chemdude
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 7
I have an 06 RS Rage. It is dead!
The timing chain jumped and destroyed the camshft.
I personally spoke with a Yamaha rep at the customer relations number.
They said the bulletin posted is NOT TRUE!!!!
Who posed the bullletin?
Yamaha said the bulletin is not real.
We need to get togehter on this!
Yamaha owners beware!
The timing chain jumped and destroyed the camshft.
I personally spoke with a Yamaha rep at the customer relations number.
They said the bulletin posted is NOT TRUE!!!!
Who posed the bullletin?
Yamaha said the bulletin is not real.
We need to get togehter on this!
Yamaha owners beware!
grizztracks
Tech Advisor
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
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- 3,113
- Age
- 60
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- Scio, NY
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- FX Nytro RTX, RS Vector, SR Viper RTX SE
Yamaha runs what is called an interference engine. If the cam and crank timing jumps enough the valves will collide with the pistons. At the very least the engine will suffer damage to the valves and pistons but quite often is more extensive and even catastrophic. The Yamaha Tech Exchange warns of possible tensioner failure and several incidences have been reported here on the TY Forum. The problem is real and should not be ignored. The Tensioner normally becomes noisy and can be detected before it fails but If your not sure what to listen for I'd recommend changing it. Mine became noisy and I changed it before any damage occurred but I probably would have missed it if I wasn't made aware of it here on TY.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=81246
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=81246
chemdude
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 7
This just seemed a little extreme to me. I used the sled a total of 50 days.
Yamaha was not concerned about that.
A fifty day lifetime on a $7500 sled did not suprise them or concern them.
Yamaha was not concerned about that.
A fifty day lifetime on a $7500 sled did not suprise them or concern them.
ossjughead
Newbie
I can’t believe that Yamaha is not recalling this problem. My last sled was a 98 venture 700 and last year the ring gear came loose and Yamaha replaced it and the clutch for nothing on a 11 year old sled with 22000 km. I will be honest I am not impressed I just bought my 06 rs venture and I replaced the tensioner myself. I just can’t imagine a company like Yamaha doing what they are doing I can see lots of people that have had this same thing happen after spending lots for the sled than having to spend a lot more to fix it. I myself have spent around 500 in parts on this sled susp wheels, cam tensioner, slides, exhaust donuts etc and haven’t rode it 5 miles yet and it only has 4700 km and from what I have read you can’t really do anything about the clutch that sounds like a bag of nuts rattling around. I also have a 2005 GTX limited 600 ho sdi 11000 KM and other than regular maintenance I have put slides once and 2 susp wheels I have not needed anything for it. I think Yamaha better get there *&^%&#&^#%* together or they lose lots of customers cause it is great to hear some of these sleds with lots of miles on them but it’s the ones that are blowing up. The biggest design flaw I have seen on this sled is the oil return line that pushes on under the air box OMG and if it slides off or gets crimped your motor goes boom. I have always been a Yamaha guy from way back with dirt bikes to street bikes and outboard motors that have always been bullet proof for me this is the first Yamaha product that I am nervous about owning and am seriously thinking of selling and going back to a 700. I have always stuck up for anything Yamaha but don’t know what to say now.
Sorry for the rant guys just frustrating to see all these problems with this newer sled when they had such a great sled before this one.
Jim
Sorry for the rant guys just frustrating to see all these problems with this newer sled when they had such a great sled before this one.
Jim
chemdude
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 7
Needless to say, I will never purchase another Yamaha product. The local dealer said the company is being run by a bunch of kids and has drastically changed. I think I believe him. The dealer was disappointed with Yamaha's response.
Crewchief47
Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2006
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- 2,830
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- McGregor, ON Canada
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- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2008 Nytro MTX 45th
Chemdude, Please take the time to update your location in your profile, Thanks.
Does 50 days lifetime mean you bought it used or as a leftover? Or is that the number of days you figure you've ridden it? Just curious. Whats the mileage? Any other mods to the motor? Out of warranty or extended? Is your dealer actually working on your behalf to talk with Corporate?
The Tech exchange letter is real. I would think most dealers don't bother reading the letters before they may need to, or they have the wrong guy reading them (the mechanic should be at a minimum).
Does 50 days lifetime mean you bought it used or as a leftover? Or is that the number of days you figure you've ridden it? Just curious. Whats the mileage? Any other mods to the motor? Out of warranty or extended? Is your dealer actually working on your behalf to talk with Corporate?
The Tech exchange letter is real. I would think most dealers don't bother reading the letters before they may need to, or they have the wrong guy reading them (the mechanic should be at a minimum).
chemdude
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 7
The dealer did contact Yamaha. I had the sled for 3 years. Rode 17-18 days per year. That is where the 50 days comes from.
Yamaha should have a recall on this.
