Need utility Side by Side

[gsganzer]

Yeah, valve lash is important for sure. The smaller the engine the more sensitive they are to valve adjustment. Your friends RTV is prolly the 500 model with a two cylinder gas engine. My employer has a handful of those. One broke a rod a few months ago so we pulled the engine and rebuilt it. Another one came in this last week with a broken rod. Now to pull that one and see if it is rebuild able. B.

My friend that talked me into the Viking, buys Yamaha's exclusively for his dirt and road bikes, as well as SxS's. He said the Yamaha's rarely need any valve adjustment, for the life of them. I'll check it after the initial break in, when I change the fluids.

The neighbors kubota is gas. I've never rode in it, but it looks like an entry level model with puttering around a property as its purpose. Next time I'm over there, I plan to look at it some more.

I'll try to go to my 3000 acre deer lease in the coming weeks and take the Viking with me. I can get around the lease just fine with my F250, but I do get some Texas pin stripes, now and then and the Viking will allow me to get to some places that I normally only venture on foot. The SxS will kind of be a new adventure for hunting. The inner ranch road loop is over 5 miles, so the Viking speed and smoothness will be nice. I bought a 12' Lamar single axle trailer to haul it. I was really on the fence between going to a 14', dual axle, but ultimately decided I wanted a lighter trailer that could also be towed behind the SxS.

I received the wiring harness extensions and relay for the backup lights yesterday. I placed my order for the shop manual, hopefully it arrives pretty soon. I'm interested to learn what all the other spare wire plugs I see on the machine can be used for.

 

[jjeff]

Unsure of Yamaha vikings over use of plastic fasteners. But some of my for only complaints of Yamaha Motorsports for me anyway the darn plastic push rivets were quickly disposed of after the realization I had to try and pop 4-8 without over damaging them or the plastic covers they were fastening especially in sub zero temps or dirt and mud, previously had to attempt this feat with usually four letter word outcomes every time I needed or wanted to check the oil on my wolverine...so I use rubber strap type fasteners bought a bunch on scamazon fairly inexpensive compared to other sxs accessories I've indulged in, it works great for me anyway. I also use them on other things, cuz I'm anti plastic fasteners. Congrats on the Viking btw. My Yamahas have never mechanically let me down or stranded. Besides there plastic fasteners lol.

 

[ArlyA]

Unsure of Yamaha vikings over use of plastic fasteners. But some of my for only complaints of Yamaha Motorsports for me anyway the darn plastic push rivets were quickly disposed of after the realization I had to try and pop 4-8 without over damaging them or the plastic covers they were fastening especially in sub zero temps or dirt and mud, previously had to attempt this feat with usually four letter word outcomes every time I needed or wanted to check the oil on my wolverine...so I use rubber strap type fasteners bought a bunch on scamazon fairly inexpensive compared to other sxs accessories I've indulged in, it works great for me anyway. I also use them on other things, cuz I'm anti plastic fasteners. Congrats on the Viking btw. My Yamahas have never mechanically let me down or stranded. Besides there plastic fasteners lol.

Everyone should have a bottle of them which costs very little. I drop them and can't find them again!

 

[jjeff]

Everyone should have a bottle of them which costs very little. I drop them and can't find them again!

Or use alternative methods to fasten plastic. Anyways if I used my sxs in a perfect world replacing those plastic fasteners and having spares everywhere would be my first choice, until I did away with them completely which actually works way better than the manufacturer, who was problaby influenced by penny pinching bean counters.

 

[John_Mc]

so I use rubber strap type fasteners bought a bunch on scamazon fairly inexpensive compared to other sxs accessories I've indulged in, it works great for me anyway.

Any chance you can provide a link to what you are talking about?

 

[jjeff]

Any chance you can provide a link to what you are talking about?

Will a screenshot work? I use similar to these on a few things I own instead of plastic fasteners. Higher vibration areas use smaller machine bolts with slightly oversized washers and nyloc nuts to fasten latches and hasps.

 

[John_Mc]

Will a screenshot work? I use similar to these on a few things I own instead of plastic fasteners. Higher vibration areas use smaller machine bolts with slightly oversized washers and nyloc nuts to fasten latches and hasps.

That helped. Searching Amazon for "t handle rubber hood catch" turned up a number of hits.

It turns out I already have a couple of them in use: When I had my log forwarding trailer in to the local welder for some repairs, I asked him for ideas to add a small tool box. I had a 50 cal ammo can for the box. He added a tray to hold it with two of those rubber T-handle straps hold the ammo can to the tray. I could have just bolted it down, but his idea made it easily removable. It's hard to see in the picture, which was taken a while ago just to show someone with a similar trailer where I mounted it, but you can see the black strap running down the side of the box. It's been on their for 4 years, stored outside. The ammo can is little worse for the wear, but the straps are still holing up well.

 

[jjeff]

That helped. Searching Amazon for "t handle rubber hood catch" turned up a number of hits.

