[arctic.alaska.lady]

We live in Unalakleet, AK a rural village on the Bering Sea Coast.
We got our red viking last week by air freight last week and have less than 15 miles on, driving on short distances on well-maintained roads at low speeds. It was just driven a couple of times before the brakes locked up. Last night we drove it up the road a couple of miles that has a sloping incline, and we noticed that it didn't seem to be excelerating very well and turned around to come back. Then it completely locked up.

Our two friends who have a lot of mechanical experience came to help us bled some air out. He said that it was real hot, like the brake had been dragging on it. It seemed to just be the front brakes or even just the front left wheel from what he said that was problematic. After they bled it, it seemed fine and my husband was able to drive it home and it seemed to drive normally home. I called the dealer this morning in anchorage and talked with the mechanic, who said it didn't make any sense, but that I could take the brake pads off and send them to him to inspect. He had a strong opinion that someone had left the parking brake on. It was not. (I can't return it, it cost $3,000 in air freight to get it back, because there are not connecting roads in this part of Alaska).


Please let me know if anyone else has had this problem with the Viking or a Rhino. The dealer said they have the same brake system.

 

[Teryx2k16]

Mine has squeaked since i got it, but have not noticed anything major yet.

Welcome to the site.

 

[madviking]

The e-brake is separate from the main braking system. It is mounted in front of the rear differential, up in the chassis. Which ever brake was doing the deed enough to actually lock something up, will likely show signs in the pads or rotor. Any chance you can take clean pictures of the brake rotors and post them up? The wheels will need to come off.

 

[Jgsaltwater]

I have had no problems with brakes. 4.5 hours

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

update - still a brake problem

it was driven a short distance today and fairly quickly the brakes locked up again, it was pretty clear all 4 brakes were hot so I don't think this is a front brake problem any more. Dealer says to send it back, so they can look at it but it will cost me $3000. They will not contract with a local shop, because it is not Yamaha. I am very upset because it seems I have bought a lemon. I will have someone look it over again to see if there is anything obvious that can be determined.

We live in Unalakleet, AK a rural village on the Bering Sea Coast.
We got our red viking last week by air freight last week and have less than 15 miles on, driving on short distances on well-maintained roads at low speeds. It was just driven a couple of times before the brakes locked up. Last night we drove it up the road a couple of miles that has a sloping incline, and we noticed that it didn't seem to be excelerating very well and turned around to come back. Then it completely locked up.

Our two friends who have a lot of mechanical experience came to help us bled some air out. He said that it was real hot, like the brake had been dragging on it. It seemed to just be the front brakes or even just the front left wheel from what he said that was problematic. After they bled it, it seemed fine and my husband was able to drive it home and it seemed to drive normally home. I called the dealer this morning in anchorage and talked with the mechanic, who said it didn't make any sense, but that I could take the brake pads off and send them to him to inspect. He had a strong opinion that someone had left the parking brake on. It was not. (I can't return it, it cost $3,000 in air freight to get it back, because there are not connecting roads in this part of Alaska).


Please let me know if anyone else has had this problem with the Viking or a Rhino. The dealer said they have the same brake system.

 

[Teryx2k16]

sure sorry to hear that, hopefully you can get it fixed soon. Best of luck.

 

[Ultratec]

All 4? Im leaning towards a master problem. Im not too familiar with the braking system on this machine yet, I just got mine, and dont even have a service manual yet. Sorry to hear about this. Please keep us updated.

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

The e-brake is separate from the main braking system. It is mounted in front of the rear differential, up in the chassis. Which ever brake was doing the deed enough to actually lock something up, will likely show signs in the pads or rotor. Any chance you can take clean pictures of the brake rotors and post them up? The wheels will need to come off.

It does seem that it is all four brakes now, we did confirm that on the second lock up. Since I know that, would there still be a reason to look at the break pads or should we be looking somewhere else for the problem?

 

[madviking]

The pads and rotors are a symptom, though they could be damaged and need replacement. The cause will likely be somewhere upstream in the braking system. Ultratec suggests the master cylinder, and I agree that would be the place to start.... could the unit have been damaged during shipment? Something is quite weird.

 

[Ultratec]

These machines are like a car. The foot brake does all 4 wheels. You cant control front and rear like an atv, other than Polaris. The hand brake locks a disc in front of the rear diff like madviking said, that brakes the rear wheels, thats mechanical. If all 4 are being held up, the problem is in the main braking system, which is controlled through the master cylinder.

