The service manager told me that Yamaha told him that the powervalves need to be cleaned and inspected every 50 hours or so. My ski is in the shop right now getting the powervalves replaced. I had failure at 50 hours. By looking over the board, I am finding numerous powervalve failure problems. I am pretty sure If I had known about this problem before I purchased the ski, I probably wouldn't have bought a Yamaha.
All skis have problems. Most of these issues are fairly minor compared to some other makes. The powervalves munching pistons can be fixed by simply replacing them with the updated version. The pump plug kit just takes a little time to put in.
Basically for ~$500 you can fix just about all the common problems with the GPR. This is much cheaper and easier to deal with than a new motor every season or so....
Mine is @ ~165 hours right now and still running very well.
Problems so far: Bad Wear Ring Bad Impeller Bad Pump bearings (just developed recently)
Things I've done just to "prevent" future problems: Solas 13/19 Updated Powervalves D-Plate Pump Plug Kit
Posts: 14 | Location: Marietta, GA, USA | Registered: March 28, 2001
Get the direct number from your dealer if they'll give it out.. you'll go direct in to customer service (avoiding the customer 800 number waiting list) and then b3tch to them about staying on hold for hours.. and you want to talk to someone now like the manager that runs the customer service department.. I've done that a few times.
Posts: 1830 | Location: Minneapolis | Registered: January 01, 2001
The way I look at this is, I spent $10,000 for the ski with a maintenance program and a few more extras. I don't think my ski with 50 hours on it should already be in the shop with engine problems! Does anybody else? If this has been a known problem with these powervalves, why would Yamaha allow them to be released to the public? I see some people haven't had any problems with powervalves, but I also see many that have had pv problems. So basically it's a hit or miss proposition? It's just rediculous to think my 2001 ski is already in the shop. I've treated it with the ut-most respect, flushed it everytime I rode it. Had all maintenance preformed on it, and for what? Luckily, I had this forum to learn what a powervalve failure was and took my ski in time to have if fixed before the **** thing blew the piston.
So now I am without my ski for a month because Yamaha released a faulty product.
I'd be willing to bet there are a lot of GPRs out there with pins missing from the PVs without owners knowing. I've known about the problem for a while but now after what seemed like a surge of PV problems I checked mine out and sure enough, one of the pins was out of place. I was fortunate that the valve didn't hit the piston. How Yamaha can get away with doing nothing about this obvious design flaw blows my mind. I'd also like to know why it has taken three revisions to remedy the problem. Why couldn't they simply design the fool proof design that even SBT now sells. (If SBT can figure out a fix, why can't Yamaha?, no offense to SBT).
An occasional poorly designed part won't cause buyers to switch brands, poor customer service will.
Posts: 53 | Location: Chicago | Registered: July 28, 2001
I'll jump in here. I agree that it is ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops to get the GPR "right". On the 2000 model, I could understand. But there is no excuse on teh '01 and '02 models. Yamaha knew the problems and did nothing about it. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after I bought one that I knew of all the problems. The PV issue is huge, and Yamaha should step up to the plate and fix it, period.
Let's put this into perspective. I had a RXX that was sold with no warranty. However, Sea-Doo stepped up to the plate witha new hull and top end to fix some of the problems I had with it. And this was a boat with NO WARRANTY. Why can't Yamaha learn from that?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash Yamaha and I love my GPR, aside from all the issues. I just think that Yamaha has a responsibility here to fix the PV problem in all GPRs.
Don't get me wrong.... I AM bashing Yamaha. I won't...repeat WON'T buy another Yamaha again (unless they change their ways). I am sick of it. The powervalve is a poor design anyway you look at it. Whether the pins drop or the sleeve pushes through the cylinder chamber, it sucks.
I am seriously looking at the STX-R as my next ski. If not that, then a 4-stroke. Probably Honda. Sure the Honda is more expensive but I already paid more for my XL1200 in cost and repairs.
I will keep the XL through next season and then buy new in 2004. I am not going with Yamaha nor Seadoo.
I love the ski when it runs but Yamaha has shown they don't give a rat's arse about us after the sale.
Sorry to rant but ....I am sure some of you feel the same way.
