2005 Yamaha Warrior

1-MY 2005 YAMAHA 1700 ROADSTAR SILVERADO HAS BEEN SPUTTERING AND HEAVY BACKFIRING COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST INCLUDING FLAMES, 2-THE BIKE HAS BEEN DYING AT RED LIGHTS AND AT LOW ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT YAMAHA RECOGNIZES THEY HAVE TO SHORT OF DIPSTICKS IN THE OIL TANK AND THEREFORE FILLING THE ENGINES WITH TO MUCH OIL AND THE OIL IS MAKING THE VALVES STICK PLUS THEY ARE INSTALLING TOO WEAK OF VALVE SPRINGS, 3-CHANGE VALVE SPRINGS AND INSTALL NEW DIPSTICK TO LOWER OIL LEVEL IN TANK + RUN 1 RANGE HOTTER SPARK PLUGS. *JB

THESE ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO YAMAHA ON JAN 15TH, 2006: THE VALVES BEGAN STICKING ON THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN SEVERE POWER LOSS AND MAKING THE BIKE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I TRANSPORTED THE BIKE BACK TO SYLACAUGA ON NOV 15TH, AND EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THE SYMPTOMS. I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT BASED ON WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED, THAT I WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS THE EXHAUST VALVES THAT WERE STICKING'.. HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIKE. ON DECEMBER 13TH, 29 DAYS LATER, HE CALLED TO SAY THAT THE BIKE WAS READY. HE CLAIMED THAT MY IGNITION MODULE WAS FAULTY, AND HAD BURNED OUT MY FUEL PUMP. HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE IGNITION MODULE WITH A SPEEDSTAR UNIT, AND CHARGED ME NOTHING. HE ALSO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, CLAIMING THAT THEY WERE THE WRONG ONES. THIS CURED NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. AFTER RIDING THE BIKE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND HAVING IT STALL, BACKFIRE, AND UNABLE TO PULL A HILL, I AGAIN TOOK IT BACK. I LEFT IT ON DECEMBER 20TH. I AGAIN TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THE EXHAUST VALVES WERE STICKING. I PICKED UP THE BIKE AGAIN ON JANUARY 7TH. THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD ''CURED'' THE PROBLEMS BY RICHENING THE MIXTURE ON THE CARBURETOR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD RIDDEN IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND THAT IT WAS RUNNING FINE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I UNLOADED THE BIKE, AND TRIED TO CRANK IT. IT WAS EXTREMELY RICH, AND BLACK SMOKE BELCHED FROM THE EXHAUST. HOWEVER, I REASONED, I WILL LET IT WARM UP, GO FOR A RIDE AND SEE IF THEY INDEED FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THESE SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS. IT RAN OK FOR A COUPLE OF MILES, THEN A VALVE STUCK AGAIN, WITH THE ASSOCIATED BACKFIRING, BUCKING, AND LACK OF POWER. I BARELY GOT THE BIKE HOME, RUNNING AT 45 MPH, ON WHAT FELT LIKE ONE CYLINDER. SO, AFTER 48 DAYS IN THE SHOP, I STILL DID NOT HAVE A SAFE, PERFORMING MOTORCYCLE. I DECIDED TO FIX THE BIKE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

I HAVE A '05 MIDNIGHT JUST HIT 8200 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY I WAS ON MY WAY HOME CRUISING AT ABOUT 80 MPH /3K ON THE TACH. I EXPERIENCED A COUPLE OF HESITATIONS AND THE TACH WOULD JUMP UP IN RPM. I SLOWED DOWN A BIT AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THIS MORNING COMING INTO WORK I WAS CRUISING DOWN THE FREEWAY AGAIN AT 80 WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME, I THOUGH IT WAS POPPING, HESITATING THE TACH WAS JUMPING AROUND AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO 70 /2500 RPM AND IT WENT AWAY. BUT AS SOON AS I WOULD TAKE IT BACK UP TO 80 IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *JB

THE VEHICLE BEING DESCRIBED IS A 2005 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR (MOTORCYCLE) (1) I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON I-90 W THROUGH SOUTH DAKOTA. ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF SIOUX FALLS THE BIKE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND JERK VIOLENTLY AT 2500 RPM. I EASED UP ON THE THROTTLE AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 60 MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 MPH). THE BIKE ACTED FINE AS LONG AS I KEPT GOING SLOW, SO I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT TO THE YAMAHA SHOP IN RAPID CITY. (2) FORTY MILES EAST OF RAPID CITY, THE BIKE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER IN THE REAR WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED A DRASTIC DECREASE IN SPEED. THIS INERTIA CAUSED ME TO BE JOLTED FORWARD ON THE BIKE. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF A FREEWAY. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE "CRANK POSITION SENSOR" WIRE LEADS HAD COME LOOSE, AS THEY ARE NOT STURDY ENOUGH FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING STRAIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. IF I HAD BEEN BANKED IN A CURVE, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY. (3) THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO BLACKHILLS POWERSPORTS IN RAPID CITY (605-342-5500) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT YAMAHA HAD INSTALLED THE SENSOR WITH INFERIOR WIRES THAT OFTEN FAIL UNDER NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS. WHEN THE WIRES COME UNHOOKED, THE MOTORCYCLE'S COMPUTER CUTS OFF THE ENGINE. THE YAMAHA CERTIFIED MECHANIC RE-SOLDERED THE CONNECTION AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. I THEN RODE IT HOME TO GREAT FALLS, MT WHERE IT GAVE OUT AGAIN ALONG THE WAY. I AM NOW PREPARING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR A SECOND TIME IN A FEW DAYS TIME. *NM