SteveO Gone

[JPS]

You bought a second year model of an entirely new design. Granted quality control sucks, I would take a four stroke with maintenance issues, over riding on a sled with a time bomb for an engine.

yea and the 2020 still has the same issues, all that changed is the decals and color. so the 4 year design is the same as the 2 year design.

 

[74Nitro]

You bought a second year model of an entirely new design. Granted quality control sucks, I would take a four stroke with maintenance issues, over riding on a sled with a time bomb for an engine.

This site is great but highly exagerates Sidewinder problems.
I was out today with a 2018 Polaris 800 and 2019 Polaris 850. The 800 started running poorly, pulled the spark plugs, mag side was gray with metal particles. Call someone to come pick him up.
The 850 and I carried on. At the gas pumps he took six bucks more than me, I was even surprised by that. By the time we got close to home his oil light was on. I can pass him anytime I want with ease on any straight away. The only place his machine is superior to mine is tight bush type trails.
The other thing I like about my Winder is that the chassis/suspension is far less maintenance than any pure Yamaha machine from the past.

 

[fatchance]

I hear ya. We're all here for one purpose. Help each other out when there's an issue or there is questions about clutching or whatever. You want to just come in and b!#ch about how bad the sled is.....Just sell the damn thing and ride something else. You're not contributing useful information to the site...See ya don't let the cursor hit you in the @$$ on the way out! Sorry for the rant. Been a long day!

 

[STAIN]

. Just because one brand sells the most of something, doesnt mean it is the best.

Very true.

 

[DennyTuna]

Boy oh boy....this thread is about a beloved member moving on for now. Never heard him say "sour grapes" just "frozen grapes". I too will miss his post on TY. Steve our group will be coming your way next year to ride with you and I could care less what your skinny hinny is sitting on. It could be snoscoot 200 for all I care, we would wait for you at trail crossings though....hehe!

 

[WinterWolf]

I hear ya. We're all here for one purpose. Help each other out when there's an issue or there is questions about clutching or whatever. You want to just come in and bitch about how bad the sled is.....Just sell the damn thing and ride something else. You're not contributing useful information to the site...See ya don't let the cursor hit you in the @$$ on the way out! Sorry for the rant. Been a long day!

Good post pal. They have their issues..but I love mine(18 50th) too.

I’ve blown two belts(one stock and one when tuned) and lost the top gear bushing a month ago with 2400 miles on the sled, which left me having to tow it out of the woods. YES Warranty covered everything, so no charge for me. The Cat DNA can be a LIL troublesome, but overall it’s been a good sled imo.

It’s the best looking sled out there, and of course the power(especially when tuned) is nothing short of Mind blowing!! I’ve replaced both clutches with a heavy duty aftermarket set up...didn’t have to, but didn’t want to worry about rollers and weights and springs failing due to 275 plus HP running through stock clutching. So that’s some peace of mind there for me.

Add 110 plus HP to the Doos and Poos..and see how long their components last with that kind of juice running through them? So that’s something that has to be taken into consideration too.

I love all the brands...don’t think you can go wrong with any of them now a days, its a matter of what you like and what you want in a sled. Wish I had the money and time to have a couple of sleds at once..the Winder for the days I want to be the fastest/baddest out there, and an 850 Doo or Poo for when I feel like I want to be banging around off the moguls through the twisties.

 

[SAB1]

Probably not the best guy to weigh in here but here is my take. I have a winder and two of my buddies do as well. One has 8400 miles, another over 7,000 and I’m at 4,500. Except for the Helix’s on mine and the one with 7,000 they are stock sleds. All three have had the drive shaft replacements. Other than that we have had no issues. No one has been towed, no chain case issues, no relay problems, no rollover valve issues, no leaking coolant hoses. IMO leave these sleds stock and they run fine. The driveshaft issue though is a sticking point. When we replaced them the shafts were dimpled, loctite was applied and the BOP wedge went in. If my shaft goes again the sled is gone in a heartbeat.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Probably not the best guy to weigh in here but here is my take. I have a wonder and two of my buddies do as well. One has 8400 miles, another over 7,000 and I’m at 4,500. Except for the Helix’s on mine and the one with 7,000 they are stock sleds. All three have had the drive shaft replacements. Other than that we have had no issues. No one has been towed, no chain case issues, no relay problems, no rollover valve issues, no leaking coolant hoses. IMO leave these sleds stock and they run fine. The driveshaft issue though is a sticking point. When we replaced them the shafts were dimpled, loctite was applied and the BOP wedge went in. If my shaft goes again the sled is gone in a heartbeat.

Your driveshaft issues are solved, get ready for the $hitstorm of other issues @ 7000 miles.

