Frustrated - exhaust pipes and parts went bad

[mdkuni]

2006 Apex ER. Picked up my sled from the dealer and it has 4975 miles on it. It was in due to backfiring, speedo bearing replacement, and coolant flush.

This is what was replaced on the exhaust:

The four exhaust joints
The exhaust gaskets on both sides of the joints
Both of the dual exhaust pipes
Both gaskets where the pipe goes 2 into 1

The donuts most people were having problems with were about half of their normal size. 1 pipe and joint had at least one crack in it.

Yamaha stated this was due to the use of lightweight parts.

Coolant was flushed and 60/40 was added back in. My gauge (floating ball) still reads -40F. About 5-8 minutes of idle and my radiator fan will kick on. It just seems to run two hot. My feet sweat from all the heat. Can I just empty out the main tank a couple of times and fill it with water and let it cycle through?

I am mainly dissatisfied with the exhaust. There is no point in getting to worked up about it, as I do not know what will happen with the new hardware. It is just the comment about it happening because of lightweight material worries me. I do not want to have to replace things every 4500 miles.

Thank you Yamaha for standing behind your products and fixing the necessary parts for me. They even replaced a couple items that were still in good shape so I could start new.

 

[mdkuni]

Any thoughts on the durability and coolant?

 

[BlgsRX-1mtn]

Any thoughts on the durability and coolant?

I'm assuming the coolant flush included completely draining the system prior to the fresh coolant being added. If this is correct; did you jack the rear end up so it was slightly higher than the resvoir (about 1" higher is all you need) and then; crack open the bleeder screw in the center of the cross over pipe at the rear and keep filling the resevoir until air quit comming out at the rear?

I'm also assuming there is one on the Apex sleds similar to the RX-1 sleds. If so, the bleeder screw is dead center of the cross over pipe under the tunnel and the access hole for the bleeder screw is hidden by the pastic trim that covers the exhaust heat shield (right below the tailight and seat).

I drained my system on my RX-1 mtn last year when I added the Temp gauge and my super charger. I bled the air out as described above. So far 900 miles with no overheating.

I can't comment on the exhaust durabilty issues since I'm running aftermarkt exhaust with my Super Charger.

Jim

 

[suprfst]

Aways use distilled water never tap water.Minerals in tap water will eventualy corrode the inside of your cooling system,distilled water has no impuritys.

 

[rx1pat]

I made a comment to this last week. I'm very surpised you had to replace pieces of the exhaust after that many miles. I had 12,000 miles on my rx-1 after 3 seasons, still with the original exhaust.
This also makes me worry about durability of light weight parts. Too me they are no good if their not durable. But that's the price the rest of us pay because everone wants to go fast. I can't believe the number of posts who want a few more miles an hour on the top end so they can be king of the trail. My time off is precious and I could care less if I'm going 100 or 103. I want a sled thats reliable so I can enjoy my time off.
Seems a few of these light weight parts are questionable. Exhausts, chaincase covers etc. Don't get me wrong, light is good but it has to be reliable.

 

[apex yooper]

RX1 Pat,
Ditto

There's a reason for that extra weight-durability. I have to laugh at replacing the plugs for 2 HP, and saying you can feel the difference.

 

[mdkuni]

I made a comment to this last week. I'm very surpised you had to replace pieces of the exhaust after that many miles. I had 12,000 miles on my rx-1 after 3 seasons, still with the original exhaust.
This also makes me worry about durability of light weight parts. Too me they are no good if their not durable. But that's the price the rest of us pay because everone wants to go fast. I can't believe the number of posts who want a few more miles an hour on the top end so they can be king of the trail. My time off is precious and I could care less if I'm going 100 or 103. I want a sled thats reliable so I can enjoy my time off.
Seems a few of these light weight parts are questionable. Exhausts, chaincase covers etc. Don't get me wrong, light is good but it has to be reliable.

What year is your RX1? Didn't they change the exhaust for the Apex?

As far as coolant goes the dealer is the one that did the flush. Thanks for the tip on distilled water, it is what I use. I am hoping if I empty the plastic reservoirs a couple of times and fill with water I will see closer to -25F.

What temperature is 60/40 rated at?

 

[LazyBastard]

Aways use distilled water never tap water.Minerals in tap water will eventualy corrode the inside of your cooling system,distilled water has no impuritys.

Minerals won't hurt anything - they'll just build up layers of crud (if enough is circulated through the system). What causes problems are things like salt and chlorine, which ionize in the water. These will actually cause corrosion - just look at boats that run in salt water. What this means is that CITY tap water is VERY BAD. Some well-water can also contain salts, but others are perfectly good.

 

[rx1pat]

My rx-1 was a 2003. I sold it a bought an Apex. I have 4,000 miles on the Apex, no problems. Not sure if it's the same exhaust as the rx-1. I hope so. But your right, probably made of lighter weight material thats not as durable. Hope yours is an isolated problem at not the norm.