i dont think anybody on this board works for yamaha and can answer that question. we can only hope though.

 

If they have actually made a new style 2nd gear(noboby knows for sure)It would be installed in all the quads from now on. Someone needs to see if the original part number has changed for the gear. Then you would know if a redesigned 2nd gear even exists.

 

If they have actually made a new style 2nd gear(noboby knows for sure)It would be installed in all the quads from now on. Someone needs to see if the original part number has changed for the gear. Then you would know if a redesigned 2nd gear even exists.

 

This isn't something Yamaha would wait for a model year to change. A production run yes. They have to know there is a problem, even if they don't admit it. Start up problems are expected with any new model (except Hondas of course, Hah) So a fix could be slipped into a production run, or saved for the next production run. Then of course if Yamaha admitted the problem, they would have a great big expensive recall on their hands, which in this case, might be appropriate.
Our new Raptor is a blast, handles great, and is turning out to be the best possible choice we could have made for my skilled and talented almost 13 year old son. So far he's jumped about 45 feet, 6 feet up. He needs some steeper ramps.
I still like my DS better.. in some ways. They are both great quads, The DS needs reverse more than the Raptor because it is heavier and harder to turn around. We are being very careful about using reverse as it does seem to be related to the problem.
Extended warranties sound like a very good idea in this situation.

 

alljuice,

I agree with the statement that none of us know when a change will take place and Yamaha has to know that there is a problem with the tranny.

The question is: Do they know what to do to provide a "solution" to the problem, rather than provide a "temporary fix" (Bandaide)....

I wanted to give you a more technical update as to what the problem "seems to be". 1 of 2.

As I mentioned in an old reply/post, the 2nd gear problem seemed to stem from reverse. When describing parts, I used a description of a half tunneled shaft or half worm holed shaft.

Well after speaking with my dealer on Friday, and reading further in the shop manual, I now know the techinical terms of parts and have a better educated description of the problem.

The half worm shaft is actually the "shift drum". It is possible that it was not manufactured properly and could cause the "toothed washer" between 2nd and 4th gear to be damaged. OR The "toothed washer", which is what broke in mine is not designed very well (soft material, thickness, machined, etc..). When this "toothed washer" is damaged, it then proceds to damage 2nd gear, 4th gear (which happened to me) and maybe other parts as well, with others.

As of late Friday evening, still no word on if Yamaha is going to stand behind this. I do know that my dealer is doing the best to their ability, whatever it takes to get this taken care, by Yamaha.

Hope some of this helps?

Later, Swytak

 

rraptor13,

Knock on wood, I haven't had a problem with my transmission either. Since the Raptor was a first year model for 2001, I went ahead and purchased the 3 year extended warrantee.

IronBear.

P.S. where do you go riding at?