Yamaha Nytro's don't float

[Snowman07]

I had a serious mishape while riding this weekend. I made a fatal error trying to get across a water hole. Ended up putting me and my Nytro in a 4' deep water hole. I'd say about 80% of my Nytro was submerged in the water. It took 8 guys to haul the sled out of the water, and it was a chore for all 8 of us. I didn't start it up for fear water got into the engine. Later back at the hotel, I drained the oil and it was a milky brown oil. I did 3 oil changes and 2 new oil filters, plus replaced all 3 sparkplugs. I'm gonna empty all the gas and change my crankcase oil. It was a crappy way to start and end my riding weekend.

While hauling the sled out of the water hole, I used a rope atteched to the front bumper to help us out. With 3 guys pulling on the rope, the front bumper bent like flimsy piece of crap. I and everyone around me couldn't believ how the bumper bent like that. Kinda sucks getting your first boo-boo on your new sled.

Good news is that my taking up my limiter straps got rid of my darting problem. Now I have to dial in the shocks.

 

[AKrider]

I read about another guy who tried towing the sled off the front bumper and it folded. I looks stronger than it really is.

Good news is I doubt you did any permanent damage to the sled. Just make sure you get it up to operating temp when you ride it and then change the oil.

 

[08NitroRTX]

DID your belt get wet? Or why did it sink.

Once sealed up, they seem to hydroplane quite well!

Give us some detail of why/how you went down.

Last please tell me you reached down and killed it once you found you were beyound the point of no return!

 

[Yellowknife]

I read about another guy who tried towing the sled off the front bumper and it folded. I looks stronger than it really is.

Good news is I doubt you did any permanent damage to the sled. Just make sure you get it up to operating temp when you ride it and then change the oil.

ahahaha - that was me.

I think it depends on how you apply force to that front bumper. It's strength is pulling on it upwards, as in, lifting the front end up. If you do what I did, and try to tow parallel with the ground, it bends. Before that I had it hoisted up in the garage, again - pulling upwards and it was fine. The welds appear to be for upward force. Always tow by the spindles, not the ski loops or bumper LOL

 

[Nikolai]

You need the tow strap that wraps around each ski-loop, they work great. I have hit some pretty big alders/trees and the bumper is still straight.

 

[morrisond]

I've got the GYtr bumper, besides looking great it seems an lot beefier.

 

[Snowman07]

Actually the force was pulled from the side and up. We couldn't pull on it forward because of the position the sled was in. Might have to look at that beefier bumper.

Oh, and whats up with those stupid little plastic pop rivits?? What a pain in the arse they are. At the Yamaha dealer I asked for some extra and he charged $1 a piece. I'd say Yamaha will make big $$ off of just those pop rivits themseleves.

Something I was thinking last night. What about the shocks getting water in them and condaminated the oil inside them. All 4 shocks were submerged in the water. I know they are sealed to keep moisture out, but what about the being under water for about 1 hour??

 

[Mikey]

If the shocks let water in they would leek oil out wouldnt they? You wont have a problem with the shocks the exaust chaincase and spark plugs should be checked tho you do not want water on top of the piston for fear of hydo lock.

 

[woolyviper]

the front bumper is designed to crush in an accident - i crashed the phazer and it crushed up quite nicely.

 

[Yellowknife]

You need the tow strap that wraps around each ski-loop, they work great. I have hit some pretty big alders/trees and the bumper is still straight.

I need a good tow strap. Generally I’ve had bad experience bending ski’s when towing by the loops. Do you have any suggestions/dealers I could get the one you’re talking about from?

I've got the GYtr bumper, besides looking great it seems an lot beefier.

Mine is on order/back-ordered. Did you install the ‘floatation plate’ with it?

 

[NLViper]

The exact same thing happened to me today. I made the same approach to a water hole I would have done on my 02 Viper with success, but with the nytro no such luck. Straight down in 8' to 10' of Fresh water. I shut down just as she was going under.

I have drained the Oil Tank, Chain case and just wondering? Should I also remove the Crank case cover on the bottom of the engine?

As well guys have a bit of a silly question. The spark plug caps, do the just pull off? They seem to be very hard to get off and I was afraid to apply to much pressure.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[unpride]

Its a 4 stroke the spark plug caps are very long just pry them off you wont hurt them. You would probablly want to pull the plugs let it turn over for a bit to blow the water out. The motor will be fine

 

[Snowman07]

The exact same thing happened to me today. I made the same approach to a water hole I would have done on my 02 Viper with success, but with the nytro no such luck. Straight down in 8' to 10' of Fresh water. I shut down just as she was going under.

I have drained the Oil Tank, Chain case and just wondering? Should I also remove the Crank case cover on the bottom of the engine?

As well guys have a bit of a silly question. The spark plug caps, do the just pull off? They seem to be very hard to get off and I was afraid to apply to much pressure.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

The sparkplug caps are very weird. Its about 4" long and you have to twist it back and worth to get it loosen up a bit. Then twist and pull up, and that should do the trick. I would turn it over with the plugs out, but stuff a rag inside the sparkplug hole to soak up any water coming out of the motor. It would do no good to turn it over and water comeout but then fall back inside the engine. Make sur eyou use the special tool that Yamaha gives you to extract your plugs. Just using your socket set won't do you a bit of good. You'll be fishing a sparkplug out of a tight 4" hole.

 

[morrisond]

You need the tow strap that wraps around each ski-loop, they work great. I have hit some pretty big alders/trees and the bumper is still straight.

I need a good tow strap. Generally I’ve had bad experience bending ski’s when towing by the loops. Do you have any suggestions/dealers I could get the one you’re talking about from?

I've got the GYtr bumper, besides looking great it seems an lot beefier.

Mine is on order/back-ordered. Did you install the ‘floatation plate’ with it?

No not yet. Is there an compatibility issue?

 

[Yellowknife]

No, you need the beefier one actually for the floatation plate - the stock one won't work.

Skid plates = stock bumper or larger bumper
new floatation plate released a month ago = larger bumper required