Hey guys and gals...

You may have seen my post last Sunday that I was running down the freeway and suddenly 5th gear went out...just like I had shifted into neutral.

Randy (WHITEONE52 on RSR Forum)helped me out and found posts from others that have had the same thing happen. Between the forum and what I've found other places online I've been able to find at least 9 people this EXACT same thing has happened to.

It seems that all of them have been 2003 models, like mine and I guy I've been talking to who lives 20 miles from me that this happened to a couple of weeks ago.

What I've learned is that the "shift dogs" are shearing off. Obviouly, this is a HIGH RISK problem that could easily be life threatening.

Imagine, you're running down the freeway and all of the sudden this happens. Best case scenario is like mine where it just looses the gear but that also means it looses all excelleration and slows down rapidly...and of course there are no brake lights because you're not braking. The person in the vehicle behind you has no reason to think you're going to suddenly and rapidly slow down...and you're hit in the rear end at a high rate of speed...you're going down. Or worse yet, one of those pieces of metal jam the transmission locking the rear end...the rest of the story gets really ugly.

I called Yamaha this week and explained the situation. The customer service rep there really didn't care, insisting that I had had the recall done. Although I explained this problem is different than the recall. 3 times when I asked she REFUSED to let me speak to a supervisor.

I believe there's a good chance that Yamaha knows this is a problem...is doing their financial risk management assesments...trying to avoid another recall.

I have filed a report with the NHSTA.

I think to get any serious response from Yamaha I'm going to have to have hard contact information, not just forum names, from people this has happened to. I believe with the numbers of cases already out there, that there's a good chance that enough pressure could be put on Yamaha to do a recall. I'm seriously worried about everyone who owns a 2003 and it could potentially extend to other years.

If you know of someone who has a 2003 (or any year) that has lost 5th gear, would you PLEASE have them get in touch with me. My email is gds1211@cox.net and my cell phone is 949-929-7454.

Thanks,

Gerald

Wasn't there a transmission recall for 2003? I kinda remember reading something about that.

Yes, There is a recall on the transmission (It covered 1999-2003/4?). However, it is NOT for what is being discussed in this thread. The recall is for a circlip that could break and lock up the engine.

".. is doing their financial risk management assesments .."

Hey, just like getting medical care at the VA, I wont have to adjust for that either.


I know, this is serious, I'll shutup now.




Max

Yes, that one's been done, but this is a completely different problem than the recall was for.

Yeah, that's what explained to the "customer service" rep, but got nowhere and she wouldn't connect me to a supervisor.

Man...while I never served, I have a HUGE admiration for those who have. When I have visited people at VA hospitals I've always thought the level of care was not at all what it should be for those who have been willing to give their most for our nation.

did i miss something? all of a sudden we are talking about serving our country and not 5th gear. my $.02,spudwrench