Slow oil cable return

azzy522

New member
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
45
Age
53
Location
IOWA
Okay guys, I am new to this site.
I recently upgraded from my '94 Polaris Indy to a very nice '02 Viper 700.
I love this sled and have always wanted one. Now I cannot wait for the snow to fly.
My question is I noticed that this sled seems to smoke allot more than my old Polaris ever did. I have been chalking it up to the fact that it may be loaded up a little since no snow and short runs loading and unloading.
I noticed the other day that when you push the thumb throttle and release you can see the lower cable (to oil pump) retracts slowly. Not really sure it is completly returning to closed position when at idle.
I have done some looking around on the site here and have several conclusions. I am going to look into this a little deeper before its riding time.
Do any of you have suggestions what to look for and is this common?
Thanks for all the help, and look forward to all the great info on this site.
Azzy
 

There is a junction in the oil cable housing near the carbs. It is used to measure the gap. I am guessing that it is pulled apart and simply needs to be put back together. The cable should freely retract whenever the throttle lever is released such that it always has some tension on it. It should never be loose.

Might as well measure the gap while you are at it.

Vipers use very little oil as calibrated from the factory.

Other possibilities include . . .
  • Cable installed wrong
  • Spring on oil pump arm broken
  • Oil pump arm caught on something
  • Oil pump arm installed wrong
  • Cable housing damaged
 
Last edited:
Okay guys I need some help.
I have removed the cable from the oil pump and the arm that it attaches to will not return smoothly. It hangs up about a 1/4" from retuning to what would be seat position.
Is this normal or does that mean the pump is bad? I was going to remove it but ran into a problem getting th motor mount out of the way. What is the best was to get this motor mount out of the way. Do I have to pull the track out to get this motor mount out of the way or is there a trick to get this out.
Tell me what ya think as I am in the middle of this project right now.
 
you probably dont want to hear this but your best bet might be to remove the engine from the sled, u can probably do it in somehow but it'll be alot easier on the bench
 
Problem is now fixed.
Turns out there was a groove worn into the pump body around the shaft for the cable arm. This groove was from the spring that wraps around that area for the arm to return to seat position. After a little filing and sanding on the aluminum pump body in this area to remove the groove the spring no longer caught on the groove. Now everything is working nice and smooth.
My heavy smoking problem is now gone. Has anybody else ever seen this problem.
And has anybody ever removed the oil pump while the motor is still in the sled? Just wondering in case I have to go with a new pump some day.
 
azzy522 said:
Turns out there was a groove worn into the pump body around the shaft for the cable arm. This groove was from the spring that wraps around that area for the arm to return to seat position. After a little filing and sanding on the aluminum pump body in this area to remove the groove the spring no longer caught on the groove. Now everything is working nice and smooth.
Has anybody else ever seen this problem.

I can honestly say that I've never heard anyone post about that issue. I wonder how many others are out there.......

Glad you found the problem. Don't have any input on changing the pump though, haven't done one.
 


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