The story of the new Mono Shock

[NOS-PRO]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[redrx1rkt]

Great info! I hope you're right about the Big Three, because right now they are getting blindsided yet AGAIN by the Japanese. Same thing happened in the 1970s. They stubbornly denied that Americans would buy more fuel-efficient cars so they continued to make huge V8s. Look what happened. Today, with all of their profit and focus on SUVs and trucks and gas at 2.35 per gallon, here we go again.

Your rumor suggests some foresight from the Big Three. Based on their track record, it's kind of hard to believe.

The most intriguing suspension you suggested was the magnetic...controlling ride quality absent mechanical devices. This could be the ultimate set-up, for example:...slam on the brakes...a computer monitors pressure in the hydraulic brake system; more pressure = more power to the magnets, increasing force and eliminating nose-dive.

Hammer - yes, the nail gun is advanced but less versatile!

 

[redrx1rkt]

By the way, I don't believe the hybrids are here to stay...they are a stopgap solution. They remind me of Beta VCR's. However, who is profiting from them now and who isn't? Again, I hope I am wrong, but it hard to imagine the Big Three having some advanced, efficient engine designs that are in mothballs. They are very slow and stubborn about adapting to change. Their challenge is to beat Toyota, Honda, etc. to the market with hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Will they be able to???

 

[4Fighter]

...working nights and weekends with no pay,well just something you dont see much in the U.S.

Unfortunately, I've seen it first hand.

Same thing happened in the 1970s. They stubbornly denied that Americans would buy more fuel-efficient cars so they continued to make huge V8s.

And that's why everybody was in a rush to buy a Gremlin instead of a civic, right? It's our culture. When the gas prices start to make us think about skipping meals or puting off the electric bill, to fill the tank then perhaps we'll fore-go the need to drive the biggest, go the fastest, or look the best on the road???

I wonder if the oil industry will be as eager as their consumers to see a mass-produced hydrogen vehicle? Now a hydrogen powered snowmobile, that would be cool.

 

[redrx1rkt]

4 Fighter..

Good points and you're right.

Oil industry - there as much to blame as anyone else. They better exercise a little foresight themselves...

 

[RX-Dave]

Great mechanical engineering (rides and works well) too bad they can't carry that over into production.

2300 miles , 2 wore out springs (one stock, one heavy), one ruined shock from the spring rubbing thru it, rail tips worn out, all bushings wore out, 2 RA adjuster cables and boots, front W-arm with cracked welds, rear scissor arm cracked welds, and 4 sets of hyfax that required a set of hyfax wheels.


Sure it is under warranty, but if I had to replace it next year out of warranty, I am looking at about $800 in parts (not counting the shock, which is $675 by itself). I litterally had less parts NOT broken than broke. And that is after taking it to the dealer to have the susp. gone thru half way thru the year when the shock went.

It is a great riding sled, best out of the box I have ever rode, but the skid (on the 05's at least) needs major re-vamping with durability.

My last sled (01 MXZ800) had zero suspension issues, not even an idler wheel in 6000 miles. Not saying it is better, but IMO the durability is sub-par, and this has been the story with the RX-1 all the way back to 03.

 

[redrx1rkt]

RX-Dave...I disagree. I think the RX-1 might be the most durable sled ever made. Your suspension, being in its first year, had lots of problems. After all, it was a pretty innovative concept, one that's never been used before (as far as I know), so there will be problems in the first year.

My '04 RX-1 has 6600 miles on it and has had NO suspension issues. The only problem was a speed sensor bearing, fixed under warranty in less than a day.

 

[ReX]

The RX-1 in previous years may have been the most durable sled ever made, but with the mono-skid falling apart like it does, even my failure prone 1997 Polaris Storm SE is more durable.

In a little over 10,000 kms I went through 3 front W-arms (pivot arms), 2 slide rails, 1 spring, several RA cables & boots, 1 RA cable protector, and about 30 idler wheels and bearings.

