Gremlins fixed on 2011 & up Apex's??

[ranger1]

Just wondering how many upgrades Yamaha has made to improve the reliability of the "newer version" Apex.
Any changes to..
- Drive axle
-Front end bushings
- Exhaust pipe/manifold
- Exhaust donuts
-Cracking/leaking oil reservoir tank

I know they added the rear cooler, upgraded the starter relay & also have better handwarmers. The a-arms are also grease able now. The stock XTX C.K skid is still harsh & is also still hard on the Hyfax (melted mine within 200 miles).
Would be nice to know if there is any maintenance concerns that we need to keep on top of. I always believe that preventative maintenance saves $$ in the long run

 

[sgauthier]

I've got a 2011 XTX and my first Apex so i have no input on older models other then what i've read on here.

drive axle shouldn't be a problem anymore, exhaust donuts are a wear item so you need to get them replaced before they wear and then crack the exhaust pipes. a lot of folks on here replace them with the copper ones. I've replaced mine once with OEM (at 6000 Km or so now have 12500 KM no issue yet) but i also ground down the clamps so they do not come loose, but the next time will be with the copper. The stock ones seem to wear better so not sure if they did do an upgrade of the material. Bushings are still the plastic ones that you will need to replace but when i did mine at 6000 KM they were all still in good shape but changed them anyways just because. I've never had a problem with the oil tank but when i heard about the older ones cracking I added rubber bushings between the tank and the frame.

as for slider wear, as soon as i got it I added the 6 oversize idlers from Royal and 2 sets of yamaha marginal wheels and i get well over 4000 KM per set so it's not an issue on mine.

the XTX is a little stiff but i don't mine it.

 

[ranger1]

I've got a 2011 XTX and my first Apex so i have no input on older models other then what i've read on here.

drive axle shouldn't be a problem anymore, exhaust donuts are a wear item so you need to get them replaced before they wear and then crack the exhaust pipes. a lot of folks on here replace them with the copper ones. I've replaced mine once with OEM (at 6000 Km or so now have 12500 KM no issue yet) but i also ground down the clamps so they do not come loose, but the next time will be with the copper. The stock ones seem to wear better so not sure if they did do an upgrade of the material. Bushings are still the plastic ones that you will need to replace but when i did mine at 6000 KM they were all still in good shape but changed them anyways just because. I've never had a problem with the oil tank but when i heard about the older ones cracking I added rubber bushings between the tank and the frame.

as for slider wear, as soon as i got it I added the 6 oversize idlers from Royal and 2 sets of yamaha marginal wheels and i get well over 4000 KM per set so it's not an issue on mine.

the XTX is a little stiff but i don't mine it.

Thanks sgauthier, I replaced the donuts with copper ones & also changed to oillite front end bushings in my last two Apexs, I guess eventually I will have to do the same to this one.

 

[thor452]

6000 miles and no issues with exhaust or bushings. stock sliders wear out fast dupont will get you thru a season. I have only changed oil greased gas and go for 6000 miles and now its suercharged so we will see how that goes.

 

[thor452]

oh and the stupid EXUP valve cables break going to wire mine open next time im in there. or maybe remove and cut off and replace end as a cap.

 

[Grimm]

The intro of the EXUP seems to have rectified the issue with the exhaust flanges cracking/breaking. I think it's due to a more secure exhaust system overall. But those cables for the EXUP are stupidly expensive (over $50 each), especially for them essentially being a bicycle brake cable. I'm afraid to look to see if mine broke again, and I'm not going to adjust them again.

Overall, the Apex is a well built machine... There really isn't a gremlin in them and there really shouldn't, as Yamaha has been refining this sled for 13 years now.

 

[ranger1]

The intro of the EXUP seems to have rectified the issue with the exhaust flanges cracking/breaking. I think it's due to a more secure exhaust system overall. But those cables for the EXUP are stupidly expensive (over $50 each), especially for them essentially being a bicycle brake cable. I'm afraid to look to see if mine broke again, and I'm not going to adjust them again.

Overall, the Apex is a well built machine... There really isn't a gremlin in them and there really shouldn't, as Yamaha has been refining this sled for 13 years now.

Be nice if someone comes out wit a better aftermarket exhaust cable, maybe stainless so it don't rust.

 

[Murse]

Same crap. Donuts, cables, bushings, suspension............going through this now again.... I keep thinking about a ZR 7000 or a Renegade 800....

 

[Grimm]

The front bushing aren't so bad, as long as you keep greasing up the zerks. You can always upgrade them to Nylatron ones when the old ones wear out.

 

[Murse]

I'm just getting tired of worrying about all this stuff. I feel that other brands are giving more and are having less issues for better price now. 2014-2017 models all brands. I don't like buying a sled and going OK I need this aftermarket product to fix this and that. My Apex needed a yamaheater, oilite bushings, exup cables, worrying about donuts and exhaust issues. Every year I have 600-700 dollars to put into it to make it ride worthy. My riding buddies with brand Polaris and skidoo machines aren't having these issues and aren't dumping money into their sleds like I am. My last ride I didn't enjoy it, I heard something thought it was a backfire and all I could think about was omg I need to change the donuts before my exhaust explodes.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Smokum]

