Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
Sleding Weekend #5!
Saturday I spent the afternoon testing ice thicknesses around Yellowknife Bay. I got a range of measurements, from 9 inches at Dettah to only 4 inches between the Dettah and Kam Lake crossing over the bay...
Deeper in the bay near Air Tindi I got 9 inches. Jennyjohn has an average of 8 inches. Not a lot of snow on the ice but enough. River systems are WIDE open...
So Saturday was fine - no real problems - an update on my silicone job on the Nytro - it isn't holding. Slowly it is peeling off. So, I think that idea is spent and just isn't going to work. My next attempt will be that spray insulation foam. Someone mentioned trying that last year. I'm getting desperate. I was looking at the Rev XP's and trying to see if snow buildup would be an issue - like Nate said, the steering is external, so it wouldn't matter so much if you got snow inside the engine compartment. Anyone care to comment from experience with their XP? I've also done some minor technical upgrades to my sleds but I will save that for another post with proper photo's.
Sunday was the big day. We departed at 8am, straight from town. I invited Nate to use one of my sleds since his is blown up, and he started on the Nytro. 5 minutes into the ride, he broke it. (see video) Half way through the day, he caused more damage. (see video) And by the end of the day, he figured why the hell not top it off with a bang. (see video)
We arrived at our lake of choice and started fishing, when Trevor's 2005 GSX Limited 800 H.O. PowerTEK with 7000 km's (4375 MI) decided to start making a bad noise, leaving the MAG side with a white plug and as far as we could tell, no compression. Hmm - have I seen this before? What takes me one season to do took him nearly 4 seasons - but his sled didn't last any longer than any of mine by the looks of it. That, and Nate blowing his last weekend with the same mileage? Hmm - maybe it isn't just me. But don't worry - the 4 strokes don't get off that easy. Brian has blown 2 Carbed Nytro Motor's. Two.
So we had a couple casualties on the day and hadn't even hit lunch time yet, so Alex, myself and Nate headed to cut some trail to another secret location...
Suddenly, the Phazer starting making a weird clanging noise (see video)...
We ended up busting through our trail, connecting two half's of it to achieve our goal, and it only took 4 years Denis!!!
Alex says you wouldn't be impressed with the lack of a straight line through the bush. Let's just say it is a trail fit for a tundra, not a snowcoach.
After trail cutting it was back to the camp fire for fishing and food...
Please keep your children from viewing the computer screen at this moment...
Then, it was time to pack up and header home, towing the GSX with the Nytro - and the Phazer not running so well with that noise.
Then it all went to hell in a hand basket. Seriously - see video...(as soon as youtube is done processing it, the link will work properly)
Sleding Weekend Number Five - 2 Sleds Down
Cheers,
YK
Saturday I spent the afternoon testing ice thicknesses around Yellowknife Bay. I got a range of measurements, from 9 inches at Dettah to only 4 inches between the Dettah and Kam Lake crossing over the bay...
Deeper in the bay near Air Tindi I got 9 inches. Jennyjohn has an average of 8 inches. Not a lot of snow on the ice but enough. River systems are WIDE open...
So Saturday was fine - no real problems - an update on my silicone job on the Nytro - it isn't holding. Slowly it is peeling off. So, I think that idea is spent and just isn't going to work. My next attempt will be that spray insulation foam. Someone mentioned trying that last year. I'm getting desperate. I was looking at the Rev XP's and trying to see if snow buildup would be an issue - like Nate said, the steering is external, so it wouldn't matter so much if you got snow inside the engine compartment. Anyone care to comment from experience with their XP? I've also done some minor technical upgrades to my sleds but I will save that for another post with proper photo's.
