What did I buy!? Possible factory race sled?

[snopro879]

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum and figured I had to post this because I think I landed myself a sweet setup! Long story short, I've always ridden older sleds because frankly, I'm kind of hard on stuff and can't afford the cost of breaking stuff on newer machines. This also leads to tons of down time every winter wrenching on stuff. So I told myself last winter after blowing the clutch on my SnoPro that I was buying a Yamaha 4 stroke in the off season...something I can just get on and ride.

This past week I drove to Wisconsin and picked up a beautiful 2012 Nytro that had all the tasteful mods already done that I've been reading about: 128" rear skit relocation, steering post relocated, bigger fuel tank, C&A skis, and what I thought was just some sort of upgraded front suspension. After noticing some fatigue damage to the front frame and doing some research, I think I have some sort of factory racing front end!? What do you all think? The sled only has 3600 miles but now I wonder if I bought a previously abused race machine? Hah, even if it was raced I'm still really happy with the purchase.

I'm thinking I can just have the cracks welded up? Any suggestions? I heard there was some sort of solid aluminum frame that some of the race variants had. Do those ever pop up for sale anywhere?

 

[Viper_Dave]

Got one just like it in the garage. Oh, without the stress cracks though. It's a race team front end, one off tunnel,with a 141 Cat skid setback for a 144.

 

[snopro879]

Very cool! There's a 125 sticker on the bottom of the sled that I just found too, so I'm assuming this one was raced or at least the front end came from a race sled.

I wanted to repaint the whole front frame and suspension anyways as there's all kinds of small paint chips (probably from being raced). Hopefully those stressed areas are the worst of it and I can salvage everything.

Anyone know any racers from the Wisconsin area that have number 125? Supposedly this sled was owned by the owner of a Yamaha dealership prior to the previous owner (I'm now the third owner). Looking forward to getting everything tidied up on this machine and getting some real riding in this winter!

 

[Hooray!]

Very cool! There's a 125 sticker on the bottom of the sled that I just found too, so I'm assuming this one was raced or at least the front end came from a race sled.

I wanted to repaint the whole front frame and suspension anyways as there's all kinds of small paint chips (probably from being raced). Hopefully those stressed areas are the worst of it and I can salvage everything.

Anyone know any racers from the Wisconsin area that have number 125? Supposedly this sled was owned by the owner of a Yamaha dealership prior to the previous owner (I'm now the third owner). Looking forward to getting everything tidied up on this machine and getting some real riding in this winter!

Don't powder coat the aluminum parts, I did and they failed. Cool sled. You will love the triple.

 

[snopro879]

Don't powder coat the aluminum parts, I did and they failed. Cool sled. You will love the triple.

Can I ask more? I want to powder coat the front arms once I get them off and cleaned up. I'm pretty sure they aren't aluminum but I'm wondering why you stated that? I also didn't know that powder coating affected aluminum?

 

[Hooray!]

Can I ask more? I want to powder coat the front arms once I get them off and cleaned up. I'm pretty sure they aren't aluminum but I'm wondering why you stated that? I also didn't know that powder coating affected aluminum?

So I learned hard way that powder coating (the heating portion) of our aluminum spindles weakens the casting somehow... Anyways, both my nice black spindles bent first season, first big ride. Replaced with stock black painted 2014 spindles and they have been solid ever since. Apparently yamaha paints them vs powder coating. See my front end + rebuild thread (still in process) and there are some pics of the spindles bent, I did powder coat the silver A arms and bumpers satin black... Black hood and tank cover this year... Looks great murdered out. Last blue will go when my black stripe WRP arrives soon!

 

[snopro879]

Looking for a little help if anyone is knowledgeable about Yamaha front suspensions in general. The pictures attached are the upper arms, sandblasted and ready for powder coating, with measurements shown. Are there any other models that match these measurements? These are completely different than the factory front end, so I have no idea where I can get replacement bushings. I am hoping that maybe these might match a Vector, Apex, anything? I actually found bushing measurements on another thread for the factory Nytro, but nothing for other models doing a quick Google search.

