Round One of New-To-Me Phazer Project

[Gone Blue]

Im pretty erk'ed about it, but more so about how long its taking. Temps above freezing and no new snow in the foreseeable future. Maybe that's their plan, delay the parts to the point where I am so frustrated that I'll just want the sled back together so bad I won't even care if they are hot pink.

It's OK, real men wear pink! Good luck collecting the rest of your parts.

G.B.

 

[DigitalFusion]

I've actually collected all the parts for this round of changes. The only thing I am waiting on is the control arms. Here is what I have done

- Relocated Display
- Exhaust Donuts
- Re-Riveted block-off plate (no more rattle)
- Fresh Plugs (huge difference on cranking time with these!)
- Starter LockTite
- Oil & Filter Changed
- Chaincase Lube Changed
- New/Used Subframe installed
- Lubed Steering bushing & installed Bushman Kit
- Oilite bushings in upper control arms
- Rear skid shock revalved
- Bushman Spindle saver kit


The only thing I have to do is get the LCAs and put the oilites in them!

 

[DigitalFusion]

For f--ks sake

Dealer just called. Yeah, the other control arm did come in. However, neither of them are black... they are both a 'silverish gold' color.


WTF

 

[piersol]

have him get them powdercoated. Takes almost no time at all, you should be able to have them powdercoated by tomorrow

 

[OVR4D]

I feel for ya DF. Totally agree that Yamaha's parts availability is piss-poor.

Hope you've at least been able to ride the Apex a little ... conditions were fairly decent until late Saturday afternoon last weekend. Doubt they will be that good again without more snow after this week's temps. I hope the season isn't over around here, but it's starting to look that way.

The speculators are saying YMC is going to deplete inventory building their 2014 models, and after that we may see many of the Japan-built models discontinued from the lineup. The current prediction is that the Nytro will be the first to go. Makes you wonder what Yamaha's statement to bring one new model to market each year really means ... will the new models be built in Japan or TRF? If the next Yamaha sled (2015) is also a Yamaha engine in a Cat chassis, the writing will be on the wall, and parts availability for the older stuff will be even worse than it is now, as Yamaha will need the inventory they have on hand to produce the sleds that remain in their lineup if their intention is to ultimately phase these sleds out of production.

 

[cannondale27]

I 100% disagree.Its simple you guys just need better dealers.Yamaha has a VERY good inventory.I always recommend local dealer to you but if they cant service you properly just go on line to Port Yamaha our sponsor here or many other fine dealers.Cripes I just got some oddball parts for a 1984 Phazer.Try getting parts for a SkiDoo even 5 years old.Nightmare.

 

[DigitalFusion]

that maybe true. My dealer said that this color is the only color available any longer. So either he is lying to me, or yamaha has decided to reduce the options available for replacement parts

either way, I couldnt have really taken it to any other dealer with out driving a couple hours round trip since this was a recall deal.

 

[Mooseman]

It is possible that for the FX the a-arm supplies might be more limited because isn't the only one that uses the linked sway bar instead of the regular plastic blocks? And the ones you got are problably from the the same ugly FX we just picked up. It has every colour except green on it. Blech!

 

[DigitalFusion]

they are ugly... for sure. They are much more gold than I thought they were gonna be. Here is the kicker, the damned dealer told me as I was leaving that they havent actually ran the warranty/recall claim on it, so he would contact me if it doesnt go through.

WTF is that supposed to mean? I was too worn out froma crazy day of work and too frustrated to even speak so I didnt ask for clarification.

I cant even begin to describe how pissed I am at this entire situation.

 

[Mooseman]

Probably he hasn't confirmed with Yamaha yet on getting the work covered under warranty. And the original warranty was just for the balljoints but he may have to go to bat for you to get them to cover the a-arms themselves. He probably effed them up while trying to get the old balljoints out or he lacks imagination on finding a way to get the outer races out.

Ask to see the old ones. If the balls fell out of the outer races and he get them out, could probably do it with a zip gun. Just rust that forms between the a-arm and the race. Maybe some heat on the race (not the a-arm) might get it going if it's really that stuck.

 

[cannondale27]

I agree.Find a new dealer.

 

[ef x eh]

that colour on the A arms was from the 07 model, cause I have that colour. the rest of the sled looks better because I did some painting.

 

[DigitalFusion]

the gold a-arms look okay with that navy blue color. they look stupid on my machine (just buttoned it up tonight).

I'd take some pix, but the garage is trashed right now, its embarassing!

 

[DigitalFusion]

Maybe some heat on the race (not the a-arm) might get it going if it's really that stuck.

he actually suggested that AFTER the new blue arms didnt come in. However, he said he would have to take it home to his personal shop, and said he would have to discolor the arms quite a bit from heating them... something about a rat-rod rainbow look as he put it. I dont see powdercoating turning rainbow colors like stainless steel, in my mind it would just burn and blacken. He also said the races tend to break.

I dont want to have to find a new dealer, but I think I am going to have to start driving a bit further or dealing with waiting forever on parts from Port Yamaha or something.


EDIT: For the record, this is Waldoch Sports in Columbus MN. They are supposedly a "Pro Yamaha" Dealership:

 

[Mooseman]

Hey, a thrashed garage is a sign of a lot of work done so I do a lot of work too! At least you'll be able to ride it with all this snow. You get hit with this monster storm?