Author Topic: yamaha ultramatic transmission (Read 5450 times)

JJHACK · « **on:** March 06, 2007, 07:25:38 PM »

I might be needing a 4X4 ATV and I will only buy one with lockers front and rear. I can get a nice brand new 350 IRS 4X4 with the diff lock but it only has the ultramatic. Never owned an automatic so I welcome your opinions. There is no low and high range. just forward, neutral and reverse.

Yamaha is the leading manufacturer with this diff lock feature. Almost all the models offered with this have the Ultramatic transmission. I'm not anti auto transmission, but I am curious about the pulling torque, or low speed high torque output.
This Yamaha model has a 2WD/4WD and diff lock selection.

Actually my Rokon is an auto Transmission and has tons of torque but it's nice to hear from others if this ultramatic has good powerful low speed pulling power and torque.

30-30man · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2007, 01:47:39 AM »

The Yamaha Ultramatic has very few moving parts. All that is in there is two drums and a belt. There is not much that can go wrong with one. The less moving parts the better. I've pulled my boat 2000 Stingray that weighs about 3500lbs all over the yard with my Bruin 350. This was way over limit. The trans will take it. The ultramatic makes the engine rev more which I don't really care for. It seems the engine stays in the upper rpms all the time. That is about the only down fall.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2007, 04:34:35 AM »

Quote

The ultramatic makes the engine rev more which I don't really care for. It seems the engine stays in the upper rpms all the time. That is about the only down fall.

I think that's a "model" thing as my Grizzly isn't that way...

As for the Yamaha tranny, it's easily the BEST auto on the market. The belt always stays tensioned as there's a separate "clutch" for clutching. The others use the belt as part of the clutch and also it's there tranny too. The Ultramatic tranny is probably the best tranny on the market...

Given a choise to build my "dream" ATV, i'd pick this tranny to be in it, and "also" the hi-lo that my Grizz also has too, as personally i wouldn't buy a WORK ATV without a hi-lo in it.

DM

Drilling Man · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2007, 05:42:55 AM »

I just found this pict., so i thought i'd post it... You can see how the clutch is seperate and the belt is only used for shifting...

DM

JJHACK · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2007, 05:45:30 AM »

Thanks for this important feedback,

I don't want a huge powerful ATV. Only a 300-400 cc size. You cannot get the high and low range until you get above 450cc now. So it's gotta be a simple single range unit for me. Hope that works out?

Anyone with a single range ultramatic with some thoughts on it's capability?

30-30man · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:34:13 AM »

The 350 Bruin will do about anything you want except plow snow. We don't have much call for that in SC, so it may or may not be a need for you. The high/low thing is not a big deal as I have hauled some major loads without it. My Bruin has been one of the best atvs I've ever bought. My only complaint is squeaky brakes that I hear at low speeds.

JJHACK · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2007, 04:29:23 PM »

Well, if the brakes are the only isse the 2007's have that licked with the wet brake in the transmission. Maintainance free lifetime brakes eliminate all contamination and wear!

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** March 07, 2007, 05:38:47 PM »

I have a 2005 Bruin 350 with that auto tranny and I love it. I'll never have any other kind on one after owning this thing. You don't need a low or high as the auto tranny gives you whatever you need. Mine is only 4x2 as it's mostly used here on my small farm but that sucker has gone up and over some stuff I'd never have believed possible. I pull a 17 cu. ft. trailer fully loaded with gravel or dirt with it from time to time or at least used to until I got my JD tractor with lift and bucket. Now it does the moving work. It is unreal what that Bruin will pull and haul.

JJHACK · « **Reply #8 on:** March 07, 2007, 07:01:09 PM »

Good feedback on this. I wanted to know if the Auto was gonna provide me with good starting and pulling torque. Sounds like it's durability and power is a good design and does what I will need.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2007, 03:38:48 AM »

Here on the farm i use our ATV's for picking rocks and skidding logs, that's why i like the lo range... I couldn't live without 4wd either, so you know what kind of loads i pull...

DM

K.K · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2007, 11:31:11 AM »

I absolutely love my Grizzly. It has been a great workhorse around the house, plowing snow, planting food plots, getting my deer out of the woods, etc. The only problem (not really a problem, but observation) is that the belt slips a little when I run through deep mud puddles. This goes away, though. Other than that, NO PROBLEMS!

weasel · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2007, 11:36:24 AM »

I have a Suzuki Eiger (400), it has the auto trans, also has the hi-lo and 2or4 wheel drive. Been a great machine, the year we bought it it was one of the best rated machines. The engine does have to be in the higher rpms to start and pull. The lo range is handy going down hills, used a Honda 500, the engine would hold it back going down hills, but no slower than 7mph without using the brakes, just too fast for me. I have to have the lo range option myself.

