vmaxaviator
Member
Hi all,
(Please forgive if I’m not posting this is the right section)
This may be a little long-winded, but I want to try to provide all the details.
I have a 97 vmax , which sat stored in my garage for almost 6 month. Last summer, after trickle charging the battery over night, I choked it, started it, and let it sit for a couple of minutes to warm up. After removing the choke, the engine idled down and then puttered out. It re-started with ease but would not idle. If left to idle, it would again just stutter and then die. I tried riding it anyway, thinking it would clear up, but at each stop sign or red light, it would idle down and die. The only way to keep the engine running was to hold the throttle to about 2k rpms.
Knowing this a problem better left to someone with knowledge (not me), I hauled it to my local yami shop for diagnosis and repair. After about a week at the Yami shop, the service manager called me and asked me to come to his shop. After arriving, he explained that the carbs would require cleaning and new seals. He stated that, as of lately, this was a common problem with all carbureted motorcycles, and they have been swamped with this problem. He further explained that higher levels of ethanol, used in today’s fuel, was contributing to varnishing and a breakdown of seals. After a quote of $400 plus dollars for the repair, I signed the ticket to approve the work and waited.
Roughly a week later, I received a call stating that the bike was ready to roll. While paying for the service, the service manager advised that I run a higher octane fuel and try to run at least 4 full tanks of fuel through it as quickly as I can. I rode it home with no apparent problems. I rode every day for the next week and all seemed fine. At some point during the second tank of gas, the stuttering began to re-occur at each red light or stop sign. It got so bad that unless I was 2k or higher on the rpms, it would die.
I took it back to the Yami shop and explained that the problem had returned. The service manager said, “No problem, we’ll take care of it.” I left my bike at the shop for another week. When I went to pick it up the second time. I asked about the serviced performed to correct the problem. I was told that they cleaned the carbs again, but this time, they also drained and cleaned the fuel tank. While talking, the service manager received a call back to his department and excused himself. It was late, the shop was closing, and I didn’t want to bother the guy with more questions, so I left. (This was on Friday afternoon) Again, I rode it home with no problems.
I woke Saturday to take a morning ride and at the very first stop sign, the bike begin to putter and stutter. I tried to rev it out on a straight-away, hoping it would clear up, but I was back to the same issues with each stop.
Monday morning I received a phone call from the Yami service manager asking who I paid when I picked up the bike. I told him who took my money and handled the service ticket three weeks ago, but on Friday, I did not pay anyone. To which he replied, “Mr so & so, you owe us $435.00 for this service, and we need to get that taken care of today!” I guess “We’ll take care of it” meant “We’ll take care of it, as long as you pay us again.”
I tried to argue the fact that I had just paid for this problem to be repaired, but he still felt that I owed them the money and had no interest in doing the right thing. I drove to the shop, in my truck, because my bike still won’t run. I asked for a copy of the service ticket and told them I will get back with them. After comparing the two itemized service tickets, I realized that the first ticket, the one I had originally paid for 3 weeks ago, had no remarks regarding the fuel tank, but the second ticket did. I called the store manager to discuss the matter with him. While discussing the unpaid balance, I asked the store manager to explain the steps taken during this type of service. As he listed each step, I heard him say drain and clean the fuel tank. I stopped him and asked him to compare the service tickets. I pointed out that draining and cleaning the fuel tank was not listed on the first ticket. At that moment, he sounded akin to my vmax, as he stuttered and puttered he way to stating, “I’ll have to call you back.”
Long story short, they still want the money, and my bike was not repaired. I refused and can no longer do business there. Considering how much money I've spent at this place; a vmax, two wave runners, a trailer, life jackets, helmets, misc parts, etc. I'm not quite sure how they were doing me any favors to begin with.
I took my bike to another motorcycle shop and explained every detail of what occurred. The mechanic quoted my $100 even to try to correct the problem. He called me 4 days later and says he can’t figure it out: Still no resolve!
So my Vmax sits in the garage, still unable to idle. If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them.
This is my second Vmax, and I just found this forum, what a newb!
