Yamaha Rules..but sure could use some help on good bushings

[Embden]

I posted a forum just last week about having sloppy steering and excessive freeplay in the sleering..... just wanted to post my DISGUST after completely disassembling my 06 apex GT. I can't believe the amount of PLASTIC bushings that are in the front end of this machine!! 150 horsepower driving a whole front end that is put together with plastic bushings! What a joke. My steering column has been getting worse throughout this winter but I figured I would change the "bearings" that were identifed on Yamahas Parts Finder..... no bearings, more PLASTIC bushings!!! JUNK JUNK JUNK. So all you guys riding your machines hard with about 3000-3500 miles..... trade your junk in or expect to be doing about 10 hours of labor to change all the front end busings, worn out steering bushings and 8 worn out tie rod ends! Or expect buck up about a grand to your local dealer to fix. And I thought I was buying a 4-Stroke for the longevity!!! At least the rear skid has got grease fittings and real bearings. I also have an 04 Rev with 6600 miles and TIGHT as a drum!!
I can't wait for Ski Doo to come out with a big bore 4 Stroke!

 

[polcat]

Go buy a ski doo, then you will know what real junk is, I've been riding with ski doo & cat guys all winter, nothing but trouble, not bashing, just tellig it the way I see it.

 

[kotapug]

Your motor is the 4-stroke not your bushing!Have you taken apart your doo and made sure there is no junk on that sled? If there is you better go to a diffrent brand and find something wrong on that one too then start another post to bitch about.I find it so funny that there is always someone that chimes in or starts a new topic just to bitch and offer no solutions or how they fixed there issue.The world is getting depressing enough so we dont need people telling everyone that there stuff is junk and we better watch out.Sell your YAMAHA buy your doo 4-stroke then let us know how unhappy you are with that too.

 

[Tork]

You can buy Ulmers bronze oilite bushing kit for about $100
I did mine in about 2.5 hours. That will take much of the slop out. I would do that first and see how it is.

Your motor is the 4-stroke not your bushing

Now that is funny. Nothing wrong with a little humor to put things in perspective.

Embden,
Lighten up a little, people dont like to help people who go off on rants.

 

[Sled Dog]

Re: Yamaha JUNK 06 "APIECE"

I posted a forum just last week about having sloppy steering and excessive freeplay in the sleering..... just wanted to post my DISGUST after completely disassembling my 06 apex GT. I can't believe the amount of PLASTIC bushings that are in the front end of this machine!! 150 horsepower driving a whole front end that is put together with plastic bushings! What a joke. My steering column has been getting worse throughout this winter but I figured I would change the "bearings" that were identifed on Yamahas Parts Finder..... no bearings, more PLASTIC bushings!!! JUNK JUNK JUNK. So all you guys riding your machines hard with about 3000-3500 miles..... trade your junk in or expect to be doing about 10 hours of labor to change all the front end busings, worn out steering bushings and 8 worn out tie rod ends! Or expect buck up about a grand to your local dealer to fix. And I thought I was buying a 4-Stroke for the longevity!!! At least the rear skid has got grease fittings and real bearings. I also have an 04 Rev with 6600 miles and TIGHT as a drum!!
I can't wait for Ski Doo to come out with a big bore 4 Stroke!

Yea we are waiting for them to bring that motor out too! Or wait is this the same company that put down 4S engines and raved the 2S. I wont hold my breath.

 

[SharkAttak]

hang in there, the're only bushings

 

[Bullitt GT 07]

All Embden has to do is take a stroll over to Doo Talk for about 5 minutes, then he'll find out where all the JUNK is!!!!! They'd love to have one of those 2 smokes last 4-5000 miles with no trouble, HAH!!!!Long live the BLUE. Bullitt GT

 

[Embden]

