April 23, 2008
The Last 2 Smoke
SRX Development Story: Part 1
I’ll preface the following by saying I’m splitting this development story into several installments. I have dug up quite a few related documents and will scan them then scatter amongst the pages to add some funk. For example here’s a little history for you- history-remaster.pdf- I am relying on memory here and apologize if some things don’t ‘gist’ 100% with your own recollection. I’d be happy to post your comments or any additional information. I hope you enjoy the read as much as I am enjoying the writing. It’s stirring up a lot of old memories for me.
Before I get into the nuts and bolts, I think it’s important to remember where we were living back in 95/96. We had been a good two years in developing our light-weight Pro-Action leading arm chassis (code name OMD) and new 3 cylinder, single pipe engine. Ole Hayata, was head of engineering and had done an amazing job to deliver us nine new models in the die-cast, chassis platform, in time for the 97 model year. It was during this same time period, our competitors took their next step in sled evolution with the release of the 600 triple / triples -three cylinder-three pipe rockets- based largely on ISR Formula 3 racings, popularity of the day. The F111 Skidoo, ZRT 600 Cat and XCR600SP Polaris set a new benchmark for displacement performance and were gunning for top speed honors against the bigger sleds of the day.
Apparently we needed a triple-triple, 600 version of our new SX. And so it was we set out for
‘Don’t do it’, I advised, ‘The engine will grenade. If you push it, the crank won’t live…’ Man- was that bad advice, but as it turned out
We did our homework with YMC and decided our next machine would have an all new 600cc 3 into 3 engine. It was also decided to build a 700 variation for a no holds barred assault on the muscle sled segment. The Vmax4 engine was stuck with a TSS chassis and had been max’d out at 800cc (small pun intended). We set the target for OMH to be the lightest (500lbs), fastest top speed and quickest accelerating muscle sled on the market. We had witnessed the 500 class (representing the greatest sales volumes), evolve into the 600’s and it didn’t take a duck hunter to figure out the 700 class was where we should be aiming.
A bright young engineer (and notorious after-hours disturber) was given his first kick at ‘project leader’. The parting gift of Mr. Hayata who was moving on from snowmobile group to motorcycle development came in the form of Masayasu Saito. Masa-san understood very well the competitive mentality as well as the snowmobile lifestyle. When he was a young buck, he purchased a Phazer in
SRX would establish many firsts for Yamaha. For starters the clay modeling and wire frame work was performed in the
The SRX would be our final two-stroke snowmobile development project and it seems quite fitting it would crown 30 years of Yamaha in the sno-mo biz and mark the one millionth sled to run off our lines japan-media-remaster.pdf … more to follow.
cheers cr
I love a great story! Can’t wait for the rest.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm” every weekend to ride it (and chase girls).”
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 pm‘member some of the official demo rides at the ‘Rock’ or Vance Creek? SRX was in a dream. But these occasions may have something to do with “Devil in a Blue Dress” spin off.
All is good.
Hey cr, this stuff is great.
I know, I know, I’m always in for a good story also.
Excellent write up. Looking forward to more.
Thank you.
Great stuff you got here Chris!
Questions : why didn´t the 800 quad cylinder engine get powervalves, pipes etc. further development instead you guys went on to design hole new triple? Was it purely weight or something else?
Ike
April 24th, 2008 at 2:18 amAwesome write-up, can’t wait to read the rest.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:47 amnice work, time to bring back the name boys, in a 4 stroke version. Mark
April 24th, 2008 at 4:50 amThanks for the good read, can’t wait for more.I have an 02 srx and i’l tell ya i absolutely love it!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:44 amWow that sure brings back a lot of great memories! I owned a 1998 and it was such a great sled. Bullet proof and soooo fast. I recall every year for about 3-4 years, drag racing her on glare ice for 660ft. The skis would never touch the ice and other than a speed track, chissels, clutch work, a can, and a fresh air intake , she was bone stock. I would always win 700, 800 and sometimes open mod. My wife Laurie, learned to race on this sled and I still feel the rush when I close my eyes and feel her pull like an F18 at lift off. Now those are memories!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:35 amIf the SRX was the “final” 2 stroke development project, then where did the Viper fit into the picture? We all know the Viper motor is a different animal than the SX or SRX motor…..
Not really, I”l explain further on… cheers cr
April 24th, 2008 at 10:18 amGood article, I enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to part two.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:02 pmYes sir, I’ll never forget riding my buddy’s 98′ SRX on a -5F night. Holy mother was that thing fast.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pmI must of read this write up 4 times now. Good info and I can’t wait for the rest. Even in 95\96 Yamaha new it would be the last big 2-cycle project. What a clear vision of the future!
thanks Chris.