Thanks,
V
(Please forgive if I’m not posting this is the right section)
This may be a little long-winded, but I want to try to provide all the details.
I have a 97 vmax , which sat stored in my garage for almost 6 month. Last summer, after trickle charging the battery over night, I choked it, started it, and let it sit for a couple of minutes to warm up. After removing the choke, the engine idled down and then puttered out. It re-started with ease but would not idle. If left to idle, it would again just stutter and then die. I tried riding it anyway, thinking it would clear up, but at each stop sign or red light, it would idle down and die. The only way to keep the engine running was to hold the throttle to about 2k rpms.
Knowing this a problem better left to someone with knowledge (not me), I hauled it to my local yami shop for diagnosis and repair. After about a week at the Yami shop, the service manager called me and asked me to come to his shop. After arriving, he explained that the carbs would require cleaning and new seals. He stated that, as of lately, this was a common problem with all carbureted motorcycles, and they have been swamped with this problem. He further explained that higher levels of ethanol, used in today’s fuel, was contributing to varnishing and a breakdown of seals. After a quote of $400 plus dollars for the repair, I signed the ticket to approve the work and waited.
Roughly a week later, I received a call stating that the bike was ready to roll. While paying for the service, the service manager advised that I run a higher octane fuel and try to run at least 4 full tanks of fuel through it as quickly as I can. I rode it home with no apparent problems. I rode every day for the next week and all seemed fine. At some point during the second tank of gas, the stuttering began to re-occur at each red light or stop sign. It got so bad that unless I was 2k or higher on the rpms, it would die.
I took it back to the Yami shop and explained that the problem had returned. The service manager said, “No problem, we’ll take care of it.” I left my bike at the shop for another week. When I went to pick it up the second time. I asked about the serviced performed to correct the problem. I was told that they cleaned the carbs again, but this time, they also drained and cleaned the fuel tank. While talking, the service manager received a call back to his department and excused himself. It was late, the shop was closing, and I didn’t want to bother the guy with more questions, so I left. (This was on Friday afternoon) Again, I rode it home with no problems.
I woke Saturday to take a morning ride and at the very first stop sign, the bike begin to putter and stutter. I tried to rev it out on a straight-away, hoping it would clear up, but I was back to the same issues with each stop.
Monday morning I received a phone call from the Yami service manager asking who I paid when I picked up the bike. I told him who took my money and handled the service ticket three weeks ago, but on Friday, I did not pay anyone. To which he replied, “Mr so & so, you owe us $435.00 for this service, and we need to get that taken care of today!” I guess “We’ll take care of it” meant “We’ll take care of it, as long as you pay us again.”
I tried to argue the fact that I had just paid for this problem to be repaired, but he still felt that I owed them the money and had no interest in doing the right thing. I drove to the shop, in my truck, because my bike still won’t run. I asked for a copy of the service ticket and told them I will get back with them. After comparing the two itemized service tickets, I realized that the first ticket, the one I had originally paid for 3 weeks ago, had no remarks regarding the fuel tank, but the second ticket did. I called the store manager to discuss the matter with him. While discussing the unpaid balance, I asked the store manager to explain the steps taken during this type of service. As he listed each step, I heard him say drain and clean the fuel tank. I stopped him and asked him to compare the service tickets. I pointed out that draining and cleaning the fuel tank was not listed on the first ticket. At that moment, he sounded akin to my vmax, as he stuttered and puttered he way to stating, “I’ll have to call you back.”
Long story short, they still want the money, and my bike was not repaired. I refused and can no longer do business there. Considering how much money I've spent at this place; a vmax, two wave runners, a trailer, life jackets, helmets, misc parts, etc. I'm not quite sure how they were doing me any favors to begin with.
I took my bike to another motorcycle shop and explained every detail of what occurred. The mechanic quoted my $100 even to try to correct the problem. He called me 4 days later and says he can’t figure it out: Still no resolve!
So my Vmax sits in the garage, still unable to idle. If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them.
This is my second Vmax, and I just found this forum, what a newb!
Thanks,
V
