I have taken my new 2004 model Yamaha Breeze (125 4-stroke automatic) to the dealer after buying in new for the same problems FOUR times. Now I find myself experiencing the same problem again. It is ridden by my 2 kids (age 8 and 10) and is kept under restricted speed with the throttle control screw (usually not over 10 mph). But I DO get on it once in awhile so it gets all speeds.

All of the problems are carberation problems. The first time was a combination of fouling plugs and poor idle. Either too high an idle or too low. The dealer seemed to fix the idle part.

The spark plugs keep fouling up causing the machine to eventually stop running and won't start. This happens after only less than about 1-2 hours of running time. I was told to NEVER use the choke, which I don't.

The last time I took the thing to the dealer, it would not start. They called me back in and said all they did was change the spark plug. This is a joke. I have an automobile with 80,000 miles on it that never had plugs changed. I have had dozens of mini-bike and lawnmower engines (some 60 years old) that NEVER require a brand new spark plug. I have NEVER witnessed such a problem with fouling plugs (or plugs that go bad after fouling and require replacement). They told me I should buy a few to keep on hand (which I did) so the next time it won't start, change athe plug.

Well now (again) it won't start so I put in the new plug and guess what? Right, it won't even turn over. Starter just sounds off. It has spark.

I find myself cleaning this spark plug every hour of use...it's ridiculous. And I don't believe that changing the plug was all they did the last time I took it to the dealer.

I have read a few posts on this site about similiar problems. And it sounds like the valves may need adjusted??? Even after less than 1 year of use by kids during the summer, is this what it needs?

Or is this carburator system a complete lemon???

Help!

 

meanstreet1,

I find your post interesting, and concerning. I am tenatively planning on buying my 2 kid (same age as yours) a Grizzly 125, or an Eton Yukon 150. I know it is the same as a Breeze. Have you had any other issues come up? I was planning on getting the 125 because a buddy of mine has one for his son (an '03) and has never had a problem with it. Please let me know any other pros/cons that you have found with the quad.

Thanks!

 

Well as of right now I wouldn't recommend this bike to anyone. A brand new unit ridden by kids shouldn't be this problematic. I have never seen a machine foul up plugs consistently like this thing. Now it won't even start.

If you are interested, type in "Breeze" in the search field on this site and check out the problems. Another guy took his to the dealer 4 times as well with similiar problems.

If this problem does not get fixed, I am either going to A) Contact Yamaha direct by sending them a used plug and/or B) selling this thing at a loss and buying a Polaris.

 

Its real rare for a four stroke motor to foul plugs so quickly. Is it using any oil? Is the air filter, over oiled, or oiled with the wrong oil?
A simple fix, is get a spark plug, thats one heat range hotter. That should keep the plug from fouling. Im surprised the dealer didnt suggest this.
Saying "never use the choke" isnt right, Thats not going to do anything harmful.
Does it have any drivibility problems? smoking? stumble, hesitation, hard starting?
The mixture screw, probably could be too rich. You could try adjusting it. In is leaner.

 

I would guess that your mixture is running way rich. Does that bike come with a restrictor in the exhaust or intake system somewhere? A lot of kids bikes do. Remove it if is does. What altitude are you at?

 

I have had my 2001 Breeze since new, I did have a problem of it not starting one time and had to take it back home from the coast. After checking everything over and over because it sounds like the same thing you are going thru, I changed the plug and it fires right up but then it wouldnt start again then it got worse just like yours. I eventually which I should have done first off was check the valves and low and behold it was the exhaust valves too tight!! I adjust them to specs and the bike has never started this good since new. I would suggest adjusting the valves first and go from there. Other than that, this breeze has been the most reliable quad I have ever owned and believe me I have owned many!!! I can bet that the breeze has over double the mileage all my bikes put together because of the non stop riding this quad goes thru if you know what I mean.

 

I have had a 2004 grizzly 125 for 1 1/2 months and since it was new it hesitated a little so I took it back and they richened the fuel mixture. It seems to be a good little machine so far so I hope it stays that way. It sounds to me that it may be to rich and also in the owners manual it says after 1 month to check the valve adjustment and adjust if needed. If you have never done this they may be too tight as hard starting is a symtom of the valves being to tight. I can't believe a dealer would tell you never to use the choke, That tells me they think it is to rich or they don't know what they are doing.Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

I keep the air filter oiled and it gets so little time in action that it doesn't have a chance to get soiled or dirty.

No other problems. It's practically brand new. No smoking, no hard starting (when a clean or fresh plug is installed). Yes it does have some "gurgling" when hitting the throttle initially, but that is testament to the plug becomming fouled.

But when this machine is running, it's fun, fast and easy. But as of right now, I can't ride this thing without the thought that in another hour I'll need to clean the plug.

As far as the carb mixture screw, this thing is so sensitive to an adjustment, that I leave it to the dealer to tweak. They know that it fouls em up quick. They have seen this bike several times and they tell me that it is where it needs to be.

The choke: yeah I too am very surprised that they tell me that they wish they would take the chokes off of these things. I don't know how I'd start anything in the winter without a choke.

I took it to the dealer today and he says that he is going to call Yamaha. He feels that a bike this new should not need a valve adjustment...200-300 hours is when they could need tweaked.

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys.

I'll repost once I hear back from the dealer.

 

I would check the valves anyways. Like I said before, the bike has never started this good ever, even when it was new.

 

My owners manual for my 660 Grizz says to check the valves at 25 hours and them every 150 hours after that. The little grizz manual says to check after one month.