed the donut mesh pattern had imprinted on the flared ends of the Ti/exup pipes, possibly due to the significant heat in that area. One of the pipes looked like it was "knurled" completely around the inner flared end where the donut gasket is clamped in place. I figured it was possible exhaust was getting by in these areas as well.
I replaced the OEM donuts with Copper donuts and I also buffed the inside of the flared ends that had this knurled pattern imprint on them to make sure there was a good fit between the pipe and copper donut. I have yet to button the sled back up to find out if the exhaust leak sound is any better and if the donuts were actually the problem or not.
**Update Nov 4, started sled after re-assembly using new copper donuts, and the level of noise was significantly less, I do attribute the noise I was hearing to worn OEM donuts, looking at them closely, they are starting to break down and de-laminate. Probably could have gotten another season out of them, but while it was down that far, I decided to go for it.
Cheers.
Then, looking at the 4 exhaust donut joints, one of the band clamps spun sideways so I figured that donut must have been worn enough to make the joint loose/leak, and I also saw some carbon deposit on the header cover above to the loose joint. The donuts overall were not in bade shape not like the 06-10's that basically disintegrated. The OEM donuts now appear to have a metal mesh imbedded into them and possibly this is why they are lasting longer than the original 06+ design.
I also noticed the donut mesh pattern had imprinted on the flared ends of the Ti/exup pipes, possibly due to the significant heat in that area. One of the pipes looked like it was "knurled" completely around the inner flared end where the donut gasket is clamped in place. I figured it was possible exhaust was getting by in these areas as well.
I replaced the OEM donuts with Copper donuts and I also buffed the inside of the flared ends that had this knurled pattern imprint on them to make sure there was a good fit between the pipe and copper donut. I have yet to button the sled back up to find out if the exhaust leak sound is any better and if the donuts were actually the problem or not.
**Update Nov 4, started sled after re-assembly using new copper donuts, and the level of noise was significantly less, I do attribute the noise I was hearing to worn OEM donuts, looking at them closely, they are starting to break down and de-laminate. Probably could have gotten another season out of them, but while it was down that far, I decided to go for it.
Cheers.
Last edited:
canadian nytro
Extreme
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2009
- Messages
- 98
- Location
- Port Perry, ON
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2011 Yamaha Apex
2002 Yamaha Viper
They are much easier to change compared to my 09 Nytro and the older Apex's. I'd change them takes 1-2 hours and is pretty cheap! I also believe all the guys saying they lasted 10000+ miles as mine were in very good shape when I changed them out. A few older posts about this issue I think this one described how to do it at the start hope it helps! http://www.ty4stroke.com/threads/2011-apex-donuts-lasted-10-750-miles.127067/#post-1155414
icebreaker
Expert
6100 miles on mine took it apart and just put them back in they looked great!!!!!
