Seat Fire...Listen up!!

[ReX]

Most importantly - how is Yamaha treating you on this?

Have they comitted to getting you ready to ride ASAP?

I guess the other issue is how comfortable are you going to be with the sled(s) in the future?

 

[JDKRXW]

Carb Icing is usally a result of mosture in the air I would think that if one carbed iced all three would have iced.

Actually, carb icing is a result of the spread between the air's temperature and dew point.
Under the right conditions it is possible for a carb to ice up at +70 degrees F.
IMO, this is why Yamaha's DO NOT have carb heater shut-offs as standard equipment. How often do you ride your sled when it is above 70'F?

 

[Sled Dog]

I am willing to bet Yamaha is going to blame this on owner error for whatever reason they can come up with.

 

[smokeless1]

Most importantly - how is Yamaha treating you on this?

Have they comitted to getting you ready to ride ASAP?

I guess the other issue is how comfortable are you going to be with the sled(s) in the future?

First of all, it is NOT my sled, but an identical sled which was snowchecked in spring of 03 and built in summer of 04.

These are Mountain sleds, but they are all basically machanically the same as warrior and rx-1 etc.

Finally, after a good long talk with my friend Pete, here is what is happening with this deal.

Dealer was handling it and after nearly two weeks, dealer says that Ymaer wants to send out a representative to see the sled. Pic's were not enough. After quite a discussion with the dealer, the fellow handling it was called and he was not very helpful saying he didn't know when he could say what was going to happen, except that he said that if it was simply something broken, it probably would have been delt with by now.

Assuming they are very concerned with the fire issue, it seems this will delay any decisions for at least another week or two.

It should be also noted here that:

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE!!

I know of one that happened last year where a Warrior got torched with only 68 miles on the odometer.

I know of two more issues besides that, and I have not really been any digging on this, yet.

This issue is real. Speculation that somebody left the choke on, or that the spark plugs failed or that the carb heater failed or coolant was restricted is of little issue here. It seems that with the design as they are built in 2004, has a flaw. Big carbs, huge intake and exhaust can get unburned fuel to the muffler very quickly. Muffler then becomes a furnace. I can tell you that this happened in less than one and one/half miles. This equates to less than 10 minutes and very probably right around five minutes total.

So what happens if your machine gets a fouled plug? Frozen carbs? Water in fuel?? Bad plug wire?? Anything that could let this huge quantity of fuel to the muffler.

Now who out there can be bold enough to say this could not happent to them??

As for shaken confidence, I have to admit that I have thought long and hard on this. It is one thing to hear about this issue happening and quite another when it DOES HAPPEN while you are there and witnessing this first hand.

I have to tell everyone here that I was once very happy with my sled; not perfectly, but contented enough to keep it and make the obvious corrections to the design flaws like heat exchanger, added temp guage, skiis, fuel shut-offs, etc.

Now I am leaning toward selling.

A VERY LOT DEPENDS UPON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS ISSUE. IF YAMAHA SHUCKS AND JIVES, I WILL BE OUT OF YAMAHA'S FUTURE. IF THEY GRAB THIS ISSUE AND DO THE RIGHT THING, I WILL HAVE TO THINK MORE ABOUT IT. It certainly does grab you by the bells and that idea of riding along and having my asterous catch on fire, is not something that makes me exude with confidence. And what about all that heat going past a tank of gas?? Yipes!!! I find much to like about this sled, but apparently there is much now that I dislike.

 

[kviper]

Almost every automobile on the road today has exhaust running with in two to three inches of there plastic gas tank. I put an after market exhaust on my 98 Mustang GT today and the tail pipes are with in two or three inches of the plastic tank with no shield's and the stock exhaust was in the exact same place. As i said earlier it suck's when sh!!! happen's but i would still like to know how many RX's are out there and exactly how many total this has happened to before i would make a comclushion that there is a problem. kviper

 

[Sled Dog]

Smokeless I think you are making to much of this. If this was that common we would know about it by now from our own members who reported it just like you did. We all own 4 strokes with the same basic design.

 

[LazyBastard]

Not to mention, if there was a common safety problem, then the manufacturer is LEGALLY OBLIGATED to recall the product and correct the safety issue.

kviper: I've never seen that on cars. Every vehicle I've ever owned has had the exhaust on one side and the gas tank on the other side minimum 3 feet clearance.

 

[kviper]

They are not all this way but two of the four Vehicles that i have are. Any thing with a gas tank in the rear behind the rear wheel's will likley be close to the exhaust.I think it would be safe to say most car's are this way and i think it would also be safe to say that car's don't have a problem in this area either. But maybe somwhere one has burned frome it. Everything with gas and or electricity on board has the potential for malfunction and fire. Though anything is possible i don't think we are riding time bomb's and this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion. I would think that before my a!! would be burned i could jump in to the snow and instantly put out the fire. Remember this one got very hot for what ever reason ond did not explode or melt the gas tank. Every time a car burn's along a road doesn't mean that the manufacturer need's to have a recall. I am sure Yamaha want's to know about it and will moniter the situation. Otherwise turn it in to the insurance and get it fixed or replaced. And then enjoy your Quiet smooth non smelling four stroke like i will do. kviper

 

[smokeless1]

Smokeless I think you are making to much of this. If this was that common we would know about it by now from our own members who reported it just like you did. We all own 4 strokes with the same basic design.