All right..... Maybe part of me is just venting but I really think it is a b.s. design! The rest of the sled seems to be very well engineered and works great. But 24 plastic bushings....c'mon. Why not brass like the bushings in the Yamaha street bikes and dirt bikes? You guys that think I am just be'in a bitch.... wait'll you get up to about 3500 miles and you decide that the your sled feels like its gonna run itself into the trees. Then you'll go to your dealer and feel my pain when they slap you with a $1000 labor bill. I will order the after market set of "Oilite" bushings that Ulmer Racing offers but I am really not too excited that they are still plastic. So I will stop the bitching and fix my sled and ride again! And just for the record my 04 Rev is money! Otherwise I would have gotten rid of it for an XP (though I agree that guys are having problems with some of the new doos too). This is a great website. I have gotten a tremendous amount of useful information, I have also had the opportunity to help out a few others with postings of issues I have come across.. good and bad. Next time I'll try not to be so negative!

Kotapug..... sorry to hear that you think the world sux

 

[Honk]

Any sled I have ever owned needed to be rebuilt around 35oo miles. bushings and bearings. that seems to be about it for all sleds! Ya you can do more than that, but would ya take it to canada without doing the rebiuld first? not me!

 

[Tork]

... Then you'll go to your dealer and feel my pain when they slap you with a $1000 I will order the after market set of "Oilite" bushings that Ulmer Racing offers but I am really not too excited that they are still plastic.

$1000 for that seems outragously high. Not sure what you mean but the oilite bronze bushings are metal, not plastic. I also did the spindle bushings from Pioneer, they are nylatron which is plastic but better than OEM.
With the tie rods, put a drop of 20-30 weight oil on each one every 500 miles (or as practical) pivot the rod so the oil is distributed. That will cut down on the wear on those. That will get you going for longer than you did the first time.

 

[snoway]

Everyone needs to vent...if you can't do it with your friends,(fellow smurfs) where can you?
Seems as if there have been alot more bearing and bushing issues in the past 4 or 5 model years.
Would love to know the actual cost diff. to have top of the line materials used. I think most would be willing to pay the extra couple hundred bucks and have a chassis come closer to the longevity of the engine.
But I guess the aftermarket guys have to eat too.

 

[Srxspec]

I will order the after market set of "Oilite" bushings that Ulmer Racing offers but I am really not too excited that they are still plastic.

The Ulmer Racing oilite bushings are in no way shape or form consist of any plastic material whatsoever. They are all oil impregnated bronze bushings.

 

[yamadoo]

I think the problem we have is the Sleds are now so good we complain when they are not PERFECT......and we should.

Embden was obviously venting, and thanks for the civil come back, it is as our mothers teach us not what we said but how we said it, again.

I personally am encouraged that as all the sleds get even better that these details will get better as well.

I suspect the industry still feels the sleds are usually ridden less than 3 k plus before sold. Either by the enthusiast who needs a new sled often or a few rides a year guy who sell before any serious miles. Of course the crowd here (TY RIDERS) , ride often, alot of miles and pays attention to how the sled handles, runs and feels etc.

We are the minority and for now it is cheaper for the MFG to meet the needs of the many and we are let down by these significant but minor things.


My 2 cents again

Yamadoo

 

[MrSled]

I think there too many people that want perfection for free or just expect.... there is no such thing... if there is a human that build and design the product, it WILL have flaws and there will be errors.

Everything takes time to perfect and even then it wont be perfect. Lifes to fricken short to sit and complain and complain....and I get tired of listening to it over and over and it can ware on the positives of anything and make every one feel negative.... and if thats what Totallyamaha is coming too, maybe I should just close her down.... as that to depressing to me.

 

[Timeline]

Last sled was a Cat. 3000 miles, steering bushings, all linkages with spherical ends, skid frame bushings, piston rings and gaskets because of compression, exhaust donuts and springs. 6000 miles same minus rings. 8000 miles same but this time pistons and rod bearings because of worn and hairline cracks on skirts. Bought Yamaha at 10,000 miles, retired to back up sled.

Bottom line is, I think if you ride them hard and want them to be in mint shape like most TY'ers seem to like them to run, then you will be working on them it doesn't matter what you own. All sleds are high maintenance vehicles.