Leaking heat exchanger!!!

[ranger1]

I just brought my sled home today & noticed a green drop of anti- freeze on the left side of the track. Upon further inspection I noticed more ant-freeze on the inside of the tunnel right at the bracket for the upper idler wheel! Has anyone else had this problem? I presume it must have a crack where the exchanger meets the tunnel. A new one in Canada cost big bucks, so should I try to find a good used one as I believe all years & all Yami four stroke models, Vector, Rx1 etc, use the same exchangers & should be easy to find or should I just get it welded?
You know sleddin season is upon us when we start working on them, lol!!

 

[kingtut]

My .02 cents is that used is cheaper...but may not hold up as long as a new one. It all depends on the year of the sled it was taken off of. I personally have not heard of that place on the heat exchange being welded, but it is always worth a shot if it will save you hundreds of dollars. If it doesn't work, well then you'd have to get a new one anyway.

 

[Jona$]

Its a designflaw from Yamaha, what happens is that the chassie flex and the heat exchanger is made like a L, it goes under the foot and up the tunnel a bit and that gives big wearing, and the only part that cant flex is the bracket with its 2 bolts.

Solution is to drop the Skid and drill rivets out and take out both exchangers and cut out the part that is squized with the bracket, weld it up and dont forget to shim up the lost space now.

And get a tunnel support ex Muffin Works.

 

[number1kyster]

I had it happen to my last Apex. They replaced them under my YES warranty.

 

[ranger1]

I don't think welding it would be a good option as there can't be any weld sticking out on the inside because the exchanger must fit flush against the tunnel. I will try to find a good used one, if that don't pan out it will be plan "B", lol!!!!!

 

[bleedin-blue]

This same thing happened to my apex last year. My problem was the paint wore off the bracket and the steel contacting aluminum corroded and caused the leak. I took it off, flushed it out and tried welding it. It is very thin material and difficult to do. Plus like someone stated, you can't have extra material inboard to the bracket. It hled together for half of last season and then I purchased a used RX1 part to replace it. cross reference between models, but I would say that they are all probably very similar and can be used between different sleds. There were a few different rivet holes that were used. I made it work without any issues and I made sure I had a nice coating of paint between the two materials.

good luck

 

[ranger1]

This same thing happened to my apex last year. My problem was the paint wore off the bracket and the steel contacting aluminum corroded and caused the leak. I took it off, flushed it out and tried welding it. It is very thin material and difficult to do. Plus like someone stated, you can't have extra material inboard to the bracket. It hled together for half of last season and then I purchased a used RX1 part to replace it. cross reference between models, but I would say that they are all probably very similar and can be used between different sleds. There were a few different rivet holes that were used. I made it work without any issues and I made sure I had a nice coating of paint between the two materials.

good luck

Thanks bleedin-blue, I crossed referenced it & it looks to be pretty much all the four stroke Yami's use the same exchanger. The only thing I found so far is a rear exchanger from a RX1. Do you think that would fit my Apex? I have to take it apart anyway, might as well add a rear exchanger if it will work, lol!

 

[wedge]

Contact Travis. This is a post on him as a seller.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=110863

He has a ton of used parts. His pricing is good and he has great feedback from everyone who has purchased from him!

 

[hibshman25]

If you still need these coolers let me know. I'm guessing you have an attack or ltx as these are more prone to developing leaks. The long track creates more stress to the rear mount than the short track. When available i always send out coolers from a 121" as they have seen less stress and therefore less likely to develope a leak.

I have a set of 121" coolers with 340 miles that I'd sell for $150 plus ship.

 

[Irv]

Contact Travis. This is a post on him as a seller.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=110863

He has a ton of used parts. His pricing is good and he has great feedback from everyone who has purchased from him!

X2, always great service and no issues what so ever with shipping here to Canada either!

 

[apexmcneil]

If you still need these coolers let me know. I'm guessing you have an attack or ltx as these are more prone to developing leaks. The long track creates more stress to the rear mount than the short track. When available i always send out coolers from a 121" as they have seen less stress and therefore less likely to develope a leak.

I have a set of 121" coolers with 340 miles that I'd sell for $150 plus ship.

i have an 08 ltx apex.. i didnt think my sled had a rear cooler on it? There is a coolent line that runs up the floor boards, and loops around the back extension of the tunnel.
has a small bleeder screw on the pipe, below the black moulding. Is this the cooler? or did some apex not come with the cooler?

 

[trailhed1]

I added one to my 08 LTX Apex i do not believe it was standard on these. Once i added the rear cooler it made a big difference. The tube you see just joins both running board coolers together. The rear cooler would go under the tunnel extension. And attach to each running board cooler.

 

[RxThunder]

Contact Travis. This is a post on him as a seller.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=110863

He has a ton of used parts. His pricing is good and he has great feedback from everyone who has purchased from him!

X2, always great service and no issues what so ever with shipping here to Canada either!

X3! Fair prices, easy and fast to do business with. Another benefit of owning a Yamaha 4 stroke!

 

[ranger1]

Hey, thanks to everyone for recommending Travis & thanks to Travis for responding to the thread!!!!!!!!!!
Travis, I sent you a p.m about the heat exchangers
Now that we got the ball rolling, does anyone have any good tips as to changing the exchanger without losing all the anti-freeze? Looking at it, I don't think it would matter how high I raise the #*$&@ end of the machine, the hose that comes off the front of the exchanger will still be the lowest part of the sled, that being said, all the anti-freeze would run out.
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to have to drain, fill then bleed the whole system if I don't have to!! lol
Thanks!!

 

[thor452]

tip it on its side might work but no mater what you will have to bleed the system.