2012 Yamaha Kodiak 450 steering issue

[chesapeake]

With a 2012 Yamaha Kodiak 450 with power steering was out last weekend and buddy was driving down a moderate hill and the machine flipped on him. He claimed there was a rock that made him flip but I could not see it. So we winched it back on its wheels and I drove it up the hill to turn it around. Coming down the hill at a slow speed the steering caused the wheels to go back and forth a couple of times and the machine then flipped on me. He thinks it was a rock but I still never saw the rock that might have caused this. We put the machine back on its wheels and drove slowly back to the staging area with no problems. My question is if it was not a rock what should I check so that this does not happen again. The web talks about 2010 gizzlies flipping as the steering column support broke.. I will check that but what else to check. I wonder if there is a problem at just a certain angle. Am also planning on going back and looking for the rock to see if that was what happened.

 

[new_nytro]

My wife has a Kodiak 450 as well. She had the exact same situation that you describe happen twice. Both times on a decent descent at a slower speed. Both times the trail was rutted/washed out and both times the machine flipped when she hit the rut with the front tire. She is a fairly experienced rider for what its worth. Her machine does have a bit of toe-in on the front tires after putting slightly larger tires on which likely doesn't help. I think the geometry/center of gravity for the Kodiak makes it tippy in these downhill situations. Lucky no one was hurt in either case, but she is definitely a little freaked out going down hills on it now.

 

[chesapeake]

thank you for that info it makes sense as I was also going very slowly and could have hit a small rock that caused the front wheels to go back and forth and then the machine tipped. Did get a separated shoulder out of it. I recommend the crowsnest pass hospital if you get hurt in that area. They had me shot up with drugs and had the xrays done within about 1/2 hour of getting into emergency.
Just a heads up for some if you goggle 2010 yamaha grizzly court cases in the states people have been badly hurt when the steering column bracket broke. Also found this situation could be caused by a torn cv boot and dirt in the cv joint.

 

[shenker10]

Also found this situation could be caused by a torn cv boot and dirt in the cv joint.

I can vouch this is a good possibility, boot doesn't even need to be torn for this to happen. Years ago during a poker run I had an axle snap, inner CV was letting go, boot was still sealed up , and as each of the ball bearings got caught up and spit out, that tire would lock up for a split second, handle bars would go to full lock and rip the handle bars out of your hands. this happened a good 4-6 times until all the balls got spit out. Slow, fast, didn't matter, it was violent. Might be something to look into as well.

 

[chesapeake]

I can vouch this is a good possibility, boot doesn't even need to be torn for this to happen. Years ago during a poker run I had an axle snap, inner CV was letting go, boot was still sealed up , and as each of the ball bearings got caught up and spit out, that tire would lock up for a split second, handle bars would go to full lock and rip the handle bars out of your hands. this happened a good 4-6 times until all the balls got spit out. Slow, fast, didn't matter, it was violent. Might be something to look into as well.

thanks for the info