Posts: 1043 | Location: Myrtle Beach, SC. USA. | Registered: May 09, 2001
well i gotta put my 2 cents in. i just had a pv failure and it ruined the cylinder head piston and power valve. my ski was bought july the forth last year. so i am less than a month out of warranty. i called customer service what a joke and was told since i took the ski apart no help from yamaha. there customer service sucks. i went on to explain that i did not want to take my ski to the dealer for them to push back in the cornor for 3 weeks before they even looked at it. she said well we will not cover it cause a certified mechanic did not examine it. well heck my 10 year old neice can look and tell what happened to it. and they looks like who designed these power valves.i no that this is the last yamaha that i will ever buy.i took it to a yamaha dealer and he said that he had 3 in the shop right now with the exact same thing as mine pv failure. he said he would run the info through to yamaha and see what they would do for me. but if they do not do anything i am looking at about 1500 dollars in parts. yamaha knows this is a problem but is not doing anything about it.
Posts: 240 | Location: LAKE NORMAN N.C. | Registered: July 25, 2001
32Racer, I have to laugh at Yamaha's "You're not a certified rep" reply because we've taken our GPR into the Certified Rep at least 5 times over the last year with all the classic PV symptoms. He just keeps telling us there is nothing wrong with it and gives it back! I don't know anything about the dang motor to pin point the exact problem for him or draw him a diagram, but my guess is that the reps aren't any smarter than the rest of us average joes. If you know how to check out the problem yourself and save yourself the arguments and dealer visits that the rest of us are going through, I say more power to you! clap-clap-clap!
believe me.. do not give up with yamaha..demand the customer service manager or another service rep.
continue and don't let up on them..its has worked for me for a much more expensive issue than the power vavles. Get the name of a local regional rep to look at your damaged parts..demand it! don't give up what ever you do.. don't take no for an answer from them..let them know that you will NEVER buy another Yamaha probuct in your life time if they dont do something.
If my powervalves fail out of warranty on my GPR, I can guarantee you that I will find a lawyer to start a class action suit with every person that has had a powervalve failure if they don't cover it.
RobGPR...your comments hit the nail on the head!
Posts: 1830 | Location: Minneapolis | Registered: January 01, 2001
I won't be buying another Yamaha unless I find a blown up gpr for like 2k. That shouldn't be hard to find considering the power valves are failing on all of them.
My name is ANDY BLACK my address is 929 COMSTOCK ST. WARREN, OHIO 44483 Put me in on that class action suit All I can say is that you people telling everyone to contact customer service or a rep. are crazy or have nver tried. DON'T BUY YAMAHA
Its took me less time to clean my valves and put the R+D pin holders on,(cost under $100)then it would be to drive to the dealer and fill out the paper work. Did it last night,2001 1200R.
Posts: 28 | Location: western Mass | Registered: July 23, 2002
I am not mechanically handicapped, but I know this much. I didn't pay all that money for an extended warranty to go and *uck it up by jacking with the engine. Plus I have an GP800R and the valves are in a very difficult place to reach on the engine. It's in the shop now, hopefully I can get it back within a couple of weeks.
Doug preventive measures must be taken to prevent the valves from failing. You should have the dealer intall the actuator arms before to prevent futyre failures. I got some in stock
I agree 100% with YALL. Yamaha should have made a recall on this issue, because of the serious mechanical consecuences it has.
I have not heard of any 2002 GPR that had power valves failures. On Jays 2000 GPR we installed the actuator arms and loosend up the cables and that baby runs very strong and trouble free.
I recommend to anyone with any year GPR or XLL to install this pieces and loosen up the tension on the cables. I was the first one that posted the info when they became available and many people just ignored it.
It is a Saturday morning project that will give you peace of mind and it should be performed prior to any other mod out there.
are you suggesting to loosen the the cable tension beyond what is listed in the shop manual?
If so what should the deflection be?
I know that I've cycled the pv's while the head is off and observed the movement of the valve. There is additional slack that can be factored into the adjustment and still gain full movement. But how much?
Fercho What is the cost on the pin retainers from you?
[ 08-08-2002: Message edited by: MDKOCHE ]
Posts: 1830 | Location: Minneapolis | Registered: January 01, 2001
MD they go for about $24.00 each. But I am out of them.I have been using the R&D ones. What I did was align the pulley according to the service manual and the make sure that you are able to move the pulley with your fingers about 1 mm just to make sure tht there is not to much tension where it will slam the valves against the cylinder when it closes and start breaking at the ends or pull the pin to hard when opening and break-off the end of the valve. when removing clean the valve very well, scrape the burned hardened oitl with a blade and use GUNK engine cleaner to clean the threaded area of the valve where the screw goes into to ensure that the loctite will hold up.
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