sled died this weekend

[yamadoo]

Guys, this post originated back in February but someone wanted to know the outcome of the issue so it was brought back up. Obviously, I've picked up my sled by now, and yes my sled tune still has issues.

Dealers- It is stupid difficult to find a good dealer that will spend time with your sled, let alone go to bat for you. My impression is, dealers don't get rich selling sleds and are more interested in selling bikes & ATV's. So to find one that is helpful with a unique issue, is rare especially given the "blind-eye" twist Yamaha is supporting them with. Anyways, this Viper has been to 2 dealers for a total of 2 months in service. Both have given the sled back to me with nothing more to say than "we don't find anything wrong" or "there's a reflash coming". Yet, it was unridable at slow speeds and unreliable due to fouling plugs. That's where I was at with it.

I do know about that whole starting it up to show your buddies and fouling plugs thing. I learned about that with my Attak. I fouled a set of plugs in that sled before it even saw snow, showing my buddies how awesome it sounded in the garage!

That situation is nothing like whats going on with my Viper. The last time it fouled plugs was after this spirited, 60-80mph, cranking the bars down a 20 mile stretch of my favorite trail. The sled was running great at that point because there was nowhere that we were riding slow and there was absolutely no indication of fouling plugs. They fouled when trying to start it after a 10-15 minute trail side break from this hard/fast riding. Probably a hot start issue, I don't know. I turned the key and nothing. Not even a snap crackle or pop. It was as if the computer died. A half hour of cranking the engine netted nothing.

I've owned 11 new sleds in my life and more dirt bikes, road bikes and 4-wheelers than I can remember. I've always had my hands in the high performance stuff spending more money than my wife knows about. But never have I seen a situation like this that I couldn't explain.

Fast forward- I've already bought Curve ski's to fix the ill handling factory ones and, not waiting for Yamaha to pull there heads out of there #*$&@, recently did the EVO 91 octane reflash.

With this EVO flash, I've noticed a little better starting; cold & hot. I've only been able to ride around home but the ~2700 rpm burble is slightly better although it could still use more fuel in that area. I can now burble thru that rpm whereas before it would just lurch past it. Some of you guys know what I'm talking about here. I'm gonna do a PCV also to perfect this tune but already way past what I wanted to spend on this sled.

I have a trail ride planned this weekend. Hopefully it will be past the plug fouling thing. Will keep you guys updated.

...still like to type...

Wow good luck with your ride and hope your issue is 'over'

Yamadoo

 

[DT]

Thanks Cannondale. I'm sure we'll get this figured out eventually and I realize sometimes it's by dumb luck issues are found. I will give it a try this weekend and see if it's any better. As far as that reluctor deal you mentioned, where is it exactly. I'm looking thru parts diagrams to figure it out.

 

[cannondale27]

Thanks Cannondale. I'm sure we'll get this figured out eventually and I realize sometimes it's by dumb luck issues are found. I will give it a try this weekend and see if it's any better. As far as that reluctor deal you mentioned, where is it exactly. I'm looking thru parts diagrams to figure it out.

It is on the crank stub clutch is mounted on behind bearing in engine

 

[DT]

Ok, so I googled it and appears that the reluctor wheel is pressed onto the PTO stub shaft. If it did "move", wouldn't it show up when checking timing? I assume timing can still be checked on these?

 

[DT]

Wow good luck with your ride and hope your issue is 'over'

Yamadoo

Thanks, fingers crossed...

 

[cannondale27]

Ok, so I googled it and appears that the reluctor wheel is pressed onto the PTO stub shaft. If it did "move", wouldn't it show up when checking timing? I assume timing can still be checked on these?

Nope. Timing is checked at flywheel its not adjustable without modification.

 

[cannondale27]

I am not saying this is your problem but it is one to look for.

 

[cannondale27]

Real kicker with that sled was it had 2000 or so mi on it and worked great up until that point. You could see the reluctor spun slightly but yet it was still press fit. Lot of things go on that blow a guys mind. I try not to think about them since would hide in a dark corner worrying all the time otherwise!

 

[DT]

LOL, sometimes I read so much, I'm scared to turn the key in fear my machine will blow up!

I will see how the sled does after this weekend with the new EVO tune and decide if I need to take this further. Maybe it will run "good enough".

Cannondale, I want to thank you again for going out of your way to help. If I don't get anywhere with this, I just may take you up on looking at it...TA is only 8hrs away.