Is my sled a lemon?

[4Fighter]

I've had my issues too, (it's amazing what a properly tuned rear suspension can do for the overall impression of the sled). But a law is a law, and a lawyer knows it better than a layperson. To date my only complaint is the W-arm, I don't fully trust it and I am watching it very carefully.

As far as the oil consumption problem - IMO: I took it for granted that it wouldn't use (burn/leak) any during the season because it was a 4-stroke. Yes, I have to add a little every now and then but it's within an acceptable rate and still better than constantly buying VES 2-stroke.

 

[nhrxrider]

I'm in agreement with most of you. I LOVE my Yamaha!!! If I had to really think about it...and I have...there is no other sled I would have wanted after riding this one. It had problems, but nothing I really didn't expect for a first year model, and I was counting on Yamaha to take care of me. I was also ready to buy the YES when I bought my sled, but since I could get it any time before the warranty ran out, I waited to see how things went. As it turned out, since the dealers wouldn't fix anything under warranty anyway, and claimed almost everything that went wrong was normal wear and tear and not covered, I wasn't about to pay the $700 they wanted for the YES, just to go another few years of having them tell me sorry, thats not covered. I hadn't even seen all the other dealers offering YES at lower prices at that time, but I would have even paid the $700 if the dealers had taken care of me.

As of right now, Yamaha finally stepped up to the plate about the oil problem, and is showing genuine interest in finding out why my sled is using oil. I hope they still have that attitude now that my whole motor may be junk.

Jim

 

[Stormbringr1]

 

[nhrxrider]

Actually, the dealer I bought the sled from kind of went out of business a few months after I bought the sled. They were bought out by another dealer who used that location as a second dealership for them. I have heard they are doing great with it, but unfortunately, a couple months after buying my sled I moved 200 miles north. We only have a few dealers up here, 2 of whom I've had bad experiences with. The last, North Country Powersports in Lancaster, have treated me great. Because they used to treat me so well when I would stop in, we bought my stepson's Raptor from them, and even now, they are the ones willing to look into my oil problem. So far so good, I think I found a good dealer.

For the record, up until around 2000 miles my dealer was Zoom City Powersports near Keene. Even their name is gone now. After that point I had dealt with Currier RV in Gorham. I haven't posted names until now, because I don't like dragging their names through the mud, but at this point I really don't care. I know 90% of my problems was how the dealers handled the relatively simple things that went wrong with my sled.

By the way, if things don't turn out right, I'll be trying that phone number above. They are way too far away, but at least I could get a consultation by phone and get a legal opinion.

Jim

 

[yamahey]

I bought 4 years of extra YES coverage on my 03 for $500. Only had 1 minor issue and it was covered. In the last 8 years and 5 new Yamahas, I have never had an issue with my dealer over warrantee coverage. His approach is it should be covered and he submits it and fights for it if it is questionable. that's what they are in business for, to help their customers and thereby get business and make money. Most of the things nhrxrider had issues with should be covered. 0 miles and not adjusting the brake light because it is an "adjustment issue". Not adjusting the reverse lever? WTF? No wonder that dealer went out of business. That is just unacceptable. He should be sued.

 

[nhrxrider]

Well actually it was total B.S. There is no adjustment for it...it turned out to be a bad switch. Because I had to run almost a year that way, I was rear ended (minor, no damage) after owning the sled a couple weeks because it didn't work, and I was almost rear-ended a couple other times. Once, the other rider went off the trail avoiding me. I was always getting complaints about not having a brake light...I always had the same reply, "tell my dealer".

Jim

 

[Stormbringr1]

I bought 4 years of extra YES coverage on my 03 for $500.

That's not a bad deal. Where is the best deal on YES extended warranty? I might get some. Thanks.

 

[nhrxrider]

Oh, I forgot to replay about the skis. Mine definately weren't from trailering...I think I trailered 3 times last year (we lived right on the trail) and it was on a flat trailer without a slush guard, so the skis didn't have anything to hit. And the skis bent in the front AND back. Check the picture. Very strange. When it happened, it was actually while I was riding. Groomed trails, and they were fine at the start of the ride, and I noticed them bending up part way through the ride. By the end of the ride they looked like this.

Jim

 

[4Fighter]

Actually, the dealer I bought the sled from kind of went out of business a few months after I bought the sled.
Jim

They either go out of business or they get indicted. There was a shop in Southern MI that got caught doing a no no.

 

[nhrxrider]

Well mine sold me a used sled as new...but since the tital had never been filled out, there was nothing I could do anyway. I found out after I had put money down (non refundable deposit of $1000) that my sled was being bought by the shop owner, and it had been at his house being ridden around his yard. I wasn't impressed, but I wasn't about to lose $1000. The saleman had told me they were doing a dealer swap to get me my blue sled instead of the red one they had. I found out they just switched sleds with the owner.

