What a bummer

[snugmat]

Hi i'm new to the site and i must say this is an awesome and infomative site. I've been dreamin of gettin me one of the rx-1's ever since i saw one on the trail 2 yrs. ago. Finally happened last late march when i bought one from a guy from N.Y. state. What a beauty candy red shorty with 1270 mi. on her. Got to ride it in a field for a little bit before the snow was gone. WooHoo what a machine. Had been on a ZL500 cat for the last 2 yrs.-nuff said. Then i found this site and started reading and heeding the warnings that were being offered. Checked the front end- yup floppin quite a bit. Put in new nylatron bushings from pioneer performance. Checked the rear. No cracks. Cool. Pullled the skid. Front bushings and spacers totally wasted. Back bushings not far behind. Back arm pretty good. The sliders were wasted. Talked to the local yammi dealer and was told there was an RA upgrade kit,more protection for the RA cable and reinforcement for the rails. The RA upgrade consisted of new higher grade plastic bushings and steel spacers. If yamaha thinks plastic of any kind is going to hold up to the pressures exerted on a skid they are sticking thier heads in the sand. So i manufactured all 936 bronze bushings and replaced the aluminium spacers with O-1 ground drill rod. New sliders and replaced those P.O.S. plastic wheels with the colored rubber jobs.Changed oil and filter. New set of woody's. Nice rear luggage compartment. Waxed greased cuddled and patted. Ready to go. Snow finally comes. Now we've got the good ole over heating problem. Checked the antfreeze. Yup its full strength. Talked to the yammi dealer about a rear heat exchanger. They say i can't run one because it's studded. So i guess i'll have to hope that changing the antifreeze will take care of this. Sorry for such a log post but this has been building for quite a while. Absolutely love the sled but this is rediculous. Not to bash anyone but i bought the cat used with 3000 mi. on it and just beat it for 2 yrs. with zero problems. I hope there's an end in sight.

 

[RX1Jim]

Snugmat,

Welcome to the site! This site is full of wonderful people who know more about the RX-1 than any dealre or even the Yamaha development team. There have been a few "bugs" with the RX-1 but they are easy to fix. For the overheating issue, I suggest you use a 50% antifreeze - 50% dionized or distilled water with a dose of Redline's water wetter product. 100% antifreeze is a terrible conductor of heat. I have used the watter wetter product in all of my sleds and bikes for years and find it actually does help the performance of the cooling system. Good luck and keep the questions coming. The members of this site really do an excellent job of helping each other out. Good Luck and Happ New Year!!

 

[JDKRXW]

There's lots of guys on here with studded tracks AND a rear cooler. Extend the tunnel protectors and you will be good to go.

 

[Frostbite]

Welcome to the site. Yes, by all means heed all the other information previously provided. There are some smart people on here!

Here are a couple more things you might try.

Ensure your cooling system is bled. Even if it has been, do it again. Make sure you elevate the point you are bleeding from to make it the highest point in the system. Yes, water wetter (or equivalent works) I'm using it too.

Rail scratchers help a lot too in frozen snow conditions. Put them down when you need them and stow them when you're in the good stuff.

If you use Simmon's skis there is a small steel reverse funnel looking thing that bolts to the inside of the ski and helps kick up snow too.

You may want to read up on track drilling. Two holes down the middles of the track could do wonders.

If all else fails....................I have a rear heat exchanger on E bay right now.

Best of luck and welcome

Frosty

 

[NY_Nytro]

The rear exchanger on the shorty does not require stud protectors. It mounts in the same location as the stock crossover tube.

 

[snugmat]

So it appears my yammi dealer does'nt know what he is talking about as far as using a rear cooler with studs goes. I plan on pulling the right cover to access the coolant lines under the oil tank. I have a couple of questions. 1) Will this allow me to drain all of the coolant or at least enough to obtain a 50-50 mix. 2) Can anyone tell me where i might get a look at one of these rear coolers and the longer tunnel extensions. I will do the 50-50 mix and bleed several times but it seems to me , by the info provided on this site that the total fix is the rear cooler. I've got to say i feel a lot better about things knowing there is this huge support network out there to draw from. These sleds truly are an engineering marvel. And you folks are the greatest !!!!!! Thanx

 

[NY_Nytro]

You'll dump pretty close to all of the antifreeze if you pull the coolant line that runs along side the oil tank under the right cover.