1 Trick Viper
New member
Well my 2002 Viper has about 3200 troublefree miles on it and I am wondering what maintenance I should be considering. I clean the powervalves and clutches on a regular basis and it has been stored every season per the normal methods. Should I be thinking about new rings or anything along those lines? Crankshaft bearings? Should I just leave it be?
Your do for rings, a good time to look inside as well...also look at the reed peddles for chips, cracks...you will want to do a leak down test & compression test...I would also do a propane test on the carb boots and crank seals...other will chime in and through out their opinions & suggestions...ask alot...get alot...I'm a poet & don't know it...LoL...it's getting late...cheers for now
Driveline bearings,i.e chaincase, jackshaft and axle bearing by speedo pickup. I didn't rering my motor until i had 9500 mi. on it. I would think you'll be alright for anther season. What kind of oil are you running? Had real good luck with Amsoil Interceptor. Your skid bushings are probably worn, and you should look at the w arm. You're also at the edge of the window for shock life.Pioneer or any reputable shock place can take care of this for you. I have almost 12,000 on the bottom and of this motor and has had a leakdown test performed. No issues there as well. That is the big items, everything else is a question of operating correctly. Brakepads, chain and gears, cables, stuff like that. Have you flushed your cooling system? Did mine at about 4,000 and again when I longtracked and changed side coolers and added rear cooler. Can't think of anything else right now. I'm sure other's will chime in.
Dave
Dave
viper17
New member
I really need to perform some of the above things to my viper. I have 7000 on mine and I have only put the last 1500 on and I don't know what all was done to it before I got it. After this season I am either going to sell it or do a complete rebuild. It is good to know what I am in for. About how much will it cost for all the parts, and I mean all.
viper17 said:
If the crank is good & the bearings, the rods are not burnt, plus the cylinders are not out of round or the piston skirts aren't collapsed & no other engine failure...than I would just re-ring...not all that costly...lets say $200-300 or so...but it has 7000 miles or more...who knows...pull the engine...replace seals, gaskets, reeds, rings, pistons(circlips/needle/brgs) most of the fluid lines...get the stator tested...service the clutches...while your at it...do the jack shaft bearings(easy access)...then you will have a new again viper...$1000-1300 or more...now if it does need a crank w/rods/brgs...a whole lot more...I think I got a quote for the worst at about $2700 cnd...still cheaper that a new 4...good luck...cheers
GEEEEZZZS Guys
You are scaring him a me to death!
If it was mine.....check jack shaft bearings
check suspension wheel bearings
Then mass it till it blows
Have fun riding.........
not working on it.
You can invest the bucks when it blows......IF IT EVER DOES.
Have a fun riding season 1 Trike Viper
You are scaring him a me to death!
If it was mine.....check jack shaft bearings
check suspension wheel bearings
Then mass it till it blows
Have fun riding.........
not working on it.You can invest the bucks when it blows......IF IT EVER DOES.
Have a fun riding season 1 Trike Viper
excel V
New member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2004
- Messages
- 28
I think some of you are mixing the 3 cyl viper up with some of the 2 stroke twins, particularily from the other manufacturers. The viper engine has quite a good reputation for lasting a long time unless it has been badly abused or piped. At 3200 miles your not even a 1/3rd of the way towards needing the kind of maintenance thats being described here.
My 02 Viper has 8000 miles. The engine hasn't been touched. I'll be doing a compression check & go over all the bearings in the drivetrain & skid. My shocks had to be done last season.
My 02 Viper has 8000 miles. The engine hasn't been touched. I'll be doing a compression check & go over all the bearings in the drivetrain & skid. My shocks had to be done last season.
JeepTherapy
New member
I learned how easy and important it was to do rings just a couple months ago. My motor had 4500 miles on it. When I pulled it apart I thought the cylinders were supposed to be brown coated. Rings cost me under $60. I replaced the cylinder base gasket for another $20 or so. I paid the dealer to hone my cylinders as I don't have a hone. Another $30.
My Viper was never abused. I actually thought I treated it quite well. I did a compression test, and a leak down test. 125 across the board and 5% leak down. I thought my Viper was a dog the second year I rode it. I put about 2000 miles on it the first year. I have become a believer that rings are a maintenance item at a relatively low mileage. Here is what my pistons looked like;
My Viper was never abused. I actually thought I treated it quite well. I did a compression test, and a leak down test. 125 across the board and 5% leak down. I thought my Viper was a dog the second year I rode it. I put about 2000 miles on it the first year. I have become a believer that rings are a maintenance item at a relatively low mileage. Here is what my pistons looked like;
daman
New member
Motor should be fine run one more season then re-ring and use a fully
synthetic oil(Amsoil,Klotz,etc.)after that, everything else should be just fine
go through your skid i know there's worn out bush's and parts need to be
cleaned and re-greased(use a low temp grease).
My XTC has about the same milage 3,000+ and looking through the exh. port blow by is minamal looking, so i'm running her this season then next season she's getting new rings.
synthetic oil(Amsoil,Klotz,etc.)after that, everything else should be just fine
go through your skid i know there's worn out bush's and parts need to be
cleaned and re-greased(use a low temp grease).
My XTC has about the same milage 3,000+ and looking through the exh. port blow by is minamal looking, so i'm running her this season then next season she's getting new rings.
Viper-Rules!
New member
Viper Maintiance!
Your viper shouldn't need much. Normally shocks last about 3500-4000 miles before they need a rebuild. So I would defintaly do that, change all of the idler wheel bearings while you are at it. I have 6000 miles on my 03 viper. I just did the driveline bearings and the jackshaft bearing was toast. Had to buy a new shaft too, grrrrr. If you only do a thousand miles a season you should be able to get another year or two out of the driveline bearings. Good window is every 5 years or 5000 miles. I wouldn't touch the engine as long as the compression is still good. I have 6000 miles and it is still perfect. I'm not going to open it up until the compression goes down :-) Good Luck
Your viper shouldn't need much. Normally shocks last about 3500-4000 miles before they need a rebuild. So I would defintaly do that, change all of the idler wheel bearings while you are at it. I have 6000 miles on my 03 viper. I just did the driveline bearings and the jackshaft bearing was toast. Had to buy a new shaft too, grrrrr. If you only do a thousand miles a season you should be able to get another year or two out of the driveline bearings. Good window is every 5 years or 5000 miles. I wouldn't touch the engine as long as the compression is still good. I have 6000 miles and it is still perfect. I'm not going to open it up until the compression goes down :-) Good Luck
daman
New member
not a good idea, running wore rings alows the piston to rock back and forth in the bore and this could eventually break off the skirt of the piston and cause major engine damage.Viper-Rules! said:
much cheaper in the long run to keep good rings in the sled, good rings keep the pistons from being ruined with rocking back and forth in the bore. Pistons are a $100 each, rings $16 a set, do the math....
i wish more people would realize how important rings are in a 2-stroke motor
$.02
__________________
1 Trick Viper
New member
Thanks to all that replied. I think I am in good shape for the rings and motor bearings. I have been running Amsoil Interceptor for about 3 seasons or so. I will replace the suspension bushings and the driveline bearings. Sounds like Pioneer Performance has the bushing set I need. The full set of Ohlins shocks are probably fine since they are only two seasons old and I put them in when I put the 136" kit into it. All the other maintenance items get checked out as I go. I think I will pull the reeds out too and have a look. Thanks again.
daman
New member
Good luck 