Jim

 

[YammiMoose]

Re:Lemon I think if I look under the red paint it's Yellow!!

From this post my issues don't sound that bad. I have posted a few of them already but have a new one after riding last weekend.
1. Overheating. I think the problem is solved after adding the rear heat exchanger $45. The only bummer is that I paid 2.5hrs labor at the dealer to install after thinking Yamaha would re-reimburse. WRONG!!!!!!!!! Something I should have done myself like I did on the Viper.
2. What I call Thor Hell. Any time I am full throttle for more than a min and slow down the thing just about shuts off and stops. It really sucks when your buddies’s almost hit you and have to go off the trail to miss you. The dealer readjusted the throttle cable, making the slack 3mm and I readjusted the Idle to around 1200rpm. If I disconnect the THOR it idles around 6k and you can't stop!
3. New issue after riding this weekend, the headlight fuse blows every few miles and you have no Head Light. Yes, I went into a ditch!!!!!
4. Still no top end after 1822 miles. Won't rev over 10K. Neck and neck with my 2002 viper with over 9000 miles. Got beat top end by a rev 600.
5. Lots of clutch noise when idling. Same as new. Should I worry?
6. Te belt keeps rubbing the underside of the clutch cover.
7. When Idling, makes vibrating noise. Too many others to check at this time.
8. Yes, I was the one that started the bad gas post. In September when picking up my sled it wouldn't idle. Pilots in 2 of the 4 plugged solid. Same thing 1 week later after cleaning. Ran gas from another state (MTBE instead of Ethanol. And 1/2 cam 2) Runs fine now that I don't use CT gas.
9. The seat is starting to come apart.
I am going to Northern Maine next week. Hopefully the dealer up there can help me. The dealer in CT is useless because they can't test in the field.

I buy new sleds every 3 years to avoid these kinds of issues!!!!
I am TRADING IN AT THE END OF SEASON!!!!
Yamaha customer service is totally useless!!!!!
I am seriously thinking of changing brands! Big loss for Yamaha. 4 new sleds in 7 years plus my kids are starting to ride so that means even more machines. Yamaha just doesn’t get it!!!

What would you do? Trade or keep? If most of you don’t know the extended warranty doesn’t cover the same things as the first year.
Yes, I used the Snow Check $ for the 4 year extended warranty.

 

[Blue Me]

Oh, I forgot to replay about the skis. Mine definately weren't from trailering...I think I trailered 3 times last year (we lived right on the trail) and it was on a flat trailer without a slush guard, so the skis didn't have anything to hit. And the skis bent in the front AND back. Check the picture. Very strange. When it happened, it was actually while I was riding. Groomed trails, and they were fine at the start of the ride, and I noticed them bending up part way through the ride. By the end of the ride they looked like this.

Jim

HMMMMM Ice skates

 

[RIYAMAHA]

nhrxrider: any feed back on Currier RV . Bought my rs vector from them, no problems in 1200 miles, but if they aren't going to stand behind it,I will try Derby VT. Have a place there now!

 

[nhrxrider]

They are the ones that dealt with everything on my sled past about the 2000 mile mark. Had to fight for the seat, fight for the brake light, they lost screws and screwed up the exhaust covers, took a month to finally put the seat on (details below), wouldn't install the reverse lever after the plastic handle broke on a very cold night because the warranty ran out while they had the lever sitting on their desk, etc.

For the seat, I dropped the sled off so they could look at it and order the parts. I told them the update was to put an '04 seat assembly on it (thanks to this forum, I knew more than the dealer). Currier laughed and said Yamaha doesn't change the whole seat, just the cover. I said there was an update, and it involved replacing the whole seat. I waited while the cover was "back ordered". After several weeks and several calls to them, I found out...surprise...the '03 seat part number was discontinued. They didn't know what to do so they did nothing. I called Yamaha myself, and suddenly a day or two later I got a call that Currier ordered an '04 seat assembly. Nooooo kidding. So because they didn't listen to the costomer or even contact Yamaha to verify it, I had to wait aprox. 5 weeks of downtime during prime riding season for something that should have taken a few days. So decide for yourself...look at my above list for everything that happened between the 2000 and 5500 mile mark.

Oh, and I was also treated very poorly by their part's department. LONG wait for parts, a couple times they had to reorder things because someone forgot to submit the order, the lost my parts once (after a couple days they found them in the service department), fun things like that. One day I almost came to blows with the counter idiot because he just wouldn't listen, and gave me a bunch of crap about what I was trying to order.

Jim

 

[RIYAMAHA]

nhrxrider: thanks !! I have bought some parts from Derby. Good parts dept. SO I will try them for service!