MNicefisher
Extreme
So I think I've got about 150 miles on the sled now. I know that's not many but I've done a lot of short trips and puttering in my woods and 75 miles on an ice fishing trip on Lake of The Woods. I've got to say when I research buying a VL on the forum and web it really didn't look good. I like a challenge to some degree and felt with the support of this site I could make the sled work for me. I bought the sled for just over 3000.00 last spring and that freed up some money from the sale of my old sled that I sold for 1000.00 more. I used all of the extra 1000.00 plus about 300.00 or so more.
Here's what I've done
Painted all the black plastic blue and new decals
Sandblasted and painted all front suspension, front and rear bumpers and rear rack
New spindle bushings and steering shaft kit from UPbushman
All new ball joints
New oil lite bushings from Ulmer Racing for front suspension
Simmions gen lll skis
Changed oil and filter
Bought a used updated ECU for faster and better starting
Oil tank heater
Coolant hose heater
1.5 amp battery tender
New seat cover
New snow flap
Hand warmer upgrade wire harness
New solid state fuel pump relay
Sled Start remote start
Hyfax
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things but that's the big stuff. After all this I can say I'm pretty impressed with the sled. It looks great, very comfortable to ride, handling is much better then I expected. Cold staring is decent, got it to start down to -20f with just a battery tender on it. I don't get the sore thumb that I used to get from a carb sled. I like not having to mess with a choke to keep it running after I start it like my old sleds. Power, and mostly the torque is great compared to my last fan cooled sled (ski-doo rev 550f and cat 570t). Top speed on snowy trail with me (205lbs) is 79 mph Hand warmers are melt your hands off hot with the updated wire harness. The huge windshield almost makes a helmet a safety item only. Tons of storage from rear rack and Yamaha touring bags. No stinky 2 stroke smoke, now if I can get my buddy to switch because I ride behind him and it sucks smelling that crap.
Now for the bad, and the list is much shorter. Ice, ice, ice. On a 4 day trip on lake of the woods and 75 miles my sled melted off 68 lbs or 8.5 gallons of water into my garage!!!
One day on the lake the top of the track was froze when I was fishing to the tunnel of the sled and took an ice chisel to get it free. Back at the cabin I spent 1/2 an hours chipping ice out from under the sled and even though I thought I got it all, the rest of the trip I had ice rubbing on top of the track making the sled feel like the track was ratcheting and it sounded awful too. I knew this was a huge issue with the VL but I wanted to see how bad for my self so when I try to fix it I can see how much I've improved it. The second thing is how loud this sled is. I always wanted a 4 stroke because I liked the sound but this sled isn't quiet or cool sounding like the rest of the Yamahas. Not only is it loud from the muffler it's loud from the clutch and motor. On my ice fishing trip my one buddy was riding a 660 turbo and it sounded like a car, I think mine was even louder then my other buddy's 550 2 stroke. Believe me I can take the sound but need to get rid of the ice build up, that could very easily leave you stranded when the track freezes. Other then the ice buildup I'm happy.
Here's what I've done
Painted all the black plastic blue and new decals
Sandblasted and painted all front suspension, front and rear bumpers and rear rack
New spindle bushings and steering shaft kit from UPbushman
All new ball joints
New oil lite bushings from Ulmer Racing for front suspension
Simmions gen lll skis
Changed oil and filter
Bought a used updated ECU for faster and better starting
Oil tank heater
Coolant hose heater
1.5 amp battery tender
New seat cover
New snow flap
Hand warmer upgrade wire harness
New solid state fuel pump relay
Sled Start remote start
Hyfax
I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things but that's the big stuff. After all this I can say I'm pretty impressed with the sled. It looks great, very comfortable to ride, handling is much better then I expected. Cold staring is decent, got it to start down to -20f with just a battery tender on it. I don't get the sore thumb that I used to get from a carb sled. I like not having to mess with a choke to keep it running after I start it like my old sleds. Power, and mostly the torque is great compared to my last fan cooled sled (ski-doo rev 550f and cat 570t). Top speed on snowy trail with me (205lbs) is 79 mph Hand warmers are melt your hands off hot with the updated wire harness. The huge windshield almost makes a helmet a safety item only. Tons of storage from rear rack and Yamaha touring bags. No stinky 2 stroke smoke, now if I can get my buddy to switch because I ride behind him and it sucks smelling that crap.