I'm just getting tired of worrying about all this stuff. I feel that other brands are giving more and are having less issues for better price now. 2014-2017 models all brands. I don't like buying a sled and going OK I need this aftermarket product to fix this and that. My Apex needed a yamaheater, oilite bushings, exup cables, worrying about donuts and exhaust issues. Every year I have 600-700 dollars to put into it to make it ride worthy. My riding buddies with brand Polaris and skidoo machines aren't having these issues and aren't dumping money into their sleds like I am. My last ride I didn't enjoy it, I heard something thought it was a backfire and all I could think about was omg I need to change the donuts before my exhaust explodes.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

First off, if you are comparing to other manufacturers, you have to be comparing to the 160-180 hp class sleds, or it's apples to oranges. Many of the 125-135hp sleds from the others can/are reliable, but when you get up into the power class the Apex falls into, it is BY FAR the most reliable of any of them. Cat has a mile long list of stuff that has to be fixed with aftermarket stuff (I would know, I had a 2014 XF9000) to make the sled even remotely reliable - over $2k worth when I added it up. If you fix all of it, you still have a cheaply made POS when you are done. Poo's 800 has been a POS for as long as I can remember until the most recent motor, but they are still fighting power fade issues with the new one, so I still wouldn't say it's reliable yet. Supposedly they might have a fix now, but time will tell. And then there is the DOO DOO, that has disposable bearings in the lower end of the motor, so you can rebuild the whole thing when that decides to crap it's pants.

I have done a lot of research and following of the other brands in my wait for Yamaha to come out with a true rider forward powerhouse, and I even tried something else, and I am back on a Yamaha, and won't be leaving until someone else can prove they are better and more reliable, and hopefully I'll be able to stay if with them if they come out with something new. IMO, if you want to complain that you have to fix a few things after 5-6K miles, then maybe snowmobiling in general isn't for you. They ALL take maintenance, especially after that many miles. Switching to Oil Lite bushings and copper donuts pretty much take care of your issues there. The 2011+ sleds hand warmers work well IMO. The EX-UP cables are the only thing I can see as a valid complaint, but again pretty minor IMO, and if you chose not to fix them and just wired them open or removed them, you'd be fine too (I do not want to start an EX-UP argument, just saying if money is an issue, that would be the way to go).

I don't know where you are coming up with $600-700 per year, unless you are putting a pile of miles on. I see $400-500 in parts for maintenance needed on the Apex after 5-6K miles, and add some labor if you don't wrench yourself then, but compared to the issues that are possible with the other brands, I'll gladly take that. So, I wish you luck if you switch, but there is absolutely no guarantee that the grass is greener on one of the 3 other sides. The 100% Yamaha built sleds are still the ones to beat when it come to reliability.

 

[tedgoesfast]

i have 10000 miles on my 05 rx big wheel kit stainless steel center pipe exhaust craked mid way donut gaskets and one set bushing so about 700 dollars in 10 years plus rg maintance pretty cost effective if you ask me.One rebuilt on a 800 ski doo crank included alot more so long term much cheaper than others.If taken care of properly every year costs are way down.Owned alot of sleds over the years not a big deal with these minior issues at least not worring about getting towed every second time out.Knowing what these issues are is great you know what your getting into the 800 skidoo and polaris do not stay together cant afford 2000 dollors a year on 800 blow up sleds it is what it is fix the little things on your yami then enjoy the seat time,thats my take on it

 

[ranger1]

I'm just getting tired of worrying about all this stuff. I feel that other brands are giving more and are having less issues for better price now. 2014-2017 models all brands. I don't like buying a sled and going OK I need this aftermarket product to fix this and that. My Apex needed a yamaheater, oilite bushings, exup cables, worrying about donuts and exhaust issues. Every year I have 600-700 dollars to put into it to make it ride worthy. My riding buddies with brand Polaris and skidoo machines aren't having these issues and aren't dumping money into their sleds like I am. My last ride I didn't enjoy it, I heard something thought it was a backfire and all I could think about was omg I need to change the donuts before my exhaust explodes.

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It looks like a few of the issues have been resolved while there are still some of the same minor maintenance concerns. I would much rather replace exhaust donuts & bushings after 6-8000 miles than do a motor overhaul on a 2stroke. I have owned many Polaris's ( seven) & almost all of them blew up at least once with the exception of my 2002 xc 700 which blew the PTO crank bearing twice! I also had a friend with a 2011 Cat, he spent $2,500 on belts in one season, lol! In 10,000 miles I have replace donuts, bushings, starter relay, oil tank ( free from a generous member who sent it to me), welded a crack in my pipe & revalved the mono shock all for less than 400 bucks, like I said "minor issues". The #1 main reason I kept with the Apex is because of the motor reliability, no 2 stroke motor will ever out last this motor period!

 

[upnumber6]

I gotta say. In the 2 apes I owned since 07. Anything I had to replace was at my own fault. Or wear and tear items. Ie rails and a swing arm in the rear was my fault. 1 set of doughnuts at about 7000km. And did the track swap at about 15-16000 km mark at the same time I stripped it down, changed all front and rear bushings, replaced welded swing arm 1 more rail track and all chain case and drive shaft bearings and 2 idler wheels.replaced carbides. Found a crack in bulkhead I welded (while in the back of a truck, so I did it upside down)and upgraded to a 1.5" ripsaw. And did a service. All cost me about 2200$. I think that's pretty good compared to a couple polaris' I ride with. 2 fst and an 800 assault. all have had issues and all three ppl have spare sleds just incase and have gotten better use out of the old sleds then the new ones