Well, guess what?? I have heard from members of this forum and on other sites as well, and now know of at least 4 of these seat fires. Now how many of these sleds are out there that also had fires that I don't know about??

I know that Yamaha is sending a rep out to see this sled first hand. And I also know that it appears from my very limited investigations that there have been a variety of causes, which run from leaning a machine too much, to carb floats set incorrectly, to bad fuel, to spark plug wires set incorrectly on the plugs that are unofficially the cause of the catastrophe.

You be the judge how important this is to you, as you send your daughter off on the sled for a bit of a run??

And for the fellow who says he will notice his kester on fire and will be able to get off the sled and sit in the fire....well, I am not even going to come up with an answer for you. By the time the fire gets your pants, or you notice it, it will be too late won't it??

I guess I am less concerned about the exhaust pipes going by the fuel tank, as the pipes are steel and will contain the heat well. But the seat is rubber, and it catches fire, as we already know, and the seat butts to the tank, and the tank is plastic. Maybe nothing to worry about, by the one time it does all come together, would not be pretty.

Up date on sled condition, parts are in....meaning looks like ymar is going to make good on the restoration, but the rep has not shown up yet to find the cause or to render opinion. Will keep posted.

 

[jtssrx]

smokeless1: You've been very defencive for most of this topic. I was one of the first to ask you a question and you bit my head off. I to am concened about a possible fire. If there's a problem I want to know about it. However your getting a little out of hand with yout anger on the topic and with other memebers of the forum

 

[NEED SNOW]

'' smokeless '' I will say for you to see it happen right in front of you, that would probably make me stop and think about it more. For us to just hear about it from you, we are just more removed from it. I still dont feel to worried about it yet. But, I didn't see it happen to one of my friend's. If more of this starts to show up, then I will really start to worry about it. I think for now just stay cool about it, untill we see how it all works out... keep us posted...

 

[smokeless1]

smokeless1: You've been very defencive for most of this topic. I was one of the first to ask you a question and you bit my head off. I to am concened about a possible fire. If there's a problem I want to know about it. However your getting a little out of hand with yout anger on the topic and with other memebers of the forum

Not defensive, as irritated, that some take this issue lightly. Take it from me that it is no laughing matter when you see someone, especially a friend or family member going down the trail with a seat on fire and not realizing it. Some here humor me by saying that they would stop and put their pants out by sitting in the snow. I think that is just stupid. Others want to blame the operator for doing something stupid like leaving a choke on, or not noticing that 25 % of your machine is not running.

If I were a kid with no experience running equipment, (or my friend who also is machine savey) then okay, maybe, but come on, for the most part this is not a possibility. So no not defensive, I am serious about the danger of this happening to anyone of the readers here. I do know about being burned and having to have skin grafts and the time it takes and pain it can cause, and believe me when I say, be careful and cognizant of this potential problem. If you recognize that your machine is missing ever so slightly or popping, GET OFF THE MACHINE. Maybe nothing there to worry about, but maybe your machine will burst into flames. After all, you sled is exactly the same as my sled as it is exactly the same as the sled that burst into flames. Maybe it was operater error, as so many want to believe. But what if it isn't?? For the sake of the majority of those on here who really want to know, I can assure you that as soon as I find out what caused the fire (if I ever do) I will let you know. For those who simply want to think it was a fluke. Go ahead and just ignore this post.

I get no jollies out of expressing concern over a sled I own and paid short of 10k for that could burst into flames under my butt at a moments notice and watch it burn down.

Maybe I am out of hand. Maybe I am simply forwarning others who are glad to know about something that could cause them serious harm.

 

[JDKRXW]

I get no jollies out of expressing concern over a sled I own and paid short of 10k for that could burst into flames under my butt at a moments notice and watch it burn down.

Maybe I am out of hand. Maybe I am simply forwarning others who are glad to know about something that could cause them serious harm.

Smokeless1:
A) thanks for the warning
B) I seriously think you should consider trading your sled in on another brand. You are obviously very uncomfortable (and stressed out) with the way the RX exhaust system is designed. I think you will be much happier (and who needs stress when they are riding?).

 

[Convert]

smokeless1 I for one appreciate your posting this potential hazard and am sure you do not want to part with your sled. If this is indeed a Yamaha safety issue (sure sounds like a good possibility) they will be required by law to fix it for all of us. No matter what caused it it should be considered a safety hazard. If Yamaha does not deal with the issue the legal system will. Wait and see what they find when they get to it. If your still not satisfied I'm sure consumer reports will be very interested. If Yamaha can prove it was consumer negligence thats one thing but if it is indeed a design flaw I have no doubt that eventually it will get resolved. For now as you say be aware of the issue and keep an eye open. Without your post there could be a fellow member in potential danger I would much rather know about it than not

Thank you and keep us posted.

 

[smokeless1]

Thanks Convert

I appreciate your support here. I feel that ultimately Yamaha will figure this out and that I won't have to trade my sled as jdk figures I should. I will wait to find the final disposition of this and I will keep everyone informed. I am looking for answers here and one way or the other this will work out I am sure. Meanwhile I hope that even the doubting Thomases out there, keep a weather eye out for trouble....which was the whole point of the post.