It turns out I already have a couple of them in use: When I had my log forwarding trailer in to the local welder for some repairs, I asked him for ideas to add a small tool box. I had a 50 cal ammo can for the box. He added a tray to hold it with two of those rubber T-handle straps hold the ammo can to the tray. I could have just bolted it down, but his idea made it easily removable. It's hard to see in the picture, which was taken a while ago just to show someone with a similar trailer where I mounted it, but you can see the black strap running down the side of the box. It's been on their for 4 years, stored outside. The ammo can is little worse for the wear, but the straps are still holing up well.

View attachment 3740180

Probably borrow your idea for easily to remove tool boxes, great idea. Those rubber latches are handy and my go to when I need a cover to come off easily, now Mounting tool boxes on certain things.

 

[gsganzer]

Unsure of Yamaha vikings over use of plastic fasteners.

I agree on the plastic rivets. I have the same concern over their longevity. If I have issues, I might see if various types of cage nuts and dome head screws can be used in some of the areas.

 

[Runner]

There were plastic rivets missing on my brand new Mule while it was on the dealer's lot. Had to make them fix it before I took delivery.

 

[gsganzer]

I think with so many of these body panels being plastic, or securing plastic to steel, they use the plastic rivets to allow some degree of expansion and contraction between the components. Is just seems like some of these fasteners are pretty cheap and could be a little more secure fitting.

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

I don't see the problem. Plastic fastener assortments are cheap and readily available.

 

[LouNY]

As far as plastic fasteners I like the idea of these to replace many different one.
They are called cable tie buckles.

 

[John_Mc]

Probably borrow your idea for easily to remove tool boxes, great idea. Those rubber latches are handy and my go to when I need a cover to come off easily, now Mounting tool boxes on certain things.

It's worked out well for me. I use both 50 cal ammo cans and the slightly larger "Fat 50" cans. The cans are very weatherproof.

My rubber latch was a little different design: rather than a "cup" bracket to catch the rubber ball on the strap, mine had a hole molded into the strap. You stretch the strap to slide the hole over a shoulder bolt which I mounted to the ammo can. I just used a little silicone caulk to seal where the bolt mounts to the can to preserve the weatherproofing.

 

[shooterdon]

As far as plastic fasteners I like the idea of these to replace many different one.
They are called cable tie buckles.
View attachment 3740894

Thanks for posting this. Never seen these before but they look very useful. Ordered a 100 from Amazon.

 

[gsganzer]

Thanks for posting this. Never seen these before but they look very useful. Ordered a 100 from Amazon.

I agree. I can see lots of uses for them. They look like they could take the place of many of the various automotive fasteners. Sort of a one size fits most.

 

[ning]

I agree. I can see lots of uses for them. They look like they could take the place of many of the various automotive fasteners. Sort of a one size fits most.

Looks like a much-lower-tension pop rivet basically? nice not having to have the zip loop around something to hold it.

 

[jjeff]

As far as plastic fasteners I like the idea of these to replace many different one.
They are called cable tie buckles.
View attachment 3740894

So are those reusable? one of my pet peeves over the yrs turned out to be loose ratchet strap ends flying in the wind. Many times I've wasted driving time to check ratchet straps after my rats nest type knots came undone and the strap ends were flying wildly in the wind. So I coil strap ends and zip tye them. These went over 500 miles with this method recently and stayed coiled and secure. As an added bonus it's much easier to tell if a ratchet strap breaks also cuz the strap ends are secure from the get go.

 

[LouNY]

No more then any zip tie, although you can get reusable zip ties or a very small flat blade screw driver to lift the latch.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Hello all,

So, I really could use a utility side by side for around my 8 acres. Mainly for fence repair, general maintenance, irrigation repairs and target setting out to my 200 yard range. And of course some trail riding while camping. I am looking at five different machines. Most are three seaters. No need for a six seater. Here they are not listed in any particular order;

1 CFMoto UForce U10 Pro
2 Kawasaki Ridge/Ranch Edition
3 Polaris Range 1000
4 Honda Pioneer 1000-5
5 Can Am Defender X MR

I know there are others on the market. I was really interested in a Massimo T-Boss 1000, but they are not available in Kalifornia. My main focus here is ease of service, riding comfort and durability. So, if you happen to have one of these machines, can you kindly chime in as to what you do and don't like about it. I have ridden in a Honda Pioneer before and it was a great machine. I kicked the tires on a Kawasaki Ridge and it looks like a great machine, but getting to the air filter looks like a pain in the rear. I have yet to sit in any of the other three. Mainly because there are none on dealer floors in the Stockton area. I really want to look at the CFMoto. A Tracy dealer is expecting some in early May.

Ok, thanks guys/gals. B.

I'm more into the go-fast side by sides, but living next to a popular state forest with spare belts, tie rod ends and clutches for the broken, my suggestion is this:

1) Get the quietest machine because it is more fun to be able to jibber-jabber with your passengers,
2) and get one without a belt driven CVT.

I end up burning out the portion of Polaris RZR EMCs that retards the timing when the system senses belt slipping causing misfires.

That said, I like the Kawasaki offerings.