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Viper Crank Issues? What year do you have?

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YrkViper

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Nov 2, 2003
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York, PA
Please select the year of your Viper:

Anyone else notice that most of the Vipers with blown motors seem to be 2002's?

Just wondering if there is something that all of these have in common that caused it.

Would like to get a better read on this.

Please select your year, and also post any other good info like it it happened from crank seals, running to lean from pipes, no idea, etc...
 
Last edited:
mine hasn't blown......yet... only 2000km on it. But they are likely blowing crank seals due to varying compression across the three cylinders. I think they changed this in later models.
 
i seen alot of viper go alot of miles the only thing ive seen is head gasket on left side take antifreeze if a person did not pick up on this engine damage may occur other then that pipes and turning them higher might contribute to failure but all compaired there are way better then 99 percent of any other sleds
 
My brother has a 2002 with about 3000miles and the mag side rod bearing blew. I have a 2002 with 6000 miles and no issues.
 
I have an 02 with 4500miles and the mag side rod bearing went. The bearing is all in the bottome end, with some in the exhaust and ontop the piston. At the same time 4 cracks developed in my y pipe. Motor is stock and carbs were cleaned just befor it happened and oil was 50:1 with synthetic.
 
As you may have read mine (02 ER) has turned 30,290 km or ( 18,931 miles) and I have only had to change the stator and the y-pipe . Always had yamalube and it stills runs strong . I know that my time is coming but they must have built this one good , so it can't be all 2002's . :2strokes:
 
kirkswim said:
Motor is stock and carbs were cleaned just befor it happened and oil was 50:1 with synthetic.
Click to expand...
Any viper IMO should be set richer(37-40:1) on oil for sure, they where
too damn lean from the factory,not saying it's a cure all but shure would not hurt!!!!
 
Interesting to see more mag side ones. That is the same as my sled that I bought in this condition. When I searched on here they were all the center cylinder.

I have to take some pictures of the motor, I am not sure what oil was used, but everything is really black and carboned up. The PV's where all but impossible to remove to clean them and I can't believe that they weren't pulled through. Unless the carbon buildup happened the same time when the motor popped and at that time they were moving freely.
 
I will be richening up the oil when i put it back together. Ran synthetic from new and going to aim for 40:1. also thinking about the bender oiling kit,

klgreenis - I have pics of my motor(head and piston), and my pv's were dirty but still free to move. But mine blew at 7500-7800rpm.
 
about 8500 miles and runs perfect so far, great sled a nd a GREAT and STRONG motor for me. My dealer figured I had one of the stronger ones he had sold, getting higher sleeds and more power midrange than others were reporting. broke it in well I guess??
 
how do you know what ratio you are getting? By averaging it over a long ride and checking the usage amounts?

I think the amount of oil that it gets varies on throttle possition? If your got it open, you will use a higher proportion of oil. If you are going slower (0-1/2 throttle) it uses a smaller proportion of oil.

Regardless, oil and spark plugs are cheaper then pistons and crank shafts!
 
02ViperMtn said:
how do you know what ratio you are getting? By averaging it over a long ride and checking the usage amounts?
Click to expand...
you fill up oil and gas,do your riding then re-fill oil and gas measuring how
much you put in then do the math..

yes oil is metered by throttle position but you still can find usage by the
above..
 
it is a ratio, so the amount does not matter, just the amount of gas and oil.... like you can mix 50 gallons at 50:1 or 100 gallons at 50:1. same ratio, different amounts.
 
i got a 04 viper mountain and got 11500km on the motor and middle rod bearing went. i dont know what caused it. but i got a viper crank from a 02 coming and hope i get the rest of the winter out of it! i put about 4-6000 km on my sled every season!
 
03viperguy said:
it is a ratio, so the amount does not matter, just the amount of gas and oil.... like you can mix 50 gallons at 50:1 or 100 gallons at 50:1. same ratio, different amounts.
Click to expand...
to figure your ratio that the sled is using at that time you need to measure usage(oil,gas) then do the math...
 
yes, exactly, I just meant that throttle position doesnt really make a lot of difference, other than at idle or full throttle. opening them both (oil and gas pumps) at the same time and ratio.
 
Just got back from riding and something went in my center cly. started bogging so I shut it down pulled the plugs center plug electrode was pushed in like something hit it gonna tear it apart this week I've been running amsoil hp injector for the last 2 years we'll see how it looks inside
 
My 02 with 4700 miles, lost the center lower con rod bearing and both crank bearings next to it. Bruce from CB Performance rebuilt my crank and advised me to turn up the oil when I re-assemble the engine. He claims all the 02's were too lean(oil) from the factory.
 
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