yamaha's tunnels krinckling question????

[Apex18]

I've been reading that some people have been having trouble with the back of their tunnels krinckling around their exhaust on the fourstroke yamaha's. What years of yamaha's is this a problem for, and i was just wondering if Yamaha has fixed this problem for 2006? I'm just worried about our 2006 Rage we have...but i have heard that yamaha may have added brackets underneath the tunnel to help with the problem for 2006 and 2007(not sure though). If you can give me any info i would really appreciate it. Please help...thanks alot!

 

[zedosix]

Do a search on this site under tunnel buckling, you will find what you are looking for. Yes the problem still exists on the 06's apparrently not for most but for some of us yes.

 

[Mighty]

I seem to remember reading about the GT's having this problem.

 

[JERSEYJOE]

ZEDOSIX

Rockland is near Cumberland? I sometimes ride out of Cumberland with a friend of mine.

 

[Apex18]

Ya i know that they are still having some problems...but do the 2007's have reinforced tunnels?

 

[ReX]

I think the problem only exists when the suspension is bottomed out extremely hard.

My 05 RX-1 has well over 15,000 kms on it and at least half of that has been with full trunk and saddle bags. I tend to ride just as hard with and without the bags. The suspension broke many times in 05, but the tunnel isn't tweaked at all.

Last night I inspected the tunnel very carefully. The only noticable defects are the rivets that hold the tunnel protectors under the muffler are wearing through the tunnel and there are some upward dents above the upper rear idlers where the odd ice chunk has wedged it's way between the tunnel and track.

IMO, the key is to make sure the skid isn't bottoming out with your riding style (or if it bottoms out, bottoms out lightly). If it is - change the spring, preload, or shock valving and you shouldn't have any tunnel buckling issues.

 

[zedosix]

Re: ZEDOSIX

Rockland is near Cumberland? I sometimes ride out of Cumberland with a friend of mine.

Yes it is just to the east of Cumberland. Who is your friend there, I may know him.

 

[JERSEYJOE]

cumberland

GERRY MARSH

 

[jimmie d]

At my dealer just now and they are replacing a downward creased tunnel on an RTX under warranty. Cannot figure what is causing it to happen obviously suspension related..

Jim

 

[06RTXRider]

My speculation is the weight of the exhaust/muffler at the rear of the sled is causing the wrinkle either when ridden hard or bottomed out. The kink in the tunnel is behind the suspension bracket, this tunnel is different than the rx-1 and there is very little support back there.

 

[jimmie d]

The bend is down not up.

Jim

 

[06RTXRider]

Exactly, the weight of the exhaust on the rear behind the rear suspension pivot point would bend the tunnel down, not up.

 

[zedosix]

Re: cumberland

GERRY MARSH

Doesn't ring a bell

 

[Alatalo]

I think the problem is related to the way the seat is supported:
The rear of the seat is supported by the muffler heat shield.
The muffler heat shield is bolted to the back side of the muffler.
The muffler is bolted down to the tunnel (behind the rear suspension bracket).
Put a force on the rear part of the seat and that force will be transfered through the muffler heat shield and the muffler to the rear part of the tunnel (behind the rear suspension bracket).
Put a big force on the rear part of the seat and the tunnel will bend downwards.

Seems like the 2006 models are equipped with a bracket that was not used in the 2005 models.