New to me Sidewinder and Apex questions

[WinterWolf]

Unfortunately, changing the helix and spring will not change the rattle; it’s the primary that rattles. It is normal..and only rattles at idle.

However, Keep an eye on your primary rollers in the primary clutch..make sure they don’t freeze up..it’s common on these winders...and can lead to much bigger and worse problems quickly! Clutching can be the weak link in the Sidewinder’s Armor imo.

 

[maim]

as to the spark plug change, i went 13000 (20000km) miles on my 2011 apex before i changed them for peace of mind. that sled now has 27000km and still going after some needed maintenece in the off season.

 

[hman4]

Not to bumm anybody out but just a few things I would be concerned about with the Sidewinder. First off I would get a hold of Travis at BOP and see what kind of deal he would cut you on one of every fix he has available for the Sidewinder. He has some sort of fix for a good share of the problems and if he doesn’t then give Dave from Hurricane a call. If you want something 10 times as good as any service manual you will ever find do a search for
My RTX LE 50th BUILD THREAD-ROCKERDAN.
I have this same sled and have yet to ride it. If I never read any of the posts on this forum I’m sure I would have put miles on it, but I have other sleds to ride that I don’t worry about completing the trip with. I have never put this much time and money fixing problems on sleds that I beat the sh** out of. I have a 2010 Apex also that I fixed the common problems on but I never worry about making back to the truck on that. Sorry for the rant,only a couple small fixes to go on the Sidewinder and It is ready for some miles.

 

[Joseph Levandoski]

The sleds were set up wrong from the factory causing belts to break. It's not how a person drives.

I've had zero problems with my ' Winder, but I don't disagree with you - it's both a mix of Yamaha and the rider. When you stand on the throttle from a dead stop or low speeds, you're accelerating the engine faster than the belt can spin until the difference is made up. Until that point, you're generating large amounts of heat, which is only going to cause the belt to decay faster and break. You're in a similar scenario if you're towing a snowmobile or heavy load.

As long as you're clutches are aligned and you're not roosting away from every single stop sign, you'll be fine.

 

[Joseph Levandoski]

Hi Gents,
Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I'll definitely look at the coolant line protectors as that sounds like good insurance.
Joe - were there any relays in particular that need changing to resolve cold start issues ?
Yamajon - You may be right on the year of my srx… it may have been 1981. It definitely was not an SRV as it was a 440 and not a 540. That sled was really the reason I've stayed out of snowmobiling for so long.. always seemed to be fixing something... However.. it was faster than my buddy's 9500. Back then, that was all that mattered !!
WinterWolf - I have to say.. this is the first year in a long time that I'm looking forward to some serious snow ! While I was tentative about getting back into the game, I really couldn't pass on the deals I got on both sleds. I will say though.. while I think I like the looks of the sidewinder more than the Apex, I definitely like the sound of the Apex better. I think the rear exhaust is my favourite part ! I kinda wish that the sidewinder had something similar. Of course... I've only heard both at idle or pulling them off the trailer and into the garage. I imagine that they sound completely different at WOT !

I picked up two of these: https://www.barnofparts.com/no-freeze-relay

 

[geez150]

Hman4, is entitled to his options, but after 3,500 miles I find my 2017 zr9000 (Arctic cat version of the sidewinder) to be very reliable and I have yet to walk home. Only "fixes" I have done for reliability is I added the 4th week kit to the stock tri hub when it was brand new and re sealed the oil tank last off season. For performance or ease of maintenance I have added various other parts, but other than one blown belt it has been a very good sled for me, only real bitch I have had is how hard on gas mine has been compared to some other's MPG claims.

 

[SAB1]

Pretty much ditto what geez177 says. Aside from driveshaft issue it’s been all good. Never blew a belt that goes for me and two other buds. I agree with Joe also...it’s all how you ride it.