 

[74Nitro]

Probably not the best guy to weigh in here but here is my take. I have a wonder and two of my buddies do as well. One has 8400 miles, another over 7,000 and I’m at 4,500. Except for the Helix’s on mine and the one with 7,000 they are stock sleds. All three have had the drive shaft replacements. Other than that we have had no issues. No one has been towed, no chain case issues, no relay problems, no rollover valve issues, no leaking coolant hoses. IMO leave these sleds stock and they run fine. The driveshaft issue though is a sticking point. When we replaced them the shafts were dimpled, loctite was applied and the BOP wedge went in. If my shaft goes again the sled is gone in a heartbeat.

I agree with your post in general, but I highly recomend opening up that chaincase and addressing those tensioner bolts. I have yet to open one up with tight bolts.

 

[SAB1]

I agree with your post in general, but I highly recomend opening up that chaincase and addressing those tensioner bolts. I have yet to open one up with tight bolts.

Yes. That is top priority this off season. When we replaced my buddy's drive shaft we tack welded his tensioner screws. Unfortunately when my drive was to be replaced the dealer wanted it and wouldn't let us do us. I asked him to tack weld my tensioner screws but he refused.

 

[Birdmansrx]

Any one remember early apex drive shaft breaking and leaving you stranded, been there done that.
No sled is perfect but I sure like my sidewinder.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Yes. That is top priority this off season. When we replaced my buddy's drive shaft we tack welded his tensioner screws. Unfortunately when my drive was to be replaced the dealer wanted it and would let us do us. I asked him to tack weld my tensioner screws but he refused.

Seems like nowadays the customer is always wrong. Gotta love these idiots, if the customer wants his seat installed upside down and backwards.....you do it!

 

[rnusr01]

Hi Steve,

I will also be spring ordering a MXZ X RS 850 to replace my SW. I have had 0 issues with mine and only 1700 miles but feel like its time for a change. Plus my kids are getting into it to so a couple MXZ Sports are also in the mix. If anyone is interested in my SW let me know it has all the goodies and in show room condition

 

[FrozenTows4]

Your driveshaft issues are solved, get ready for the $hitstorm of other issues @ 7000 miles.

That would apply to any brand. All the "snowmobile stuff", idlers, clutches, bearings, etc will need to be gone through. No Mfg is immune. Mute point.

 

[TrueBlue]

I have friends i ride with 2 on Polaris 850 Assault 2019 and 2020 and 2 on 850 Ski Doo. these sleds are pounded each time they ride them and these guys don't do much matiance zero problems. could they break? sure can but have not yet. they came from the factory without needing much. one guy on Ski Doo had all his shocks re valved from new but he is 300lbs, just tuned for his weight, the sled did come with very good KYB's from the start. the Ski Doo back country and Poo assult came with 1.6 tracks and excellent suspension, unlike what i had to go through with my Sidewinder. I have been buying Yamaha snowmobiles since 1985 540 V MAX and the bottom line is they have fallen way behind. I love my Sidewinder motor but the rest is poor for the amount of money you spend. I wanted 1.6 track ,had to get a XTX so i had to buy a sled with shock package that sucks. the only way to get good shocks is to spring order. Get the sled then start to fix it so you can get back from a long ride. the skis suck so need new skis, clutch roller issues and many clutches needed machining to be able to fix the offset problem then replace the rear tri hub before it came apart and left you stranded. then after 1800 miles it was time to check out the chain case and yes the top gear was worn to the brass, bolts were loose on the tensioner so had to weld them before a big problem happened. Barn of parts have a shaft saver because bearings start to spin on the shafts of the drive train, have to be kidding, within the first 600 miles my center shock shaft broke in half, ruined the remainder of a weekend 600 miles from home, had to have a machine shop make me a shaft out of stainless which also did not hold up because stainless is a bit soft and that one bent so finally had one made out of hard chrome shaft, same material as hyd. shafts and finally no more problem with that. now with 4,000 miles i have really changed everything in the both clutches twine because they really wear parts quick. in the mean time the 2 Ski Doos and 2 Polaris in my riding group have changed a total of 2 belts and thats it.. starting to get hard to be a loyal Yamaha rider atleast for snowmobiles because we are getting the shaft from Yamaha for being a customer, paying the long buck for a poor sled with a good motor. I will be buying 2 new sleds next year to replace my 18 Sidewinder and the Misses 17 XTX Viper and after 35 years on a Yamaha i may be jumping ship because a new Sidewinder comes with the same exact weak chassis and parts as a 2017 had.

These are all the reasons I will not buy a YamiCat. Give me a true Yamaha sled, I need reliability.