2007FXHOyama

To Ernest T: After my FX HO threw the rod fist time.. I read tons of forums to try to find a reason to why it did it (throwing a rod cyl. # 1)..

I have read all "Ernest T" threads and basically all he talked about was kids stuff like "maybe some one had rode it harshly or maybe you put too much or not enough oil in the engine). I called Yamaha dealer as well, to see if there was an update or a recall to that engine failure problem

I am a 20 year experienced Technician and I was very curious to open(take apart) the engine to see and examine the root cause of this problem. After I took apart the engine the second time (knowing that nobody else rode on that rebuilt engine except me) After full examination, I now know the exact cause of why this failure happens.

The problems is in the Exhaust Valves are too weak and rips the head from the valve stem and falls into the cylinder damages the cylinder head and seizes the piston and throws the rod flying.

After I spend a ton of money for rebuild I have no choice but to give away or get ride of Yamaha for long even though I really liked the body style and the smoothness of the jetski (When it did Run). and I think because of this problem Yamaha has stopped making 160HP motors anymore, Now they make the same motor with a lot less power (140HP) for the valves to not break. And Yamaha has never even agreed that it was their fault. 1050cc = 160HP non turbo and very easy to work on, and it would be the best motor in the world if it was a reliable engine and ran for more then 50hrs before throwing a Rod.

Ernest T

I'm sorry for your problems with the FX HO. I do not work for Yamaha or represent Yamaha in any way, shape or form. I am simply and end user like you. What I do know that the problem you describe is EXTREMELY RARE on this engine model. I doubt that you could find 10 documented cases anywhere on non-rebuilt engines. And that is out of the millions of this type of engine that is out there. On rebuilt engines all bets are off, since they almost never use OEM parts. Could it happen on a new engine...............YES. Any engine that turns 10,000 RPMs certainly has a chance for catastrophic failure, but a single or even a handful of failed engines out of millions does not a design flaw make. As a 20 year experienced technician, certainly you can agree with that, and you have surely seen it before in other machines. My sister bought a brand new Honda Civic, which caught fire and burned to the ground because of an electrical fault with only 475 miles. Does that mean all Honda Civics all have some design flaw? Evidently not, cause they are still cranking them out and people are still buying them. Could your ski have a faulty part, or could it have been put together incorrectly...........YES, but that does not condemn the entire line.

In your case the ski was used, so you have no idea what abuse the previous owner may have inflected on it before you bought it. What if it was run without oil, or over heated on the hose? Since those 25 hours before you bought the ski are a total unknown, how can you even begin to try and claim some manufacture flaw????

The MR1 engine has been around for a long time. It was originally the R1 engine that Yamaha uses in many motorcycles. The MR1 engine is still running strong and still being produced. Yamaha has used it exclusively with very little modification in the VX series since 2005. And it is still going into the 2013 models of the most popular ski in the world. Yamaha switching to the 1800 cc engines has nothing to do with problems with the MR1, but with the need to keep up with the other manufacturers who are producing 250+ HP skis.

Bottom line: You bought a used ski and it broke. I think that is a risk you take for just about anything you buy, especially used. You can either keep whining, moaning, and complaining or move on. I don't mind your posts on this forum, but I would ask that you leave my name out of them. I did nothing to cause your problem, and all I could to help.
My recommendation is to accept your loss. Part out the ski and look for a NEW (not used) ski in a different brand and buy the extended warranty if you really want a ski.

__________________
2008 Yamaha FX HO Cruiser
2010 Hurricane Sundeck 2100

LVNeptune

"My sister bought a brand new Honda Civic, which caught fire and burned to the ground because of an electrical fault with only 475 miles." Assuming that happened within 6 months the dealer has to cover it.

Also, since we are rezzing an ancient thread anyway. 14.5 hours and a blown engine is what we call a "lemon."

It should have been swapped at the dealer and (at Yamaha's Expense) shipped back to them for diagnostics instead of having the dealer look at it.