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

thanks for all the replies. We did bleed all four tire and its seems to be running okay but now there is a squeaky noise all the time that seems unrelated to the brakes. But we found a loose bolt on the front passenger side that we are going to get tightened up tomorrow, hopefully that will be the source of the squeak. We will have someone go all the way through it, I am hoping that it was just badly inspected instead of being a true lemon after all. We do like the three-seater aspect of it and its very practical where we live.

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

by the way does anyone know how/where I can get a repair manual?

 

[bosssmannn]

sorry to hear about your probems. I can not even get a spare key from my dealer yet best of luck with getting a repair manual.

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

sorry to hear about your probems. I can not even get a spare key from my dealer yet best of luck with getting a repair manual.

That's funny because that is another question I haven't even gotten to. I had assumed someone could copy it, no?

 

[Ultratec]

I got 2 with my machine. All you need is the key number printed on the key, and the key can made in seconds

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

Update- bleed didnt fix, dealer contacting Yamaha now

Today we had someone help us tighten up the bolts on the tire, and took a quick look at the brakes and cables, etc that can be seen without taking it all apart. there was nothing obviously a problem. We called the dealer, and they suggested we drive it some more. less than 10 min later, the brakes locked up again, all four red hot. I had my husband go back to confirm that and he burned his arm checking. after it cooled off some we were able to move it.
I talked to the owner of the dealership and they will be calling in the problem to Yamaha on Tuesday and come up with a plan. It seems they believe me now that the parking break wasn't left on, although I understand that is a common problem. I did mention the hypotheses about the master cylinder brought up on this forum. As a side note about the tire, a funny thing is that it seems the bolt tightening by our local small engine repairman didn't stop the squeaking and the tightening didn't hold! Those same bolts are loose again.

 

[Brennan]

brakes

A.A.L. Can't Yamaha give you any idea as what to look at for this type of problem?

 

[Kr2bldr]

Hi all my name is Keith I am the local mechanic in AAL's Village. This evening I pulled the Viking into the shop and put it in the air I confirmed that it was all four brakes locking up although the front brakes are locking up more than the back. I cracked the Breakline at the master cylinder to relieve the pressure off the front break. At that point the front brakes turn freely. Next I check the back brakes they still had a bit of pressure on them I cracked the line up at the master cylinder again to relieve the pressure and they turn freely. It appears the proportioning valve is working correctly in the master cylinder although it's not releasing the pressure in the morning I will contact the dealership and go over what I found.

Unfortunately when you live in the bush and it's time to make that big purchase you have to either anticipate not having any warranty or paying the $8000 round-trip freight fee.

I will post what I find tomorrow.
Kr2bldr or keith

 

[Yamama]

Today we had someone help us tighten up the bolts on the tire, and took a quick look at the brakes and cables, etc that can be seen without taking it all apart. there was nothing obviously a problem. We called the dealer, and they suggested we drive it some more. less than 10 min later, the brakes locked up again, all four red hot. I had my husband go back to confirm that and he burned his arm checking. after it cooled off some we were able to move it.
I talked to the owner of the dealership and they will be calling in the problem to Yamaha on Tuesday and come up with a plan. It seems they believe me now that the parking break wasn't left on, although I understand that is a common problem. I did mention the hypotheses about the master cylinder brought up on this forum. As a side note about the tire, a funny thing is that it seems the bolt tightening by our local small engine repairman didn't stop the squeaking and the tightening didn't hold! Those same bolts are loose again.

The reason your "bolts"- lug nuts are loose maybe because the holes in the wheel rim, for the wheel studs, are now no longer round but egg shaped. If they are egg shaped, it will never stay tight. That what can happen to a wheel if driven with loose lug nuts. Or the wheel studs/lug nuts may have been over torqued, thus now with stripped threads, which will result in less clamping force for the wheel rim. You may now need a new wheel, wheel studs and lug nuts. As far as your brake problem, I also vote for the master cylinder as defective. Or is the brake pedal hanging up, not allowing the brakes to release completely, which can make the brakes over heat? Good luck and sorry to hear of your ordeal.

 

[arctic.alaska.lady]

service manual can be ordered by dealer

Just to follow up I found an answer to my question. The dealer can order a service manual. It is not available online or elsewhere to my knowledge.

by the way does anyone know how/where I can get a repair manual?