1994 VMAX 600....the good, the bad, the ugly

Z

Zack1978

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Hi everyone,
I will be getting a used 94 VMAX 600 (electric start and reverse) from a friend. The sled has low miles on it, and it has not been abused. At this point I don't get to ride as often as I would like, so therefore I can't justify the cost of a new sled. This season we rode 200 miles total.
So what are the pro's and con's of the old VMAX? My g/f who would ride this sled would be stepping up from my 1991 Phazer. I know that it is not much of an upgrade, but for the amount of riding we do it should be better than the Phazer. I assume that biggest limitation on the sled is the rear suspension? Will it at least be a bit better than the Phazer? How about an M-10 suspension on the VMAX? Is the M-10 basically easy to install?
We are not fast riders, but the trails tend to get beat up.

Thank you,
Zack

PS: Am I nuts for even playing with the old VMAX?
 

The biggest adjustment shes going to have coming from a phazer is the weight difference, the vmax is heavier and will be harder to throw through corners.

The suspension front and rear will be the biggest limitation, it works and will ride fine, but your not going to get lots of travel, a lot of guys put drop brackets on the rear skids of these sleds, it doesnt give you any more travel but will make the sled sit up better and it wont feel like your sitting in an old recliner. Now that being said, the 91 phazer used basically the exact same suspension set up.

The engine in these are bullet proof, as long as they're taken care of and you make sure the carbs are tuned right, itll give you years of trouble free sledding. I have a 97 600 twin (same engine slightly different piston design) but I love it and you will definitely notice a power increase over the phazer. I think the 91 phazer made around 60-65hp? the vmax 600 should be making around 95hp.

They are a great sled and I wouldnt say your nuts at all, plus done up nice can still be a cool looking sled. (cooler than the phazer IMO lol)
 
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Would plastic skis help he steering ? If so are there any direct mount ski kits for that sled?
Also is it a huge job to install an M-10 suspension? It seems that you can find them used for a somewhat reasonable price used? I assume the M-10 would be a huge improvement?


Thanks,
Zack
 
The M-10 would be a huge improvement for sure, but the front suspension is still going to hold it back. Plastic skis will help any sled for sure, as far as fitment Im not sure if the sx chassis skis will fit directly, hopefully someone else can chime in.

Uni-ski makes a plastic ski with a mount for that sled for $199.00 Canadian, they sell them in Canada at Royal distributing. I believe their made by ATS

What kind of riding will you be doing with this sled?? Trail, trail/lake, off trail?
 
The '96 vmax XT had a lot more rear suspension travel. That might be an easier install than an M-10, or at least cheaper. I think in either case, you'll have to drill some holes in the tunnel to mount it up.

Vmax is a big upgrade from a phazer. Not quite a modern machine, but you get more suspension travel up front with the vmax (not much, but slightly more) and it rides a little better due to the added weight. And it's a lot faster.
 
Ive got both the same year phazer (its a phazer II) and a 95 vmax 600 twin. Like brade07 said, riding the vmax is like sitting on the couch / recliner but its much stronger and give a lot of power. Heavier machine for sure, my wife rides it and constantly complains about it being a bear to turn.
 
The biggest problem you will have will probably be the clutch ,the primary , that is . It has a tendancy to "wear out" especialy the rollers. You will probably have to rebuild it. bushings, rollers and flyweights!
 
yammy said:
The biggest problem you will have will probably be the clutch ,the primary , that is . It has a tendancy to "wear out" especialy the rollers. You will probably have to rebuild it. bushings, rollers and flyweights!
Click to expand...

I have read that there is a Polaris clutch that is a direct bolt in replacement/upgrade. Does anyone have info on that clutch? I think it is an "85 series" clutch?

Thanks,
Zack
 
jasburrito said:
They make a few different p85s.you want the 1 from a fuji 600 tripple. I have over 1000 trouble free miles from mine. Good luck
Click to expand...

Any idea what model and year range Polaris I should look for?

Thanks,
Zack
 
Check the threads on here for Yamaha Ski mod for the newer style. I mounted a set of Doo Ski's on mine with basicly just new spacers.

