2001 Yamaha GP 1200R

[adr0734]

I purchased this ski four years ago. I loved it and it preformed nicely. I only used for a couple months a year. The ski now has 53 hrs of riding time. In tried to start it up and it wouldn't turn. I took it to the Yamaha dealer they found that there was a manufacture defect in the catalytic converter. The CAT had slipped back in the pipe and sent shards of metal into the engine causing catastrophic engine failure. It scared the piston head and ruined the crank shaft. Has anybody had any problems with their CAT's on the Yamaha's? I am now still paying on for a totaled ski because of a manufactures defect. I also had a 1999 Yamaha 1200 that had CAT problem as well. I would like to know if this is Yamaha’s poor quality engines or my extremely bad luck

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: 2001 Yamaha GP 1200R

I have heard of them getting blocked and causing piston damage by overheating the rear cylinder, but I have no clue how pieces can go backward it the exhaust and eat up the engine the way they said. Usually the middle cylinder gets water in from what I believe is head warpage and eats the crown of the piston by the exhaust port, then the rings snag the port. I think this occurs due to the center cylinder being exposed to heat from the front and rear cylinders plus it,s own heat. In my opinion a 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine should have the head re torqued at the end of each season just to be safe. I hear a lot of people remove the cats to avoid issues with them after a few years.