My 1997 Storm with many more miles and at least as much "abuse" is still on all of the original suspension parts without a single failure in any way (just shock rebuilds and idler bearing replacement - once or twice a season). Sure the engine was rebuilt 5 times, the chain and gears replaced twice, and the engine needs a rebuild again - I bought the RX-1 to get away from this level of maintenance.

At least with the Storm I could buy parts with short lead times and get on the snow again. My 05 RX-1 is still broken down waiting for suspension parts - since February.

The mono-skid does ride very, very well, the motor is amazing and the rest of the sled looks like it will last a very long time (my sled did have a number of warranty repairs too - like leaking PTO seals, etc.) - but the suspension in it's current form is simply not durable enough for a high mileage rider (who like to use the suspension to soak up the bumps).

 

[redrx1rkt]

ReX - I just hope Yamaha addressed the problems with the MonoShock in the off-season. Their opportunity to jump to #3 or #2 from a distant #4 with their fantastic new models could be hurt if many new-to-Yamaha riders experience problems...Yamaha is best known for reliability and I would hate to hear all of these converts complaining about how they should've known better and stuck to Poo, Doo and Cat.

My dealer sold all 15 Apexs they had available to them...and 10 of the buyers are Ski-Doo converts.

 

[RX-Dave]

The durability of the ProAction skid was no better, many people on this board right here complain of W-arm problems also.

The problem with the arms on my sled, is they were welded in-correctly. The welds are very small, and are undercut into the tubes of the arm. Yes, the two parts are joined, but the undercut welds create a stress point right at the weld, where the steel is more brittle from the welding.

I have worked my issues out, I'm putting an expert x in it.

 

[redrx1rkt]

I disgaree once again...the ProAction skid, which has been around since 1996, is pretty tough. I've put a combined 11,000 miles on two of them over 4 years and while the ride leaves something to be desired, both have taken a beating and I have experienced no worn parts, broken parts or problems in general.

If you are a rough rider, you are going to break any sled's skid.

 

[RX-Dave]

I managed to not break anything on the skid on my MXZ, it came out of the sled once to change the track.

I think the durability would be there, the manufacturing processes need to be better controlled.

You can find quite a few W-arm purchasers at this link here:

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewforum.php?f=7

 

[ReX]

Of the 3 2005 w-arms installed on my sled only one showed the significant undercut into the arm at the welds. That was the first one.

Arm #2 and #3 had much beefier welds, but the arms still cracked right beside the welds (stress concentration area). The failure of Arm #2 took out the track when it broke also.

I believe the problem is more than the manufacturing process, it is in the actual design and selection of materials.

It still should be an easy (and inexpensive) design fix. I'm confident that with a minor design improvement (beefing the arm up and reducing the stress at the failure points) the fatigue failures will go away.

I'm very interested in seeing what the arms look like on the 2006 sleds and the #4 arm that they install on my sled (when the parts come in).

A fairly suttle change might be all it needs.

As far as not breaking anything, in 28 years and likely 100,000 kms of sledding none of my previous sleds ever had a suspension problem, nor any of my buddies sleds (Cats, Doos, and Poos - and they all rode with me this past season on the same trails at the same speeds). The only guy I personally know locally (other than 05 RX-1 owners) with broken suspension part rode a 2000 SRX and his w-arm cracked a few times. None of my buddies ride 03 or 04 RX-1's so I can't comment on them.

Also my wife's Venture 700 when we bought it last year with 7000 kms on it had a cracked w-arm (found it when I changed the track). It now has 10,000 kms on it (I used it for backup when my 05 RX-1 was down).

 

[redrx1rkt]

It's not that I don't believe you guys, but there are quite a few Yammi riders around here and I've never heard anything about broken W-arms, or cracks...and our trails can be brutal. One guy, who is a maniac, broke his whole skid apart, but he's a crazy rider.

All I can say is that I hope they fixed the problem. If it is this common, they should have by now.