Thanks Carl but to be honest we were not sure in 96 that the SRX would be the last base for 2-stroke, that really came about around the 2000 year mark… we were just re-considering the potential in the 90′s … cheers
April 25th, 2008 at 10:19 amHey chris,were there any plans to run the SRX 600 in F-III oval racing before they change the rules?
The short answer is yes, Thats what led the initial planning and determined several factors for example the 41 inch ski stance, (production class req’mnt for ISR) whereas the Vmax line was all 44inch.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:42 pmtoo bad on the f111 thing ,Tim bender could have came back and dominated again!
April 26th, 2008 at 10:26 amI wish yamaha would bring back that mentality of, Lets build the fastest top speed sled on the planet.
The srx was the coolest sled on the planet back then..
May 1st, 2008 at 9:21 pmWondering if you could help me out. Do you know what the bottle is for that is attached to the oil bottle and the stopper is in front and just below the oil stopper? I have a 98 srx 700 and just noticed this bottle yesterday and am trying to figure out what it is for. I was told it has something to do with oil for the crank. If you know whats its for and what oil I put in there, could you let me know. thanks and any info you could provide will greatly help. Cory
Cory, I am going strictly by memory here, but if I recall we developed a special coolant ‘surge-tank’ for the SRX. On the Vmax / SX models we developed a one piece, plastic oil tank / coolant reserve tank to eliminate parts and cost. I believe we used the same part on the SRX but did not need the coolant bottle which I think is the one you are asking about. It is a dummy. I know in the Phazer we connected this bottle to the 2-stroke oil tank for extra capacity. If your SRX tank has oil in it then that’s all it is … extra 2-stroke oil for the injectors. For sure it is not a separate oil system for the crankshaft or anything else… wish I had one handy to look at and I’d be able to confirm at a glance. Just make sure you are not confusing it with the coolant reservoir, that bottle needs to contain kool-aid, (mix of glycol anti-freeze and H20) … there is only one oil tank. cr
heres some more info from my buddy RJ… “You are correct , he is referring to the reserve tank. We did use the Vmax tank and used the coolant reservoir of that tank as the coolant overflow connected to the main coolant tank by the “blow off” hose at the cap. Though I’m not sure what he means by “stopper / oil stopper”.
Hope this helps RJ.
January 19th, 2009 at 11:42 amgreat story i love thoes sleads i have 3 and would not trade any of them for a 09. believe it or not me and my buddies were wondering about thoes bottles on the oil tanks
February 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pmHEy , great storys man, i got an 1998 vmax sx 700 triple, and i was wondering if i can put 1998 srx 700 carbs and other engine parts like clutches, pipe , etc. on my sx
The short answer is yes… for the most part. cr
May 29th, 2009 at 9:22 amI just bought a 98″ Srx 700 all done up.
Clean, w/ Bender can and clutch kit.
Just out of the shop with clean carbs, and pv’s ready to run on our Ontario lakes
D
Great sled and IMHO the best two stroke mill to ever grace a sled… enjoy cr
December 6th, 2009 at 4:03 pmI have a 98 srx 600 with a stinger can,it sounds awsome!runs like a champ, this sled is a beast!I smoke my buddies 97 mxz 670 and he wishes he bought a yamaha srx
December 10th, 2009 at 8:50 pmI have a 98 srx I bought a few years ago. Rode it for 500km and it overheated.
Couple small holes in the coolant hose under the 1 pipe. Also wires caught fire on the harness meeting the 10stator wires and coolant temp wires. pitted head on both outer cylinders scored on and real bad piston on belt side. Hole on exhaust side of piston. What are the causes of head pitting??? Thanks, Roman
Roman, I’d be guessing but much of what you describe could be related to storage, almost sounds like you had a mouse or rodent nibbling in the pan, pitting / cylinder damage could be relative to detonation caused by stale fuel or other lean condition, hard to say with out a lot more background info… properly maintained the SRX was a fairly bullet proof sled.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:57 pmcheers cr
just thought Id rub it in your faces I bought my latest SRX a 98 SRX 700 for 800 dollars(part of a package deal with a fully built 02 blaster it was 2k for pair)from a kid who needed the cash to fight posession charges and it was always garage kept has less than 3k miles not a blemish ion the cowl or a tear in the seat an infant could start it first pull everyime!It has hauck clutching, bender transfer rods, and a studded camoplast track I have been having way too much fun beating ski doos and cats around northern new york
February 14th, 2010 at 7:03 am