Issues with a "New to Me", used sled - HELP!!! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

rch105 · 12-13-2012, 08:03 AM

Just a little over 2 weeks ago I bought a 2003 Yamaha RX1 sled. The guy selling it went thru the typical selling pitch and I must have been asleep as I missed some key issues the sled has.

After getting it home, I discovered the headlight switch button was snapped off and although the rubber weatherseal held it in, it wouldn't click and stay in high beam. You have to physically hold it in to get the high. An easy but $100 fix. Next I discovered that on the right side, below the hood, the lower plastic panel was loose. Figuring it was just a fastener issue, I pulled the panel off...surprise...the small projections that snap into the frame were broken off...new panel needed. Then I spy the hidden problem, a bent frame panel support...crudely welded as a quick fix...nice! I wish that was all...and they are the minor (costly) things.

Last night I brought the sled to my house from my brothers. During the demo the guy selling it said it was almost out of gas so the electronic gas gauge display will flash...yep, I filled it with 3.6 gallons of "93"...guess what the display still flashes...another problem I need to address. But the biggest...it goes into reverse, moves a bit then as you rev it more...it slips out and grinds like heck. I'm hoping it's an adjustment but my gut tells me it stripped/missing gear teeth.

Can anyone help me and point me in the right direction...your thoughts on what I need to do.
I failed in the "Buyer Beware" department and am so disgusted I was ripped off!

smokingcrater · 12-13-2012, 12:42 PM

When I bought my Arctic cat that I've got listed in my .sig, the guy that sold it was about to sign the title, and then mentioned he must have 'forgotten' it at home. (sled was 300 miles away, we met in the middle) Anyway, he said he would send it... Yeah, after months of bugging him, he finally went off the radar and no title ever showed up.

It gets better, I track down the currently listed title owner via the vin. After talking to him, I found out he traded in a totaled out ZR 700 for a new sled. That totaled out 700 is my shiny new 600! The 'dealer' basically used the tunnel and rebuilt it with whatever spare parts he had on hand. (it was a 2000 zr 700 carb, it is now a 2001 EFI 600 with a couple random newer parts thrown in for good measure.) Also, I put 200 miles on it, and the engine popped...

Long story short, everything turned out OK in the end. I rebuilt the engine, and worked through mountains of paperwork to get it officially titled and registered to me.

Anyway, in your case, it could be worse. It sounds like you missed some fairly obvious things during the pre-buy walk around, but that happens. As long as it runs and you have a title in hand, the rest is minor!

Phaze · 12-13-2012, 01:11 PM

You're going to have to remove the chaincase cover and access the damage. Fluid probably needs to be changed anyway. Sounds like the previous owner hit something relatively hard. Could have broke the hi/low beam button during the same time with his hand..

Maybe pick up a Service manual. Good info in the Owners manual too. You should go thru the whole sled. Check the rear suspension for any cracks, bad bearings, slides, track condition(if it's studded look for missing studs(holes)) etc....

As far as being ripped off, not necessarily. Depends on what you paid and the miles. The motor should virtually last forever if properly maintained.

yamadad4 · 12-13-2012, 08:19 PM

dont beat yourself up too bad, we have all been there. so often enamored by the deal the obvious is so often overlooked.

to make you day a bit brighter, pm me your mailing address and i will send you a complimentary service manual on cd for your sled.

"tis the season"!

rch105 · 12-15-2012, 11:27 PM

Thanks for the input and the offer for the CD. I actually found a freebie online just a few hours before you posted your generous offer.

To bring things up to date. The reverse is now operational. It needed an adjustment on the top and bottom linkages, however the dog ear that comes out of the gearcase shaft was bent forward and was hitting against the case. It had to be pried back to get it to clear. It's now working. The next thing we fixed was the fuel gauge...the connector was pulled apart. However we haven't been able to get the thumb and grip heaters to heat up. The up/down switches work, just no voltage to the grips.

We found most panel screws over torqued and the heads ruined. The bolts on the brake caliper were rounded off and we had to get a pair of vice grips on them to break them loose. Those have now been replaced with new ones.

BTW...I paid $3k for it...but it could be worse....I guess!

Thanks agin for the help!

yamadad4 · 12-16-2012, 01:11 PM

easiest to rule out the grips themselves. just take a minute. from there consider testing the switch.

another thing to watch for on the early rx's is for wire rubs in certain spots. some can affect the heated grips, others can affect performance. sometimes a common problem on the 03's.