Cush drives - the last word !!!!
 

Here is the very nice email I sent to Yahamaha Australia yesterday:

I recently had my 2008 XT660R serviced by Geoff Taylor Motorcycles in Dandenong - this was a standard scheduled 15,000 kms check. Based on comments from a Broken Hill Yamaha Agent who had previously fitted a new rear tyre at around 11,000 kms I asked that the rear cush rubbers be checked during the service and if appropriate be replaced - I did also suggest that my expectation was that this would be a warranty replacement.

The Geoff Taylor Service Department indicated that the cush drive rubbers had indeed started to disintegrate and that they had been replaced but this would be to my cost because Yamaha Australia consider these parts to be a "wear" item and as such would not cover the cush rubbers under a warranty claim.

I have carefully checked the Yamaha Service and Warranty booklet supplied with my bike and can find no such exclusion for these items. As a member of the xt660.com web site I am also aware that many members around the world have had these specific items replaced under warranty. Furthermore, problems with cush rubber wear and disintegration have been well reported around the world with many riders stating that they do seem to be a specific XT660 model weak spot.

I must state that as a repeat customer of the Geoff Taylor Service Department I am in no way dissatisfied with the work performed or the service provided but just the Yamaha Australia Warranty position on parts that do seem to be somewhat deficient.

Can I ask that Yamaha Australia formally state their warranty policy for these items and indicate what they consider to be a reasonable service life expectation when the bike is used for its intended purpose.

And here's the (not so) nice reply from Yamaha Australia received today:

Consumable items are not covered by Yamaha warranty, as outlined in the owners handbook (extract attached - this was the standard page in the Warranty book that while it mentions just about every other part on the bike does not mention cush drive rubbers).

Cush rubbers to wear out at 11,000kms would be considered normal wear and tear and not a warranty repair item.

Regards,
Duilio Pianca - Customer Relations Department
Yamaha Motor Australia

So there you have it folks Yamaha look like they expect the service life of cush drive rubbers in a XT660 to be around 10,000 kms - seems any more than that and you're just being very lucky or simply overly expectant !!!

The hurt part - I note that the price that has tended to be mentioned here is around the GBP 20 ~ 25 mark so why in Oz do they cost $100 (or approximately GBP 60). Gee it must be a long boat ride from Japan :eusa_clap:

All Yamaha parts are over priced here in OZ, that's why I import every part for my XTX. I do not worry about my XT's warranty any more as it is to much like hard work dealing with Yamaha Australia. I just imported from Greece new front & rear fenders for AU$156.00 postage included, Yamaha Australia price $370.00.

I buy 90% of my parts from Yamaha Greece, send Maria an email for a quote she is always help full, tell her Kevin from XT660.com forum sent you..

cygnus.2004@gmail.com

Or you can do my rear rubber mod or buy these.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Ruckdampfer-Yamaha-XT-660-X-R-DM-XT660-XT-660-XT-NEU-/330443416831?pt=Motorrad_Kraftradteile&hash=item4c eff664ff

Prices
 

Just for comparison, my last set of Cush Rubbers (9 months ago) here in NZ cost me $NZ56 (about $AUS45). I always keep a spare set (or 2) around just in case. If you want some, I would be happy to bring you a few sets when I come over to Melbourne next April/May (2011). Or I can post you a few sets. Of course, it's possible that the price in NZ is screwed now as well, I'd better check.

After having my XT for 35k miles (bikes got 42kmiles, 7kmiles done by previous owner) i only ever changed the cush drive rubbers once at around 36k miles.

When changed the old ones where completely done, they had very little give in them, where cracked and started to come apart.

Getting a new set made the XT feel so much more connected, like when you turn the throttle it goes there and then not a milli second later with loads of lurge.

But After 6k miles the replacement set have worn a good bit with around 5mm play in the rear sprocket and the bike started to get that feeling of play in the throttle/chain feeling again. Packed the cush drives out again with some old bicycle inner tubing and the feeling of connection is back again with in minutes (took around 20mins or so)

In Northern Ireland each set cost �4 and you need 4 so �16 for a complete change. Not that much, but when you think about it 6k miles and they are done, a rear tyre is done around this stage so you end up adding �16 on for every tyre change, i dont think so. Ok its a bit of pain to have to pack them out but i would rather do this than have that loose feeling.

What about the warrenty?

The only thing i can really see that it could possbily damage is the bearings in the rear sprocket if you get it wrong. (I done this when one of the packers moved when i placed it in and caused the rear sprocket to wobble and bust the bearing in the rear sprocket, cost around �10 to fix so nothing massive).

Wemoto sell that bearing for �4. I got one thinking mine was gone but upon closer inspection packing out the cush drive with innertube cured the problem and the bike was perfect.

has anyone took a pic of the packing interested to see

ta

incidently mine were goosed and i changed mine at 9800 miles maybe i should write yamaha a letter as mine did less than 10k see if they then agree their product is rubbish

Search on Kevs mod list he has the photos of the packing trick. If not search and you will find it.

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=12422

Try that link. :-)

My XT660Z's rubbers are shod at 7500 km's
Yamaha South Africa replaced them, but not as a warranty item, purely a good will gesture, and they made this very clear, no further replacement

I think Yamaha is pathetic here and should come to the party worldwide

I was just thinking out loud, is the power to compound ratio, not to big?

Can there be something like that - power to compound

Otherwise, I'm very happy with the bike

Some riders have had their rubbers replaced under warranty & most have not. From my dealings with major manufactures over 3 decades with warranty claims, one who makes the most noise usually gets what they want either under warranty or goodwill.