Frustrating icing over heating issues

[Gone Blue]

I have been up at the Give Away ride this weekend with my 09' RTX on its side more than on its track and skis. With the best snow I have seen in two years, I have been struggling with the heat exchanger icing over causing my temp light to come on. Fridays ride of 130 miles or so had me stop at least 15 times to clean off the heat exchanger and boiled coolant out one of times.

I can't tell you how frustrating this has been. This is my second season with the Phazer and I never saw a temp light last year in the 600 plus miles I put on my sled. The only thing i added this year was a Skinz float plate. After icing over four times in 20 miles today, I decided maybe the float plate might be the issue. The plate hangs past the heat exchanger 1/4 to 3/8" and ice between the plate and the belly pan seemed to be creating a lip that was catching snow and ice sliding off the heat exchanger. After removing the float plate, I still had icing issues.

So looking at similar threads on this issue and talking with TY members here in Muni, it seems that a different track might help. I have been picking up parts to stretch my Phazer to 144". I had planned to do the stretch this summer but now will be doing it in the next 2 weeks. I have a new Firecat Ext. 13.5 x 1.25 x 144 preditor track that I picked that hope helps my cooling issues as well as getting the most out of my Phazer. The stock track sux.

Oh and yes, my fan is working and the sled has just over 1,000 miles on it. It had 198 miles on it when I bought it last January.

Sorry for the novel. G.B.

 

[pat the rat]

were you riding powder or groomed trails,mine will do it after alot of powder riding but never on packed trails

 

[Cubby]

Join the club! I had to stop every 15 minutes to clean out the slush from the heat exchanger this weekend. My Skidoo riding buddies were all smug about it too.

I need to uprade to the 1.5" Freeride track.

 

[yamahas]

The freeride got rid of this for me.

 

[Trucker]

I just keep riding. the light will eventually go off. If I have time at stop signs I'll reach under and knock off the ice. For the most part I just keep going and it will go off. Seen my temp light more this past week than the whole time I've owned it. Due to very dusty cond.

 

[Gone Blue]

Thanks guys, I realize that I am not the only one with this frustrating issue. I guess since we didnt really have much snow last year is why I didnt see a temp light with my first season with the Phazer.

I had the worst issue on the rail road grades that had 3 - 4" of loose snow on them. Didnt see a light on the hard packed trail. The one time I ignored the light and tried to keep riding, I overheated and pissed out some coolant thru the over flow. I was going to go with a 144" Freeride until I found a new Firecat track for $325. I hope it helps. Otherwise, as much as I like my Phazer, I am not sure I want to put up with this..........

Thanks again, G.B.

 

[Trucker]

Hey one thing to check is make sure all AIR is burped out of your system. You might have an air pocket. I had AIR in mine after i got it out light doesn't come on as much. FYI

 

[Gone Blue]

Hey one thing to check is make sure all AIR is burped out of your system. You might have an air pocket. I had AIR in mine after i got it out light doesn't come on as much. FYI

Thanks, that is worth checking for sure.

G.B.

 

[Gone Blue]

Ok ok, so we got home from the Muni ride at 4:30 AM this morning. This afternoon I dragged the Phazer off the trailer and into the garage. The Muni snow hasn't even melted in the skid yet and I am tearing into it

I already have the track and rear bumper for the stretch. I need to order rail extensions, fab tunnel extension, send my clutch weights back to Ulmer for some massaging, and look for additional rear wheel mounts.

G.B.

 

[cannondale27]

Holy cow you dont mess around!Looks awesome.If the track doesnt do the job just close the front hole.

 

[Gone Blue]

Holy cow you dont mess around!Looks awesome.If the track doesnt do the job just close the front hole.

cannondale,

Yeah, I was pretty frustrated this past weekend and just wanted to ride. Although I am wondering if the 1.25" Predator track I am going to put on will help the cooling issue that much? It is only 0.25" taller but does have more of a paddle style lug tham teh stock 1" ripsaw. I sure hope it does. I didnt realize you could close off the front hole on the tunnel. I thought people were only closing off the rear hole. Mine is an 09' which has the factory closed hole in the rear but the front is open. Is there any down side for closing off the front hole in the tunnel?

Thanks, G.B.

 

[YamRaider]

I have a 2007 FX and I have both the front and rear holes closed off and have never had any icing issues or other issues because of the closed off holes. I am running the stock 1" track. The only thing that was recommend was to modify the front deflector plate by cutting the sides off by about an inch to allow air to pass thru under the seat and cool the exhaust off. It also keeps your legs nice and warm too. Almost like arctic cats heated seat.

 

[OVR4D]

Is there any down side for closing off the front hole in the tunnel?

Yamaha claims excessive heat will substantially reduce the life of flex joints. Given that they are underneath the fuel tank, closing the forward opening in the tunnel could literally be playing with fire.

 

[cannondale27]

There is risk involved but I have thousands of miles with no issues other than the heat shielding fibre disintegrated last year.Have seen that on stock ones also though.Your call.