Yamaha should have a recall on this.
venture2
Extreme
I called my Yamaha dealer and he wasn't aware of the technical bulletin; but when I gave him the bulletin number s2009-001 he looked it up on whatever Yamaha lookups dealers have and confirmed the problem. I ended up paying a good chunk of $$ to have the tensioner changed on my two o6 machines, even though the dealer gave me every break he could. I really like my machines but the attitude of these big companies gives me negative feelings.
When Yamaha say's the failure rate of these tensioners isn't that high but at the same time they're also saying, oh by the way, if it fails and you don't happen to hear it in time (which is highly possible) then you might ruin your engine, what are we supposed to do? Thats like playing russian roulette with your engine. Who wants to drive around with the thoughts in the back of your mind that the next time you let off the throttle and then hit it again that could be the end, if the chain happens to skip at that time? This repair should be at the very least, partially covered by the factory if you don't have a warranty, or more appropriately a total recall for all machines affected. This reminds me of an auto company we're hearing a lot about lately.
Venture2
When Yamaha say's the failure rate of these tensioners isn't that high but at the same time they're also saying, oh by the way, if it fails and you don't happen to hear it in time (which is highly possible) then you might ruin your engine, what are we supposed to do? Thats like playing russian roulette with your engine. Who wants to drive around with the thoughts in the back of your mind that the next time you let off the throttle and then hit it again that could be the end, if the chain happens to skip at that time? This repair should be at the very least, partially covered by the factory if you don't have a warranty, or more appropriately a total recall for all machines affected. This reminds me of an auto company we're hearing a lot about lately.
Venture2
Mtn-Track
Extreme
chemdude said:
The owner of my Yami dealer just told me the EXACT same thing last week. He said they were mostly right out of college and they had no idea what a snowmobile was when they started their jobs, not to mention how they work. He's selling Cats now........
canadianhunter
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Yamaha / Dealer did both my 06's in fall. No charge , no hassel. It must have something to do with how the dealer presents it to Yamaha. All I told the dealer was they advertise reliability and if I had to do it then they were no more reliable than a 2 stroke and more expensive to fix.
Why does Yamaha Canada only do some?
Why does Yamaha Canada only do some?
Groomerdriver
TY 4 Stroke Master
canadianhunter said:
Yamaha USA took care of one....the guy had the YES warranty. Maybe that helped?
twinrage05
Newbie
Chain tensioner
So, What are the noises we are supposed to be able to hear?
I have a 05 Rage that already has had the stator go bad and the drive shaft break on me this winter. In a span of 2 weeks!
How much does it cost to replace the tensioner?
I am also disappointed in the reliability of the sled, I bought it used and thought I was getting a long term sled. Not so sure anymore!
So, What are the noises we are supposed to be able to hear?
I have a 05 Rage that already has had the stator go bad and the drive shaft break on me this winter. In a span of 2 weeks!
How much does it cost to replace the tensioner?
I am also disappointed in the reliability of the sled, I bought it used and thought I was getting a long term sled. Not so sure anymore!
grizztracks
Tech Advisor
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- Feb 24, 2005
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- 60
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- Scio, NY
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- USA
- Snowmobile
- FX Nytro RTX, RS Vector, SR Viper RTX SE
Re: Chain tensioner
I replaced it myself. It takes about 3-4 hrs to replace and the new tensioner cost around $150. Read this for more info: http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=81246
I replaced it myself. It takes about 3-4 hrs to replace and the new tensioner cost around $150. Read this for more info: http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=81246
venture2
Extreme
I'm not totally sure what sounds you would hear with a bad tensioner, I just decided to replace mine before they failed. I imagine if the tensioner goes bad the chain runs loose and most likely bunches up at the links or gears and then lets go, so it would be an irregular clicking / knocking noise if that happened. When the chain gets real loose its going to make a ratcheting noise when the chain cogs snap down into the gears.
I had mine done by the dealer and was charged for 4 hours labor on each machine, plus the cost of the tensioner, as someone stated $150.0 +-, I got a discount on the parts but also ended up changing the exhaust donuts at the same time because they disconnected the exhaust to move the engine. I guess some of the 2 cylinder engines have the tensioner mounted at the front of the engine right under the carbs and those are a lot easier to replace.
The dealer removed the valve covers and locked the two timing gears in place, just to make sure the timeing didn't change. This required draining the antifreeze (more labor) because of the tube that goes down through the middle of the valve cover, so it was pretty involved to do it this way. Seems like others have approached the job differently, and saved some of these steps.
venture2
I had mine done by the dealer and was charged for 4 hours labor on each machine, plus the cost of the tensioner, as someone stated $150.0 +-, I got a discount on the parts but also ended up changing the exhaust donuts at the same time because they disconnected the exhaust to move the engine. I guess some of the 2 cylinder engines have the tensioner mounted at the front of the engine right under the carbs and those are a lot easier to replace.
The dealer removed the valve covers and locked the two timing gears in place, just to make sure the timeing didn't change. This required draining the antifreeze (more labor) because of the tube that goes down through the middle of the valve cover, so it was pretty involved to do it this way. Seems like others have approached the job differently, and saved some of these steps.
venture2
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