Yamaha serviceability

[studdog]

Just a rant! I'm on my 8th Yamaha in 9 years. I'm fed up with serviceability. I just had to get to my battery for some accessory issues. This resulted in 2 hours of carefully disasembling half the machine! And those @#$%^ Dru clips! If I never see another it will be too long. Then I had to reassemble! This is BS BS BS. Just my opinion, and I could be wrong.

 

[RSVECTORFREAK]

I was tearing mine apart last night to replace the cam chain tensioner and was thinking the same thing. I have over 5 hours of disassembling parts to to get at it. Then I had to laugh at the location of the starter, if it ever goes bad the entire engine will have to come out. I'm in the thinking mode of ride them until everything but the engine wears out and then part the thing out and sell it in pieces and move on to the next one.

 

[yamahas]

took you 2 hrs to get to the battery? what sled is it?

 

[studdog]

Vector LTX GT. It is the best sled I've owned so far. But, after years of service access issues I'm at the end of my rope. I could go on and on. Have to take panels off to get to coolant reserveroir? It's not so bad in my heated garage with thousands of $ in tools great lighting etc. Try it on the trail at minus 10. When I go shopping for a new sled this spring service access will be a top priorty. I can't beleive the JAP engineers can't come up with a better way. By the way I have communicated by concerns to Yamaha.

 

[kyzer]

Everything is like that these days. Nothing you can do about it. At least your not doing it on the trail. If you do your regular pain in the #*$&@ maintenance in the summer you should be just riding all winter....

 

[studdog]

We ride 4000-5000 miles a year and yes, these sled have become more and more reliable. I'm probably being an unreasonable prick but, I'm fed up! We're heading to the western UP next week and maybe a week of good riding will calm me down. That's for listening to my rant.

 

[studdog]

Kyzer, Ice bridge to St Joesph island is scheduled to go in 1-15.

 

[JROCK]

2 hours is a little much maybe for the first time! Not bashing you as i was there to do it on the g/fs vector but once you've done it will be an 30 min job the next time! It is a learning curve compared to my RX-1 but i like tinkering

 

[gcr3903]

There's a common theme on a few threads here today. I think the real problem is a lack of snow for all! Quit Ya Bitch-in! Just kidding.

 

[spike337]

You want light weight, compact, things are going to get like that. Especially trying to save/make more money!
Some of these things i notice though, are once every couple year things where it shouldn't matter too much? But i hear ya!

 

[Bigblue1]

Take an 05 RX-1 with low miles. Put on an apex seat. A new set of skis. Intake. Clutch kit. Beef up the mono and you will have a great sled that you can easily service for many years. Going on my 7th winter. Buddies on his fourth doo since.

 

[kyzer]

Thanks Stud Dog unfortunately it's hard to ride east anymore due to lack of snow. The loop around the Indian Reserve is a real pain too. Hopefully we will make it to St. Joes and Drummond this year. I know what you mean about the serviceability of these machines. It was a bitch to change my exhaust donuts because of 2 seized bolts that I couldn't get much torque on because of where they were. But it's done now and I improved it so it would be easier next time. Hope you have a good time on your ride next week.

 

[yox185]

We ride 4000-5000 miles a year

If you can't rebuild the top end of a two stroke, every year on your own, I'm guessing the serviceability of the other brands might be an issue also.

 

[Metallicat]

I can get to the battery on mine in less than 10 minutes now, but I've had lots of practice. The first time I had mine apart I thought the same thing. I bet all of the modular panel sleds are like that, such as the F Cats and XP where the engine is under the headlight. My dad's 2002 polaris XC is like opening the hood on a 1970's truck. Huge engine bay with a small little engine in it. I kinda wish Yamaha had kept the hinged hood when they moved to the DBII. Modular makes for nicer styling but quick access is lacking.

 

[langow]

It's not that bad really. I thought the same thing the 1st time I did an oil change. Seemed like it was a major project. Now I can do an oil and filter change in about 45 minutes. Same with pulling suspension, replacing exhaust donuts, changing plugs, etc. Much much easier the 2nd and 3rd times around.