JGREG · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2007, 01:15:34 PM »

I had a 98 600 grizzly great bike and now 03 kodiak work horse and great hunting bikes

markc · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2007, 02:23:36 PM »

The tranny on my Rhino has been flawless this past year and a half, worked hard at times towing, mud, water, rocks. It does however have a dual range..

alaskaman444 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2007, 06:08:50 PM »

I know you want locking diffs, and Yamaha offers that. I went with a Honda foreman 450. Its direct drive, no belt to worry about getting wet and slipping. I've had friends who have had to have their machines towed all the way out of the bush because the belt got wet. You might want to think about where you are at and what the likely hood of getting your machine in water above the transmission. There are other manufatures who offer direct drive machines. Just food for thought.

gdolby · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2007, 05:49:00 PM »

Good day to all, I have a 700 twin peaks suzuki w/ lockers front and rear and auto transmission. It is a hawse. pull anything that I hook it too. Have put 10 50 pound bales of hay on it and carried for a distance. will also pull my power stroke on flat ground. I won't ever change back to a manual shift after this one. All take care.........Bill

markc · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2007, 11:24:32 AM »

Unless a person just gets crazy or careless with deep water, most of today's ATV's drive systems are sealed well enough to remain dry. JJ, I'm suprised at you buying an ATV. I thought you preffered the Rokon.

RonO777 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2007, 05:34:39 PM »

They are sealed well but you don't have to be all that careless to get water into the system. Also its not really at transmission its a belt with two centrifugal clutches. Its a good system almost all scooters use a belt drive. But they will wear out especially pulling heavy loads. No Honda atvs use a belt drive, but I still do few yam's and kaw's around deer and duck season. Now my Buddy that works at a Yamaha dealership south of Houston makes good money replacing belts. He said what really tears them up is when they do get wet and start to slip the rider just starts to gun it thinking they will dry out the belt when all they are doing is burning it up.
Ron

markc · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2007, 05:41:37 AM »

I guess it would depend on how we define carelessness when it comes to water depth and an atv. For me if the OM states not to go deeper than a certain # of inches, and the driver goes deeper without having taken some other measures to provide a better seal against water getting into any portion of the motor or tranny, then to me it's carelessness and not the fault of the drive system if it does slip, or completely fail.

I understand the difference in the Honda trannys, and the belt drive systems, but they are usually called a CVT right? Continuously variable transmission CVT, So, Ron it is a transmission, even if not in the style of an automobile like Honda is using. Saw a television ad for some new car the other day and they bragged about it's CVT. All transmissions will eventually wear out, including Honda's. If overloaded the CVT belt can certainly slip and fail. Polaris Rangers (500cc model at least) have been known for that, thus the importance of using the "Low" range setting when loaded or towing. I think the CVT is a good system, likely costs a good bit less originally and later if repair or replacement is needed than the Honda style transmission. Although that Hnda transmission is pretty slick!

Old Syko · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2007, 07:16:31 AM »

None of the CVTs are "sealed" on any brand quad I've seen. They all incorporate both an intake and exhaust vent tube system to allow air in to cool the clutches and belt. The Yamaha's, Kawasaki's, and Suzuki's at least, all have a similar set up. The intake tube is around 1 1/2" to 2" in dia. and comes from the front of the clutch cover where it extends upward under the front plastics to the highest most point available and is designed to resist water entry even if submerged. The exhaust tube is similar size and design and comes from the rear of the clutch cover and extends to an uppermost point under the rear plastics. Take a look at pictures posted on some of the atv sites featuring deep mud runs and you will see 3 extended snorkels on the bikes, one for engine air intake, one for CVT intake, and one for CVT exhaust.

If you get water in the clutch system and it begins to slip, simply stop immediately, remove the drain plug to allow the water to run out, start the bike in neutral and hold engine rpm at a mid range for 1 to 2 minutes, replace the plug and ride on. Simple fix.

The first belt on my Prairie spent much of it's life in water and mud that evidently most here would consider severe abuse and ran 5,200 miles. $50 and about 20 minutes of my time it was running again good as new.

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2007, 09:14:34 AM »

Old Syko, did your prairie seem loud as far as the CVT, not the motor, goes while driving? I spent some time on one and felt like it was noisy. It would scoot though..

Old Syko · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2007, 09:40:44 AM »

No noise what-so-ever from the CVT "clutches" but some from the transmission gears themselves as they are straight cut rather than helical as in an automotive application. Way cheaper to manufacture that way. This is pretty much standard through the industry. Even your side by side has a straight cut gear set. Some are just a bit more noticeable than others. Shift linkage adjustment can effect noise as you actually vary the depth of gear mesh with it. Type and weight of lube has an effect also.

markc · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2007, 03:10:12 AM »

The sideXside didn't seem so loud before I added a cab. Now it really is noisy when driving at speed, but sure is nice when the weather turns cold and wet.