Now for the bad, and the list is much shorter. Ice, ice, ice. On a 4 day trip on lake of the woods and 75 miles my sled melted off 68 lbs or 8.5 gallons of water into my garage!!!
One day on the lake the top of the track was froze when I was fishing to the tunnel of the sled and took an ice chisel to get it free. Back at the cabin I spent 1/2 an hours chipping ice out from under the sled and even though I thought I got it all, the rest of the trip I had ice rubbing on top of the track making the sled feel like the track was ratcheting and it sounded awful too. I knew this was a huge issue with the VL but I wanted to see how bad for my self so when I try to fix it I can see how much I've improved it. The second thing is how loud this sled is. I always wanted a 4 stroke because I liked the sound but this sled isn't quiet or cool sounding like the rest of the Yamahas. Not only is it loud from the muffler it's loud from the clutch and motor. On my ice fishing trip my one buddy was riding a 660 turbo and it sounded like a car, I think mine was even louder then my other buddy's 550 2 stroke. Believe me I can take the sound but need to get rid of the ice build up, that could very easily leave you stranded when the track freezes. Other then the ice buildup I'm happy.
BombaPolaYama
TY 4 Stroke Master
Got a pic to show us - good review BTW. I agree with ya on the noise level of the VL.
MNicefisher
Extreme
MNicefisher
Extreme
DaveA
Newbie
Good looking sled MN
thelake
Extreme
I had terrible ice build up today. Had to tip over my sled and take the back end of an axe to the ice to get my track moving. Still, despite my displeasure with all the ice, I can't really complain and this sled is likely the best thing out there for my needs.
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
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- Greely, Ontario
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'07 Phazer FX (gone)
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'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
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Very nice sled and good review.
What do you think of the tippyness? That's a usual complaint on thse sleds.
What do you think of the tippyness? That's a usual complaint on thse sleds.
BombaPolaYama
TY 4 Stroke Master
thelake said:
Have to be careful tipping it over as you will lose oil into the airbox - I believe tipping on one side is worse but can't remember which - I'm thinking leftside?
MNicefisher
Extreme
This is the tool to have if your going to be riding in cold temps where the ice buildup is no match for a rubber mallet hammer. It's for ice fishing and it's made by Eskimo, and it's call the Redneck Chisels or also called a bucket chisel. It almost like it's made for the ice buildup on a VL. It definetly save my but when my track froze to the tunnle. I got mine as a Christmas gift but I think they run around $20.00.
Attachments
thelake
Extreme
Gotta get me one of those chisels! Thanks for the recommendation.
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
- Messages
- 3,969
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
I once tipped mine to the left and was stuck like that for 10-15 minutes. Although I didn't lose much, if any, oil, I did have gas spill onto my left boot and melt it. Since the vent tube is on top when it's tipped to the left, it makes sense that it won't leak oil but beyond 90 degrees the it would probably start reaching that tube.
BombaPolaYama
TY 4 Stroke Master
That makes sense Mooseman - I did mean to say the right side tip over was of most concern - confused mysell again 
BTW, to the chisellers - do the mod and be done with the headache. Impressive looking tool though - problem is if I had had one like that I might have used it on the sled instead of the ice!
BTW, to the chisellers - do the mod and be done with the headache. Impressive looking tool though - problem is if I had had one like that I might have used it on the sled instead of the ice!
thelake
Extreme
I guess my question is. What mod? There are a few on this website to choose from. None seem to be bullet proof.
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
- Messages
- 3,969
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
This one is THE mod to get rid of the icing:
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0
It is a fair amount of work though.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0
It is a fair amount of work though.
MNicefisher
Extreme
It's interesting how some people just put the pipe out the back and have less icing and other the same or more icing. It just can't be both ways. I don't think anyone's lying it's got to be the temps people are riding in.
