ridesrx
New member
I rode my Viper for the first time this weekend. On the first day we rode 180 miles. The next morning I went to fill up the oil tank, and it had only used about a 1/3 of a quart. I almost crapped my pants. I thought it should have used more than that. In a panic I checked the plugs, PTO side was dark, center plug was dark on one 1/2 of the porcilin and quite light on the other 1/2, and mag was the same as the center. I thought there might be something wrong with the oil pump, but the guy with me said his old Viper hardly used any oil either. It ran great all weekend, but just to be safe I added some oil to the gas. The oil pump freeplay is 22mm. The carbs are completely stock according to the dealer receipt for carb cleaning that the previous owner had done last fall. Is this common for these Vipers to be that light on oil consuption?
Also, maybe I'm just not used to riding this sled, but I definately felt a light vibration in my feet and in the handle bars that I didn't expect on a 1600 mile sled. Don't know if the studs are causing this or a bad bearing somewhere. This sled is in absolutely mint condition and the previous owner didn't know much about sleds so he had the dealer do all the normal service on it. They did just change the chaincase fluid, but I figure the did that right. Any thoughts on this little problem? Or am I just worrying too much?
Also, maybe I'm just not used to riding this sled, but I definately felt a light vibration in my feet and in the handle bars that I didn't expect on a 1600 mile sled. Don't know if the studs are causing this or a bad bearing somewhere. This sled is in absolutely mint condition and the previous owner didn't know much about sleds so he had the dealer do all the normal service on it. They did just change the chaincase fluid, but I figure the did that right. Any thoughts on this little problem? Or am I just worrying too much?
sxray
Member
don't worry about the oil, they sip it
wolfman
New member
I have gone 280 miles on my piped viper and only used a quart. My stock one uses a little more than the piped one in the same distance.
Wolfman
Wolfman
03viperguy
Moderator
yeah, mine hardly uses any, not to worry. as my dealer once said "the viper is SCARY good on oil!" he is right on with that!
Yeah, mine is the same way. My buddies run out of oil in their cats and I have still have almost a full tank of oil.
yamaholic22
Active member
how are the srx's? I just got mine and haven't had any trail time yet. My buddies 98 was REALLY good on oil, a lot better than both my sx 700's.
About the vibration . . .
You may be worrying too much, however the Viper is one of the smoothest sleds there is. If you are feeling vibration compared to other sleds, I would be concerned. Of course there is a long list of "problems" that can cause vibration. I suggest comparing to other Vipers. If it was me I wouldn't stop checking things out until I found the problem. I simply start at one end of the drivetrain and check things out until I either find the problem or get to the other end of the complete drivetrain. It sounds intimidating, but it really isn't. Check the clutches and bushings real well.
You may be worrying too much, however the Viper is one of the smoothest sleds there is. If you are feeling vibration compared to other sleds, I would be concerned. Of course there is a long list of "problems" that can cause vibration. I suggest comparing to other Vipers. If it was me I wouldn't stop checking things out until I found the problem. I simply start at one end of the drivetrain and check things out until I either find the problem or get to the other end of the complete drivetrain. It sounds intimidating, but it really isn't. Check the clutches and bushings real well.
did the previous owner put a clutch kit in it? is it vibin all the time or just at idle?
kirkswim just put heel clickers into his viper. now it has a vibration at idle but is smootth as glass when runnin on the trails. somithing else to check on
kirkswim just put heel clickers into his viper. now it has a vibration at idle but is smootth as glass when runnin on the trails. somithing else to check on
ridesrx
New member
vibration
At idle it's as normal as my sx600r. I just feel it when under power. Like a dumbass, I didn't switch with Welterracer this last weekend and ride his Warrior to see how it felt. I sometimes worry about things too much, and then the problem seems worse than it is. I thought that the trail might be pretty hard and the studs were hitting the ice and making this vibration. I don't know. I wish I had someone close with a Viper that I could ride once to compare. I think I am going to swap out the Yoko track anyway, so I'll replace the speedo and lower chaincase bearing at that time to be safe. We are done riding this year I think, so I'll have alot of time to think about this. Thanks for all the advice guys. Chad.
P.S. Hey 03vperguy, your not kidding about the SCARY low oil consuption. Shocked the
out of me the first time I took the oil cap off.
At idle it's as normal as my sx600r. I just feel it when under power. Like a dumbass, I didn't switch with Welterracer this last weekend and ride his Warrior to see how it felt. I sometimes worry about things too much, and then the problem seems worse than it is. I thought that the trail might be pretty hard and the studs were hitting the ice and making this vibration. I don't know. I wish I had someone close with a Viper that I could ride once to compare. I think I am going to swap out the Yoko track anyway, so I'll replace the speedo and lower chaincase bearing at that time to be safe. We are done riding this year I think, so I'll have alot of time to think about this. Thanks for all the advice guys. Chad.
P.S. Hey 03vperguy, your not kidding about the SCARY low oil consuption. Shocked the
out of me the first time I took the oil cap off.SnowBandit
New member
ridesrx said:I rode my Viper for the first time this weekend. On the first day we rode 180 miles. The next morning I went to fill up the oil tank, and it had only used about a 1/3 of a quart. I almost crapped my pants. I thought it should have used more than that. In a panic I checked the plugs, PTO side was dark, center plug was dark on one 1/2 of the porcilin and quite light on the other 1/2, and mag was the same as the center. I thought there might be something wrong with the oil pump, but the guy with me said his old Viper hardly used any oil either. It ran great all weekend, but just to be safe I added some oil to the gas. The oil pump freeplay is 22mm. The carbs are completely stock according to the dealer receipt for carb cleaning that the previous owner had done last fall. Is this common for these Vipers to be that light on oil consuption?
Also, maybe I'm just not used to riding this sled, but I definately felt a light vibration in my feet and in the handle bars that I didn't expect on a 1600 mile sled. Don't know if the studs are causing this or a bad bearing somewhere. This sled is in absolutely mint condition and the previous owner didn't know much about sleds so he had the dealer do all the normal service on it. They did just change the chaincase fluid, but I figure the did that right. Any thoughts on this little problem? Or am I just worrying too much?
Stupid question but what track is on it? I notice that when I went to the Ripsaw it virbated more. Also this year with the M10 I can feel the track spinning in the running boards...
yamaholic22
Active member
my buddy's '02 viper has had that same vibration since brand new, only under hard acceleration, but now it has almost 5000 miles on it, so we dont worry about it too much. It hasn't gotten worse at all or anything, so we dont get too worked up about it. Its also a lot worse in deep powder.
ridesrx
New member
thanks yamaholic
I feel alittle better.
I feel alittle better.
yamaholic22
Active member
no problem. Now you know i obviously i can't guarantee that it is the same thing with yours, but as for ours i know we haven't went through it front to back, top to bottom and have found nothing long, so we are assuming it is normal driveline vibration. Maybe how the drivers are contacting the track. Maybe the drive shaft is slightly out of round. Who knows what it could be. With 5000 miles it hasn't even sniffled though. 
ridesrx
New member
understand
Viper Treats
New member
Both my 02 vipers sip oil, piped and stock. The piped one has almost 8000 on it.