The rear skid should be upgraded to at least an XT Skid, we put one in my dad's 94 and it made a huge difference, ski pressure can be hard to set on the 94-95 models as they don't have the adjustable front shocks but solid sled and very reliable, BAD Gas mileage is the only complaint i would have but thats not a big deal when you only do 200-500 miles a year.
 
Honestly Id rebuild the yami clutch, They are a good clutch. Also as long as everything is setup right (clutch alignment etc...) they will last. I have about 800kms on my rebuilt yami clutch (rollers, bushings changed ) and this clutch has about 8800kms total on it and is original to my sled.
 
As for fuel mileage realistically it should be about the same as my 97 twin, maybe a bit harder because of the added weight of the older chassis, but not that much. I do about 50% lake and 50% trail and I ride hard. Last week with a lot of slush on the lake, and temps around the 0*C/32*F I averaged about 8 MPG or 32L/100kms, better conditions I get close to 10MPG. Oil consumption calculated is almost exactly 50:1
 
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My wife has been riding a 95 600LE since it was new and she loves it. It gets 11-13 MPG all day long. It uses about 1 qt of oil per 100 miles. It has about 6,500 miles on it now. The only problem we have ever had with it is the slide rails have cracked twice. The last time I replaced them I welded in some reinforcements so far so good.

The 95 and up Vmax's have a different primary.She rode 5,000+ miles before I rebuilt hers. If yours needs clutch work you should be able to just swap out the primary to the newer type I would think?

As for the rear skid here is a link to someone else that swapped in a Polaris skid. It was cheap and didn't look to hard to do.
http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?t=74936
 
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I have been reading about a new head gasket for this engine. It seems that there is a thin head gasket available. Where do you find a thin gasket ? How hard is it to change?

Thanks,
Zack
 
the 94-95 vmax 600 motors are in good trim and have the thinner head gaskets stock the 96 had a thicker head gasket ......and the pro action 600 twin while a improvement in design with triple exhaust ports are a turd they need the thinner head gasket and and some piston and intake work to get them up to the hp of the 94-95 motors which dynoed at 94.5 hp while the 97-99 motors only made 88 hp .......i have a 95 vmax 600 in just about full race trim that makes 138 hp this is a full blown Aaen motor with Aaen coned style twin pipes the motor could trip the 145 mark with full race pipes and a little bit more work on the cylinders but in todays age that is not enough for a 600 improver/mod as most stuff today is a easy 155 hp in full trim ............

for a 94 the biggest upgrade would be the gyt sigle pipe (stock 96 pipe) and 95 clutches ...........the 94 secondarys need constant maintnence and tear up busshings by going to the 95 reverse cam improves shifting and overall performance ............
 
Well I am going to get the sled this weekend...I will keep you posted on how it works out.


Zack
 
Yamaha Nutz said:
the 94-95 vmax 600 motors are in good trim and have the thinner head gaskets stock the 96 had a thicker head gasket ......and the pro action 600 twin while a improvement in design with triple exhaust ports are a turd they need the thinner head gasket and and some piston and intake work to get them up to the hp of the 94-95 motors which dynoed at 94.5 hp while the 97-99 motors only made 88 hp .......i have a 95 vmax 600 in just about full race trim that makes 138 hp this is a full blown Aaen motor with Aaen coned style twin pipes the motor could trip the 145 mark with full race pipes and a little bit more work on the cylinders but in todays age that is not enough for a 600 improver/mod as most stuff today is a easy 155 hp in full trim ............

for a 94 the biggest upgrade would be the gyt sigle pipe (stock 96 pipe) and 95 clutches ...........the 94 secondarys need constant maintnence and tear up busshings by going to the 95 reverse cam improves shifting and overall performance ............
Click to expand...

So a stock 1996 VMAX 600 pipe is an upgrade over the stock 1994 pipe?

Zack
 
Zack1978 said:
So a stock 1996 VMAX 600 pipe is an upgrade over the stock 1994 pipe?

Zack
Click to expand...

Yes. In 1994 & 1995 Yamaha offered the Vmax GYT single pipe as an accessory product for those who wanted a power upgrade over the stock pipe. In 1996 Yamaha included the GYT pipe on all standard production Vmax 600's.
 
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