Need utility Side by Side

[gsganzer]

I'll have to buy the shop manual for the Yamaha Viking. The new Ranch Armor rear bumper has some built in backup lights, so I was researching the best way to wire them in. Turns out the wiring harness already has connectors for adding them in. You just have to buy 3 Yamaha parts (relay, and 2 plug in harness extensions). I see some other unused connectors around the machine, so I'll have to figure out what those are 4. I'm curious about one 3-pin capped connector under the hood. The curiosity is getting the best of me.

 

[gsganzer]

I'll have to buy the shop manual for the Yamaha Viking. The new Ranch Armor rear bumper has some built in backup lights, so I was researching the best way to wire them in. Turns out the wiring harness already has connectors for adding them in. You just have to buy 3 Yamaha parts (relay, and 2 plug in harness extensions). I see some other unused connectors around the machine, so I'll have to figure out what those are 4. I'm curious about one 3-pin capped connector under the hood. The curiosity is getting the best of me.

I guess the 3-pin capped connector is for lights. I put a voltmeter to it and one is the neutral and the other two go hot when the lights are turned on. I thought they might be independently switched to coincide with low/high beam, but they both are hot with low beam and the voltage stays the same on either selection.

 

[gsganzer]

I just bought all the fluids and filter for my first fluid change after break-in. I'll also check the valve tolerances at the same time I change the fluids. I also bought the service manual.

No issues with the Viking, so far. My neighbor went for a ride in it the other evening. They have a Kubota RTV, not sure which model, but it's a few years old and one of the small ones. They remarked on how smooth the ride is and how spacious the front seat is (3-seater versus the Kubota 2-seater). They also remarked on how much quicker the Yamaha is. The Viking almost seems like the perfect mix of utility, recreation and sport UTV's.

If there's one feature that I might look for on a future UTV, it might be a limited slip rear differential for traveling on finished turf or pavement. But it really depends on what your use is.

 

[grsthegreat]

Funny story. Yesterday wife was backing up the 2012 kawasaki mule to dump a load of wood. Came to tell me the shift lever was wobbly….could not get out of reverse. I stop trying to repair my broken down feeder belt on the chipper, and grumble on over to see why she cant shift out of reverse.

I grab control arm and it breaks off in my hand. Stupid thing is made of 1/2” hollow steel tube.

I always thought it was solid. As mad as i was i actually started to laugh. Wife thought i finally went over the hill towards madness.

That was the 3rd thing that broke within 30 minutes. That will teach me to work on the 4th of july.

Ended up spending 4 hours repairing everything that broke in the past 30 minutes.

Fixing the shifter arm SUCKED. Had to disassemble entire front plastic body of the mule, dropout shifter assembly. Took assembly apart and since i didnt want to bother fixing a hollow tube, i built a brand new one out of 1/2” solid stock i had in shop. Stupid thing wont break now.

Decided to call it quits before something else breaks. Went and bbq’d some chicken legs and corn on the cob.

Afraid to touch any other machine today……. I dont think i could break my recliner chair.

 

[ultrarunner]

I had a day like that last month…

 

[deserteagle71]

I just bought all the fluids and filter for my first fluid change after break-in. I'll also check the valve tolerances at the same time I change the fluids. I also bought the service manual.

No issues with the Viking, so far. My neighbor went for a ride in it the other evening. They have a Kubota RTV, not sure which model, but it's a few years old and one of the small ones. They remarked on how smooth the ride is and how spacious the front seat is (3-seater versus the Kubota 2-seater). They also remarked on how much quicker the Yamaha is. The Viking almost seems like the perfect mix of utility, recreation and sport UTV's.

If there's one feature that I might look for on a future UTV, it might be a limited slip rear differential for traveling on finished turf or pavement. But it really depends on what your use is.

Its a Yamaha. Take care of it and it will last forever. And yes, an open diff is nice because it will allow you to turn much sharper. As far as I know, no manufacturer installs a "limited slip" diff in a side by side. Its either locked, or open with a switch to lock the diff when needed.

 

[ArlyA]

Can-Am uses a variety of front and rear differentials, including limited-slip and fully-locking options. Their Visco-Lok is a mechanical limited-slip differential, while Smart-Lok is a fully lockable front differential with electronically-controlled automatic modes. Some models also feature a Visco-4Lok, a mechanical locking differential.
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I believe other CO's are using something similar.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Somehow, I was born with the ability to know when I NEEDED the rear axle "locked", so I'm happy to report that my Kubota S&S has a lever to lock the axle "as needed".

I just don't need/want the complexity of auto this, and auto that, for such simple jobs.

It's very easy to use, just like the one on my tractor, and simpler means more reliable too.

SR

 

[sandman2234]

My Toro Workman has a lever to engage the differential lock. When purchased used (and almost 20 years old) it didn't have diff lock, it didn't have hi-lo tranny, and the bed was "tilt" according to the seller. I had never seen one without these features, but due to limited pictures and vague descriptions on F/B Marketplace, I bought one. It was factory converted to propane, which is good because the gasoline carbs are a nightmare! I bought a clunker for parts, and a buddy installed the hydraulics while it was at his house awaiting the trip to Florida. The hi-lo and diff lock only required cables, as the rear end had those features internally, as Toro buys that rearend from another company.
How many UTV's are rated and capable of lifting 2150 pound on the bed and dumping it? It is also rated to pull 3500 pounds behind it.
I also had the governor reinstalled, as it running 40 mph wasn't something I needed.
David from jax

 

[LindenBruce]

I just bought all the fluids and filter for my first fluid change after break-in. I'll also check the valve tolerances at the same time I change the fluids. I also bought the service manual.

No issues with the Viking, so far. My neighbor went for a ride in it the other evening. They have a Kubota RTV, not sure which model, but it's a few years old and one of the small ones. They remarked on how smooth the ride is and how spacious the front seat is (3-seater versus the Kubota 2-seater). They also remarked on how much quicker the Yamaha is. The Viking almost seems like the perfect mix of utility, recreation and sport UTV's.

If there's one feature that I might look for on a future UTV, it might be a limited slip rear differential for traveling on finished turf or pavement. But it really depends on what your use is.

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.