Groovetastic
New member
I've got an 04 viper with 7 thousand miles on it and I was wondering what sort of maintinance I should be doing before the new season starts. I typically just clean the valves and carbs, top off fluids and tension the track and chain. Last summer though, I went through and changed out some parts in the rear suspension I crunched, changed all four shocks/springs, and threw in some new wheel bearings. Oh, I finally changed the plugs and belt too. Only 5000 on them so they're probably still good 
Other than that i've pretty much left everything alone.
Are there any things that start to kick the bucket around this milage? I'd like to avoid being stranded three counties over due to a mechanical failure.
Other than that i've pretty much left everything alone.Are there any things that start to kick the bucket around this milage? I'd like to avoid being stranded three counties over due to a mechanical failure.
The very first thing that comes to mind is the driveshaft bearing on the pto side, the one with the speedo sensor, it ends up going bad/dry from the factory grease hardening up and bunching up away from the ball bearings and then taking out the chaincase and componets from letting the shaft wobble.
I know this isnt what your asking but that engine will be way,way overdue for new rings.
I know this isnt what your asking but that engine will be way,way overdue for new rings.
Groovetastic
New member
Is it just the driveshaft bearing I should be worried about or are there others I should change out?
I have been thinking about re-ringing but I figured the viper motor could get away without it for quite awhile. How often should I be changing rings on a trail sled?
I have been thinking about re-ringing but I figured the viper motor could get away without it for quite awhile. How often should I be changing rings on a trail sled?
The drivehsaft bearing is usually the main culprit, the chaincase bearings last a long,long time if you have kept good oil in chaincase and because they receive oil from the chaincase to remain lubed. The driveshaft bearing gets no oil from anything has to rely on the factory grease packing.
Rings should be changed in an engine every 3000 miles if you want to keep it fresh and running up to its potential, lots of people like to think just because "Its a yamaha" they dont need to maintain the engines. Of course they will continue to run, but not at thier potential from a little guy called leak down.
When the rings get tired they allow the piston to rock back and forth in the bore, this unstability allows exhaust gasses to leak down below and contaminate the fresh intake/fuel charge, basicly your reinhaling exhaust gasses and heating up your fresh charge.
The other thing that happens is the piston now begins to wear the skirt and rocks back and forth in the bore, if its allowed to do this it will eventually with some time break off the intake or exhaust side skirt and cause major engine failure usually resulting in a broken crankcase.
You can read about this on this site and youll see theres people who will argue my sled has 10,000 miles on it and it runs just fine, it may seem to run fine but thats why it doesnt pull as much clutch weight or hit the ol 100mph mark so easily as it used to.
Rings should be changed in an engine every 3000 miles if you want to keep it fresh and running up to its potential, lots of people like to think just because "Its a yamaha" they dont need to maintain the engines. Of course they will continue to run, but not at thier potential from a little guy called leak down.
When the rings get tired they allow the piston to rock back and forth in the bore, this unstability allows exhaust gasses to leak down below and contaminate the fresh intake/fuel charge, basicly your reinhaling exhaust gasses and heating up your fresh charge.
The other thing that happens is the piston now begins to wear the skirt and rocks back and forth in the bore, if its allowed to do this it will eventually with some time break off the intake or exhaust side skirt and cause major engine failure usually resulting in a broken crankcase.
You can read about this on this site and youll see theres people who will argue my sled has 10,000 miles on it and it runs just fine, it may seem to run fine but thats why it doesnt pull as much clutch weight or hit the ol 100mph mark so easily as it used to.
Last edited:
yamalars
Member
pm'd you mrviper!!