I just got back from a hunting trip and noticed that my 04 Kodiak 450 is leaning a lot to the right. It is at least an inch or more off when I measure each side. I checked all the tires and they are fine. All the shocks are fine. I'm pretty sure it is in the rear because when I jack the back end up the front will sit fine. When I jack the front up it is still crooked. And when you look at the rear wheels compared to the fenders and racks they don't line up at all. I also checked the axle and it seems to be perfectly straight. I had read something about the early 2003 model frames not being true. Can someone check theirs out and see if it sits perfectly straight. If I bent something I'm really dissapointed in this thing because I haven't rolled it or crashed into anything. Just crawling over fallen trees, trail riding, climbing hills, and some muddin. It has to be either the swingarm or frame but I really don't know how to tell. I'm hoping it's just the swingarm because they are only about $100. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

I have a 04 Kodiak 450 and I haven't noticed any lean to it. I only have about 200 easy miles on it, but it has seen trails, mud etc.

 

I can tell you that a friend of mine had the same problem with his 03 and through legal negotions with Yamaha it was replaced with a new 03 that does not have the problem. There was talk of a problem during the welding of the frame and after a certain serial number things were corrected..

I initially thought it may have been one of the shocks stuck.. took all the measurements of the shocks and that was not it..the fronts were identical in length..

His was low on the right side when .. I measured all from the racks at all four corners and it was at least 1 1/2 inches low on the right rear and 1 inch low on the right front.. was very odd and I couldn't pin down the problem while waiting for Yamaha to make a decsion on replacing the quad. The local regional rep finally got it replaced after legal pressure..

 

I've got a '04 450 and it sits completely level.

 

Thanks for the replies. Well, I finally gave up trying to figure it out myself, so I brought it in. A guy came out and looked at it and brought it in. He came back out and said it was the front right shock. He said they'd take care of it no charge. I'm supposed to pick it up on Wednesday. I still don't think that is it. I mean the shock could possibly be bad but if that was it then why when I had the back end off the ground would the rear wheels and axle still be crooked compared to the rest of the machine. I can't wait to see what they find out. I still think something is bent. I'm going to call tomorrow to see what they found.

 

I've got a 03 450 and I ride the hell out of it. I stand up alot and let the quad buck like a bronco[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] No problems so far. With the shop taking it in atleast they admitted there was a problem, in case things go south.

 

look very close at where your rear rack attaches when you get it back.. Yamaha had dealers basically spacing the rear rack up from the mount on the frame to make it look like you had no lean..


check for a re-weld of the rack mount or spacers..

Also let us know if it was a shock that was replaced and solved your problem.

 

I will definately check that. I just called to see what they had found and they are waiting for the new shock. I should be able to pick it up tomorrow. I'm sure they just ordered the shock and didn't even check anything else. Then when they put the new shock on they'll look at it and see that the shock wasn't the problem after all. Then who knows what from there. I hope they don't try pulling anything like you said mnrap.

 

Well I just got of the phone with them and they said they found that the swingarm was bent. I knew that's what it had to be. The nice thing is they said that they would get it fixed under warranty. I was a little worried that they would say I must have hit something and that's what caused it but they are being really nice about it. The guy I talked to also said that mine is the second one they've had with the same problem. Now I just have to wait for them to get one and put it in.

 

very interesting.. did they say how they determined the swing arm was bent and where it is bent?

I would certainly like to hear how this turns out for you.


just out of curiosity, do you use rachet tie downs when securing it for towing ?