Hello folks, i'm new to the forum after many google searches brought me here to source information. I haven't owned a snow machine now for 10 years or more after growing up as an enthusiast. As a boy my friends and I would save our money and buy anything we could afford that ran or we thought we could make run on short money. Most of what we had were parts from various different makes and models put together in to Frankenstein machines with little to no safety features or amenities. I had an old 1970's Ski-Doo Olympic for example, that I bought with a seized up engine off an old man. A friend of mine had an old Rupp 440 Nitro engine that we put in it for my 1st machine. It wasn't fast or safe or comfortable or even remotely reliable at all but... i was out there grinning from ear to ear! From then until now I have owned them all except for one... the Yamaha. I stopped riding in 2003 or so and the last sled I owned was a 2001 MXZ. Two years ago my fiance' and I bought a house up in Maine right across from a main snowmobile trail head. I didn't realize this in fact at the time until I saw the local trail club out in the field setting signs in the fall. Putting along on a wheeled contraption called a Gator with a pile of signs and stakes, brightly colored flags and tape, all for the safety of everyone and protection of landowners. Our first winter passed with the sound of high horsepower two strokes humming by at all hours of the night. Music to my ears really, like the calling from a old long lost friend. My only problem was the expense involved in getting back in to the sport, mainly buying the machine. However, the other day here on our second winter my future father in-law decides to buy himself a brand new snowmobile and leaves me his "old one" to enjoy. Well, the "old one" is a 2004 Yamaha SX Viper S! My 1st Yamaha and 1st sled in many years, boy am I excited like a little kid again. He said it only had a few minor issues which I fixed in hours for no money and It only has 3900 miles on it. When I finally got it out in the field I was very happy to see it hold the skis in up the air as I pulled back on the bars and pressed the throttle forward to WOT! That 700 triple has made me look forward to riding again now. So far so good, what should I expect with this machine? I haven't a clue whats been done for maintenance. I have ordered new trailing arms from SPI as mine are rusting out. Anything I need to know about these?
Clean and set power valves and carbs every season, clean clutches, replace chaincase oil regularly and check all wheel and speedo bearings annually for starters. Get shocks recharged every couple of seasons and check bushings in suspension.
Otherwise ride and enjoy as nessasary.
Otherwise ride and enjoy as nessasary.
yamahamark
Member
^x2
You will be very happy with your Yamaha. Keep it simple and when you decide to do mods clutching is the best way to go.
You will be very happy with your Yamaha. Keep it simple and when you decide to do mods clutching is the best way to go.
Alright then that's a good start! Seeing as how the trails are closed at this time due to a lack of snow I have been in the garage tinkering and a couple things have come up. I noticed on light to moderate acceleration I can feel something slipping and it feels to me as though the track is slipping on the drive cogs. The "clunking/jerking" goes away at 15mph or so in i dont notice it under hard acceleration. I used the owners manual and set the track tension to 1.5" at the center with 22lbs force while the machine was on its side. This did not resolve the issue. I proceeded to work the tension up through a trial and error process to a point where the track is tight, too tight. The problem still persist. I backed the settings off again. Now I was reading the posts with a similar complaint and people suggested checking the belt. I removed the belt and upon visual inspection I see no defects and it is within manufacturer spec. I proceeded to pull the chain cover next to change the fluid and inspect to chain and sproket. I see no problems in there. I was expecting more shavings but it wasn't bad. The secondary clutch has just a small amount of left right play that feels normal to me upon inspection. I have now decided to replace the hyfax slides because they are worn below spec. What a pain in butt. The slides don't look like they fit through the track windows? Stuck here at the moment with a mangled slide that is free but wont come out the hole. Any helpful tips would be great, my back is getting sore....
The sliders typically wont fit through the track windows. You can enlarge one track window on each side with a dremil tool just enough to fit the slider through . Most of us remove our suspensions from the sled to do slider changes as you can then do a good inspection, check for cracks ect of the complete suspension as well.
It does sound like you have a track ratcheting issue on your sled.
Ratcheting can be caused by:
-too loose of track [sounds like that's not your issue] normally you can just keep tightening track a little bit at a time until ratcheting stops.
-worn or damaged drivers and or track lugs
-broken front "W" arm
It does sound like you have a track ratcheting issue on your sled.
Ratcheting can be caused by:
-too loose of track [sounds like that's not your issue] normally you can just keep tightening track a little bit at a time until ratcheting stops.
-worn or damaged drivers and or track lugs
-broken front "W" arm
A couple of bucks
VIP Member
Oh yes. Great tunes! Twas on whilst I wrote up this thread so it felt appropriate. I will keep beating on it until it's fixed. The new trailing arms showed up today along with some snow. I definitely should have pulled the track at this point. I already replaced the rear axle wheel bearings. I'm not sure how much more is involved to take the whole damn thing right out and put it on the bench as sugessted. I see 4 bolts to drop it but how does the drive axle come out? What is this "W" arm you speak of? I'm guessing it's part or the rear suspension system but I'm not sure where to look specifically for breaks in it? Thanks back to the hammer....
they always had a chuk-chuk noise on starting at low speeds on all the sx series sleds we have owned.