I "think" my lowers will accept the factory bushings. The only measurement I don't have is the ID that bushings fit into, but everything else matches up to factory size. I'm more worried about these upper arms before I start destroying these taking the factory ones out.

I'm going to call Port Yamaha, where the sled came from, tomorrow to see if they have any kits in stock they could measure and compare, but figured why not ask the internet while I'm at it. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[STAIN]

I would try to match some bronze bushing up and make my own kit.

 

[snopro879]

Yea I guess maybe I should have elaborated. That's what I want to do, but none of them are sold by size, but by application. Unless I look up custom made ones of course. I just thought that maybe the measurements I took match another Yamaha model, where I could order a kit for that model and just use the pieces as needed.

My lowers measure 40mm across, 30mm OD, and the stock bushings are 18mm ID. This about matches the "09+ a-arm bushing dimensions: 23mm OD, 18mm ID, 22mm long with a 3mm flange" found in another thread on this forum. The ONLY measurement I don't know is the ID of the arm itself, but I'm hoping the 30mm OD translates to a 23mm ID to match the factory bushings, hopefully...

 

[DGZRT]

I'm guessing if your willing to buy the bushings from Travis at Barn Of Parts he will help you sort through your problems ! He has the most part and great pricing .. give him a call or email and ask his advise.
https://www.barnofparts.com/

 

[snopro879]

I'm guessing if your willing to buy the bushings from Travis at Barn Of Parts he will help you sort through your problems ! He has the most part and great pricing .. give him a call or email and ask his advise.
https://www.barnofparts.com/

That's a great idea! I already bought the soft start primary clutch spring from BOP, I didn't even think about searching there for bushings. I'll give that a shot as well.

Maybe he can help me with my other endeavor...replacement ball joints for this suspension...

 

[Hooray!]

Looking for a little help if anyone is knowledgeable about Yamaha front suspensions in general. The pictures attached are the upper arms, sandblasted and ready for powder coating, with measurements shown. Are there any other models that match these measurements? These are completely different than the factory front end, so I have no idea where I can get replacement bushings. I am hoping that maybe these might match a Vector, Apex, anything? I actually found bushing measurements on another thread for the factory Nytro, but nothing for other models doing a quick Google search.

I "think" my lowers will accept the factory bushings. The only measurement I don't have is the ID that bushings fit into, but everything else matches up to factory size. I'm more worried about these upper arms before I start destroying these taking the factory ones out.

I'm going to call Port Yamaha, where the sled came from, tomorrow to see if they have any kits in stock they could measure and compare, but figured why not ask the internet while I'm at it. Thanks ahead of time.

Interesting... Custom A arms?

 

[1nc 2000]

Check with the bushings on model year 2008. The first year had different size bushings.
Also looks like the bushings are still installed in your arms in the above pictures.

 

[TRWISCO]

Looking for a little help if anyone is knowledgeable about Yamaha front suspensions in general. The pictures attached are the upper arms, sandblasted and ready for powder coating, with measurements shown. Are there any other models that match these measurements? These are completely different than the factory front end, so I have no idea where I can get replacement bushings. I am hoping that maybe these might match a Vector, Apex, anything? I actually found bushing measurements on another thread for the factory Nytro, but nothing for other models doing a quick Google search.

I "think" my lowers will accept the factory bushings. The only measurement I don't have is the ID that bushings fit into, but everything else matches up to factory size. I'm more worried about these upper arms before I start destroying these taking the factory ones out.

I'm going to call Port Yamaha, where the sled came from, tomorrow to see if they have any kits in stock they could measure and compare, but figured why not ask the internet while I'm at it. Thanks ahead of time.

Ah I looked at that sled (They advertised it as a race sled with no reverse right?) (I live a block away from Port Yamaha), looked like fun too ,but reading this I'm glad I passed for well sorted XTX.

 

[Mountaintech]

23mm is the ID of the Yamaha tubing.