Sunday was the big day. We departed at 8am, straight from town. I invited Nate to use one of my sleds since his is blown up, and he started on the Nytro. 5 minutes into the ride, he broke it. (see video) Half way through the day, he caused more damage. (see video) And by the end of the day, he figured why the hell not top it off with a bang. (see video)
We arrived at our lake of choice and started fishing, when Trevor's 2005 GSX Limited 800 H.O. PowerTEK with 7000 km's (4375 MI) decided to start making a bad noise, leaving the MAG side with a white plug and as far as we could tell, no compression. Hmm - have I seen this before? What takes me one season to do took him nearly 4 seasons - but his sled didn't last any longer than any of mine by the looks of it. That, and Nate blowing his last weekend with the same mileage? Hmm - maybe it isn't just me. But don't worry - the 4 strokes don't get off that easy. Brian has blown 2 Carbed Nytro Motor's. Two.
So we had a couple casualties on the day and hadn't even hit lunch time yet, so Alex, myself and Nate headed to cut some trail to another secret location...
Suddenly, the Phazer starting making a weird clanging noise (see video)...
We ended up busting through our trail, connecting two half's of it to achieve our goal, and it only took 4 years Denis!!!
Alex says you wouldn't be impressed with the lack of a straight line through the bush. Let's just say it is a trail fit for a tundra, not a snowcoach.After trail cutting it was back to the camp fire for fishing and food...
Please keep your children from viewing the computer screen at this moment...
Then, it was time to pack up and header home, towing the GSX with the Nytro - and the Phazer not running so well with that noise.
Then it all went to hell in a hand basket. Seriously - see video...(as soon as youtube is done processing it, the link will work properly)
Sleding Weekend Number Five - 2 Sleds Down
Cheers,
YK
tkuss
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Man you guys are hard on sleds.
The same thing happened to my phazer last year. My dad was driving it, then he happens to get pulled over by a cop for going through stop signs(gets a 270$ ticket), anyway he goes to start the sled back up and it sounds like some noise is coming from the clutch but we can't figure it out. So we start heading back and about a 5 miles or so back down the trail the thing just blew. Took most of the riding season for Yamaha to fix it since all the parts were backordered. But they did fix, and now I have an 08 motor in the 07 phazer which starts and runs much better. But it did suck. My Apex though has 7000 miles and is still running great.
Keep us updated on both sleds.
The same thing happened to my phazer last year. My dad was driving it, then he happens to get pulled over by a cop for going through stop signs(gets a 270$ ticket), anyway he goes to start the sled back up and it sounds like some noise is coming from the clutch but we can't figure it out. So we start heading back and about a 5 miles or so back down the trail the thing just blew. Took most of the riding season for Yamaha to fix it since all the parts were backordered. But they did fix, and now I have an 08 motor in the 07 phazer which starts and runs much better. But it did suck. My Apex though has 7000 miles and is still running great.
Keep us updated on both sleds.
Ported Hornet
Expert
WOW, unbelievable.
LOL, you guy's sure have fun when you're out riding! I wish I could go riding with all of you some time!!!
Too bad with the Phazer though... I hope it will be a quick fix for you.
Good to see you have an E-Tec in the group also, since I'm curious how it will hold up. What model is it? Regular MXZ, Renegade, or an X-model? TNT maybe?
Keep up the good work! I really enjoy to read and watch all of your adventures...
Too bad with the Phazer though... I hope it will be a quick fix for you.
Good to see you have an E-Tec in the group also, since I'm curious how it will hold up. What model is it? Regular MXZ, Renegade, or an X-model? TNT maybe?
Keep up the good work! I really enjoy to read and watch all of your adventures...
Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
I have news.
The Phazer's motor is toast.
There is a shaft in the inner workings of the motor that has had a failure and unfortunately the shrapnel it produced has destroyed the motor. They have currently requested the motor on warranty, and are hoping to get an engine assembly to drop in.
More specifically, there is a balancing shaft next to the crank that is designed to soak up engine vibration. This shaft is held in place with nuts which had come loose. The shaft then banged against the bottom end casing of the motor causing shavings of metal to go throughout the engine, damaging everything inside.
Typically a motor going down like this can take anywhere form a month to 8 months to be approved to be replaced. In my case, thanks to many people including those at my dealer and those at Yamaha Canada, the paperwork was being pushed through within 24 hours. Hopefully I get news of a new engine on its way shortly.
