I am new to Yamaha sleds and just purchased a mint 02 Viper. It runs perfect and starts on first pull every time....unless I trailer it down the highway. It seems to flood itself or something, should I be turning the fuel valve off and close the choke before dragging it down the highway?
Also, what can I do to increase the rear skid height, it sits too low? I heard that you can purchase a drop kit that will increase the stance on this model. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Also, what can I do to increase the rear skid height, it sits too low? I heard that you can purchase a drop kit that will increase the stance on this model. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Yamaha suggests NOT trailering your sled with over a half a tank of fuel or run the risk of flooding, there is no manual fuel shut off (can be added easilly) only the lack of vacuum that stops the fuel from flowing into the carbs. I personally have trailered many times with a full tank without issue but it can happen.
As far as ride height goes, yeah the Vips ride a little lower than some of the competition. But dont confuse ride height with true travel, prior to the last few years some of the other manufacturers purposly expose the rear skid by design. The perception is that of a huge travel amount that may or may not be true.
By pulling your rear skid out/down you will effect the Vipers excellent handing characteristics, and with the coupled skids that Yamaha uses you cannot simply pull only the rear down but rather all of the mount points must move uniformly to keep things in check. Think of the drivers as a pivot point, as you swing the back out the other mount points must move as well to keep the coupled skid functioning properly.
Attached is a link that shows a properly dropped skid
http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?p=291287#post291287
Sorry for rambling, and I hope this helps
As far as ride height goes, yeah the Vips ride a little lower than some of the competition. But dont confuse ride height with true travel, prior to the last few years some of the other manufacturers purposly expose the rear skid by design. The perception is that of a huge travel amount that may or may not be true.
By pulling your rear skid out/down you will effect the Vipers excellent handing characteristics, and with the coupled skids that Yamaha uses you cannot simply pull only the rear down but rather all of the mount points must move uniformly to keep things in check. Think of the drivers as a pivot point, as you swing the back out the other mount points must move as well to keep the coupled skid functioning properly.
Attached is a link that shows a properly dropped skid
http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?p=291287#post291287
Sorry for rambling, and I hope this helps
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Thanks for your input, much appreciated. One more thing, I noticed a valve on the clutch side of the head, is this a fuel shut-off, it says on/off?
No; thats the carb heater valve, on really, really cold days turn them on (keeps frost from building up) or when you are out with a group, when fallowing behind sucking in snow dust (snow dust melts & creates moisture) two bad things you don't want ingested into a super hot environment...I try & run my sled low on fuel before trailering it, it also depends on the trailer being used...
daman
New member
Somone may just have the skid set up to "soft", you probably need to
re-adjust it for your weight.
re-adjust it for your weight.
SRX RIDER
New member
Weird, I've trailered mine for 4 seasons now and 99% of the time with a full tank. I've never had an issue and I pull that thing up some pretty crazy, twisty grades. Nothing like a Powerstroke and a ten foot trailer to pull 8-9% grades at WAAAAAAY over legal speeds!
Get the skid dialed in right for your weight and you will be surprised how well these "old outdated" Vipers will perform. Never gonna' be the softest ride, but they will take some pretty good junk. I rode this past weekend with 4 REV's on some nasty marginal crap. 600HO, 800 Blizzard, 800 Renegade and a new 800R XP. I was leader most of the day and more than once throught the twisty bumpy junk I stopped and waited for those revs. There are guys that laugh at Vipers, but set up right they will hand @$$ in a lot of different conditions. That lower slung Viper has its advantages in some areas while the tall rider forward has it in others. get the seat and bars up on the Viper and you have a good balance between both.
Get the skid dialed in right for your weight and you will be surprised how well these "old outdated" Vipers will perform. Never gonna' be the softest ride, but they will take some pretty good junk. I rode this past weekend with 4 REV's on some nasty marginal crap. 600HO, 800 Blizzard, 800 Renegade and a new 800R XP. I was leader most of the day and more than once throught the twisty bumpy junk I stopped and waited for those revs. There are guys that laugh at Vipers, but set up right they will hand @$$ in a lot of different conditions. That lower slung Viper has its advantages in some areas while the tall rider forward has it in others. get the seat and bars up on the Viper and you have a good balance between both.
mod-it
Member
If I understand your first post correctly, you're leaving the choke open when trailering it? I trailer mine with a full tank for four years, do see a little bit of fuel on the trailer once in a while from a small siphon but it always starts ok. I've never heard of leaving the choke on when trailering, don't turn it on until you're ready to start the sled.
Skidooslayer687
Member
i've always trailered mine with above half a tank of fuel and never had any issues, mine sits in the back of the truck just fine. Just load it, shut the key off and leave it and it should be fine. I read that trailering can create these problems but never have encountered them myself
the_dream_theater_nut
New member
I have to chime in on S.X.'s excellent point on changing the handling characteristics. You have to consider what one change will do to other angles. I remember raising a four by four to the moon in order to fit 44" monster mudders, and I had to take off the front axle and twist the differential pot to it's original angle and reweld the tubes, because my "modifications" had screwed the caster so badly that the wheels were laying down when you tried to turn...It was ridiculous, and it cost me a pile of dough and time... all for a good cause, though... LOL.
I think I will leave the suspension the way it is and just focus on dialing it in for me, I'm new to Yamaha sleds so it will take a bit. As far as the trailering issue, it may be that this sled sat for a while, I don't have any history on it but it seems to start a lot better now after running a couple of times...maybe bad gas?