 

[hman4]

Not bashing anything here, just replying to someone wanting to know if there are any issues with this model, and you don't have to look to hard to find out there is. Some may feel comfortable leaving on a long trip with out addressing them but that's not me. I have spent a lot of time and money to get this sled to where I hope I can ride it trouble free, will see.
I didn't come up with any of these fixes I just applied everyone else's help and hard work to up my odd's for better durability. I may have gotten 4000 trouble free miles without touching anything but that wasn't the odd's I was willing to take. That's why this is such a great site, lots of valuable info for people to come to there own decision.

 

[yamamarc]

Man I would love too see the look on your face after you hammer the throttle on your winder!! You are in for a treat with this chassis/motor combination!!
Your sled is basically new with only 1000km! Do a good service /inspection of the sled and ride!

 

[74Nitro]

Man I would love too see the look on your face after you hammer the throttle on your winder!! You are in for a treat with this chassis/motor combination!!
Your sled is basically new with only 1000km! Do a good service /inspection of the sled and ride!

Yep, I sold my 18 (with 265hp left in it) to a neighbour that had an Apex previously. He drove it home instead of trailering it. About an hour later I sent him a text 'enough power for ya?'
Reply, 'LOL, oh F**K ya!'

 

[biffdotorg]

I definitely like the sound of the Apex better. I think the rear exhaust is my favourite part ! I kinda wish that the sidewinder had something similar.

After owning a couple, the sound and rear exhaust is my favorite and least favorite part. Sound and coolness = Great, Loss of storage options = sucks. Especially for those of us with long track models (XTX) you have that tunnel just sitting there waiting for a fuel can, or trunk bag. Some have work arounds, but I would say that is why the viper is the pack mule in my pair of current sleds. It carries the extra clothes and fuel bottle.

 

[snowbeast]

82 SRX was never released. I had a 81. 82 was a no show to many issues and Yamaha never released it. 1983 it became the V-Max. Maybe he meant SRV?

I remember our local dealer clintts marigner in Waterboro maine in 82 had a black srx500 vmax that he got,and he said he had to send it back,and that they officeally did not make a srx for 82 season,man it was a sharp looking po go at any rate,to bad he could not keep it.

 

[snowbeast]

Just drive it my friend and see what likes and dislikes you have,than decide what you feel need to be changed. Mine is a 17 ltx-le with over 5000 miles on it now,with minimal problems that were from Yamaha,some I did,in that milage it has been tuned from day one,and I have blown one stock belt,and it had over 1100 hard miles on it when it pooped,ya I did driveshaft,and got warrenty on it,but this sled has taken me ont into the cold darkness of winter days and night,to bring me home,or to a safe place of pickup,like my dealer one time,when I got water in my fuel and it would not start after a fill up,my boy had to tow me 1/2 mile to that dealer,and that's it. So give it a go,and try not to worrie about all the stuff you read,all this stuff does not happen to all winders,in fact I bet there si most of them are just fine,and if you leave it stock,i bet your chances are even better yet!

 

[SooRod]

Thanks again for all the helpful advice Gents !! I did take a look at the BOP website.. I have to say, while I'm still pumped about riding this season on both sleds, had I reviewed all the issues with the Winder that need to be resolved, I may have stayed away from it !! hard to believe that what should be a high end sled would have so many problems. Also.. I can't believe that there was no factory spot for a spare belt !! That's just silly !
Anyway.. I have it now, so am hoping that as some have relayed, all will be forgiven when I put my thumb to the bar for the first time.
Quick question - Neither sled has studs... I'll be doing trail riding for the most part. Should I stud both sleds? As I recall, I always had issues in the past with losing the odd stud. My concern is that I could end up putting one through the heat exchangers. (yes.. the Apex had one added)

Thoughts ?

 

[STAIN]

. So give it a go,and try not to worrie about all the stuff you read,all this stuff does not happen to all winders,in fact I bet there si most of them are just fine,and if you leave it stock,i bet your chances are even better yet!

This is the best advice yet. If you read too much you will get paranoid. Ride!!!!