Once again my dealer got the sled in the day after I dropped it off which is great service, and once again they are pushing through the processes to get what I need on order. I feel really lucky to have a dealer with this much support behind me - and provided there's no problem getting the motor shipped out/installed on warranty, I'd have to say the same for Yamaha Canada.
They are calling the failure a fluke. I'm not sure. I don't have numbers on Yamaha Phazer motor's going down. It is something i've never heard of failing - I was expecting a broken valve, cam shaft malfunction or a timing chain issue. This is why I have 2 sleds. I've been riding each morning this week.
What does this mean for my faith in 4 strokes and Yamaha's reliability? Well it certainly doesn't help - but the quality of service does a good job at making up for it. I am weary now and going to dig to see what I can find about other failures. After that I will determine whether or not I will keep this unit out of warranty in the fall of 2009.
The Phazer's motor is toast.
There is a shaft in the inner workings of the motor that has had a failure and unfortunately the shrapnel it produced has destroyed the motor. They have currently requested the motor on warranty, and are hoping to get an engine assembly to drop in.
More specifically, there is a balancing shaft next to the crank that is designed to soak up engine vibration. This shaft is held in place with nuts which had come loose. The shaft then banged against the bottom end casing of the motor causing shavings of metal to go throughout the engine, damaging everything inside.
Typically a motor going down like this can take anywhere form a month to 8 months to be approved to be replaced. In my case, thanks to many people including those at my dealer and those at Yamaha Canada, the paperwork was being pushed through within 24 hours. Hopefully I get news of a new engine on its way shortly.
Once again my dealer got the sled in the day after I dropped it off which is great service, and once again they are pushing through the processes to get what I need on order. I feel really lucky to have a dealer with this much support behind me - and provided there's no problem getting the motor shipped out/installed on warranty, I'd have to say the same for Yamaha Canada.
They are calling the failure a fluke. I'm not sure. I don't have numbers on Yamaha Phazer motor's going down. It is something i've never heard of failing - I was expecting a broken valve, cam shaft malfunction or a timing chain issue. This is why I have 2 sleds. I've been riding each morning this week.
What does this mean for my faith in 4 strokes and Yamaha's reliability? Well it certainly doesn't help - but the quality of service does a good job at making up for it. I am weary now and going to dig to see what I can find about other failures. After that I will determine whether or not I will keep this unit out of warranty in the fall of 2009.
LJ 452
TY 4 Stroke God
Maybe you should have Hondo buy your sleds, then buy them from him. Man, that 8,000 mark seems to be unreachable.
Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
How's yours held up so far? How many miles?
OST
Expert
Not good news. Hopefully this motor going down is a freak incident for all us Phazer owners.
I have 8382 km's on my 07 VL. I'm thankfull that I have the 3 year warranty as well, but with your sled's motor busted it's gonna be hard on my nerves when I get out sledding this season.
Thanks again for writing up and vids of your adventures.
Look forward to reading them ... they're all great!
I have 8382 km's on my 07 VL. I'm thankfull that I have the 3 year warranty as well, but with your sled's motor busted it's gonna be hard on my nerves when I get out sledding this season.
Thanks again for writing up and vids of your adventures.
Look forward to reading them ... they're all great!
Ike
Expert
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Man, you sure go trough sleds like Andre Agassi goes trough tennis balls!!
I hope Yammie can fix you up soon. Engine failures, 2- or 4- stroke suck big time.
Ike
I hope Yammie can fix you up soon. Engine failures, 2- or 4- stroke suck big time.
Ike
LJ 452
TY 4 Stroke God
Yellowknife said:
It's the wifes sled so low miles, around 1200 I think. Of that I think I put on about 400 of them. Fun sled to ride just wish it had better (rebuildable) shocks. Are you clutched or any other mods? Rev limiter ever hit, anything different to settle some nerves?
Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
No clutching or mods. Rev limiter used to hit before I had the sea level clutching put into it, but I wouldn't force it knowing it would rev too high.
Bjorne73
Newbie
My phazer mtx has 4330km on the ODO so far so good.Yellowknife said:
Cody
Expert
Yellowknife i love your thread i know if said this before but i think its the best one. Anyways sorry to hear about ur sleds is it DOO time? i wanna get the tnt 500ss but my dad says no haha. GOOD LUCK!
Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
I don't think it is doo time, but it's good that there's always options.
Not that I know of...
Sleding Weekend Number Six!
Guess what? Nothing went horribly wrong! (one thing broke – see video + there’s a recap on the dodge grill/bird incident which is worth $500 d’oh!)
I know…less entertaining…but the reason behind it is because we spent more time ‘working’ than riding.
Greg and I headed out to Powder Point and launched the sleds with our wall tent and a few necessary tools…
We cruised a couple lakes, picked a spot and started the set up process for camp…
Basically not much riding meant goofing off…
Finally the tent was up, daylight was gone and that was it for day 1…
Day 2, Nate came out with me, and this was the money trip with all the gear for inside the tent…
Look at how much this rack holds! It’s a fricken transport!
By night fall on day 2, we were finished…
And the most important part of the set up, the tv…
We’ve been in a cold snap for 4 days now, so there’s plenty of ice.
Phazer Update; Down for Day 10 today, and I was quizzed by my dealer on various things like average speed on sled, average engine RPM, average warm-up time, etc. Lots of questions regarding the use of the unit on behalf of Yamaha. They have reported a 4 corner seize as well indicating a cold seize – which isn’t from me not warming it up enough because I let it idle plenty and until I feel heat in the exchangers before I drive it away. No confirmation that the warranty is approved yet nor than a new motor is on its way. I don’t anticipate a problem, however the timeframe is anyone’s guess. The paperwork has been well under way though which is good.
So, here’s the video of the wall tent set-up adventure:
Sleding Weekend Number Six: Video Link
Cheers,
YK
Not that I know of...
Sleding Weekend Number Six!
Guess what? Nothing went horribly wrong! (one thing broke – see video + there’s a recap on the dodge grill/bird incident which is worth $500 d’oh!)
I know…less entertaining…but the reason behind it is because we spent more time ‘working’ than riding.
Greg and I headed out to Powder Point and launched the sleds with our wall tent and a few necessary tools…
We cruised a couple lakes, picked a spot and started the set up process for camp…
Basically not much riding meant goofing off…
Finally the tent was up, daylight was gone and that was it for day 1…
Day 2, Nate came out with me, and this was the money trip with all the gear for inside the tent…
Look at how much this rack holds! It’s a fricken transport!
By night fall on day 2, we were finished…
And the most important part of the set up, the tv…
We’ve been in a cold snap for 4 days now, so there’s plenty of ice.
Phazer Update; Down for Day 10 today, and I was quizzed by my dealer on various things like average speed on sled, average engine RPM, average warm-up time, etc. Lots of questions regarding the use of the unit on behalf of Yamaha. They have reported a 4 corner seize as well indicating a cold seize – which isn’t from me not warming it up enough because I let it idle plenty and until I feel heat in the exchangers before I drive it away. No confirmation that the warranty is approved yet nor than a new motor is on its way. I don’t anticipate a problem, however the timeframe is anyone’s guess. The paperwork has been well under way though which is good.
So, here’s the video of the wall tent set-up adventure:
Sleding Weekend Number Six: Video Link
Cheers,
YK
Yellowknife
TY 4 Stroke Master
Update on Phazer motor - it has been approved and is being shipped today, should take about a week to arrive I'm told.
The new engine, more than likely, won't have the CDI or Decompression update parts on it. The good news is, the decompression springs and the CDI, from the cold start kit can be transferred over. The CDI wouldn't have been affected by the motor failure. It won't take any longer to switch these parts onto the new motor. I never did get to test the cold start capability of the new system either, as it was finally installed when temps were too warm to test here at the end of last season.
The new engine, more than likely, won't have the CDI or Decompression update parts on it. The good news is, the decompression springs and the CDI, from the cold start kit can be transferred over. The CDI wouldn't have been affected by the motor failure. It won't take any longer to switch these parts onto the new motor. I never did get to test the cold start capability of the new system either, as it was finally installed when temps were too warm to test here at the end of last season.
