Viper Vibration???

YamiSmurf

YamiSmurf

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
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373
Age
54
Location
Mishawaka, IN
Finally was able to ride a new to me 02 viper for approximately 70 miles. Sled has less than 1000 miles on the odometer. We noticed a vibration in the handle bars. It's not a continuous vibration, you only feeling this when the suspension is being used. Not harshly, but when encountering slightly rough trails. On smooth surfaces, you get zero vibration, relatively speaking.

FYI...For longer hyfax life, we adjusted the track tension. Experiencing no ratcheting.

Any ideas? Normal vibration for viper model? Bearing????

YS
 

The Viper does not normally have much vibration. In fact in it's era it was one of the smoothest sleds there was. The suspension itself was a lot stiffer than some and did not handle the small bumps as well as many, but there was very little vibration. I would say that you have a problem developing somewhere.

I would pull your skid, remove the shocks, and check it all out. You may have broken parts, worn bushings, or failing bearings. Then check your drivetrain, and engine mounts working from the drivers and driveshaft, back through the chaincase, jackshaft, secondary, and primary to the engine itself.

Don't stop until you find it, as it will likely get worse in a hurry if something is broken or worn out.
 
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My 2002 Viper has a vibration around 25/ hr. since new. Tingles my hands at that speed and makes a whining sound in the chaincase when the brakes are applied. I have tried other stock machines and there is a noticable difference. My wife's 2003 sxr 600 is smooth as glass!!!
Had the dealer check the chaincase, track, sliders, wheels, shafts and bearings. Also talked to Yamaha direct and they said it was not normal. Can't find a thing wrong. All stock and runs excellent. 1800 miles. Checking things again but its going to be torn down this summer. Any others have this problem?
 
MikesViper said:
My 2002 Viper has a vibration around 25/ hr. since new. Tingles my hands at that speed and makes a whining sound in the chaincase when the brakes are applied. I have tried other stock machines and there is a noticable difference. My wife's 2003 sxr 600 is smooth as glass!!!
Had the dealer check the chaincase, track, sliders, wheels, shafts and bearings. Also talked to Yamaha direct and they said it was not normal. Can't find a thing wrong. All stock and runs excellent. 1800 miles. Checking things again but its going to be torn down this summer. Any others have this problem?
Click to expand...
Your chain may be too tight. Loosen locknut, rotate brake rotor clockwise (from chaincase side) to put all slack in the chain on the tensioner side, tighten finger tight, and then back off slightly. Make sure the locknut don't bind and fool you into thinking the chain is tensioning up.
 
Also remember that many vibration problems are actually the belt. Try a new belt to rule that out.
 
I just came home from a week of riding with the same problem . I popped open the chain case and found the upper bearing had run out pushing the top gear also out . Need to replace the bearing . I don't know if this helps but that is the first time my sled has vibrated like that and it has 29,000 km on it .
 
Thanks to everyone for your input. I'll start with the belt and suspension working toward the more difficult bearings to replace.


Thanks again
YS
 
I did try 2 new belts and different chain tentions and track tention too. Going to pull the chaincase cover to take a peek. Thanks All!
 
Watch out for jackshaft and driveshaft bearings as well. If they get hot enough they can bend the shafts. That is not much fun.
 
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