Does anybody else not care for the stock track on their 03 Viper. Track seems about worthless. Wife came close to piling it up a couple times yesterday. Maybe theres a setup issue that help. Anybody got anywhere with this? Been riding a ripsaw the last few seasons and probably got spoiled by it.
03 Viper stock track
- Thread starter Zrxpilot
- Start date
Waters88
New member
Ya, the stock track isnt the best..... thats why I went to a Ripsaw 1.25 when I had my Viper.
AndyC
New member
Still running the factory but it's studded. That makes a world of difference.
Sheermadness03
New member
AndyC said:
Me too, 144 woody's gold diggers. Have had NO problems so far nearly 6000 miles now on my 03 Viper. -Ed
journeyman
Active member
comatoast said:
Yes on the 1.25" but you will have to take out the tunnel/front exchanger protectors.
The stock track is pretty bad unless you run studs. They spin hidiously without any traction products.
The best 1.25" out there for this sled ......(and I have tried several) is the Predator 1.25". Too bad they quit making the 9818 version because that was the best one. They later re-marketed the 9818 Predator as the Carve. There is a 9833 1.25" Predator on ebay as of yesterday for $360. That's a really good price. I noticed it is fully clipped. The 9818 was not. What makes the Predator better than a Ripsaw is it is good in powder/off trail too. The only area where the Ripsaw has a slight advantage is on real hardpack snow.
I changed out my 9818 Predator with a little over 5000 miles on it. It was still OK but I had a few lugs ground down and missing. I then ran a NON fully clipped Cobra(1.352"). I liked that track alot especially in loose snow conditions like you get in the UP or Northern Wisconsin. What I did not like was the top end loss. I then swapped it for an Ice Ripper 1.25 which is basically a Ripsaw with studs. I hated that thing....especially in loose snow. I recently found out the guy who rebuilt my top end never honed the cylinders and I had ring blow by....probably lending to some of my top end loss. SO this year I got another Cobra (fully clipped) geared down a tooth and after the new rings......all I can say is WOW. This is the ticket on the Viper. I now have as good of top speeds as I did with the Predator and it hooks much better.....and is a blast in the deep stuff too being I have SLP Powder Pro skis.
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I don't know what kind of track is on my viper now. Ice picker, or something like that. No studs just little pics on the lugs. Seems ok. But don't really have muchto compare it to. I just wanna find the best way to get a ton of low end and midrange pull without doing much for mods ( clutch , pipes etc ) can u change gears without messing with the overall clutching / springs etc.
As for the track. There is a seller on here who's selling ripsaws for $400 and the predator for $350 I believe.
As for the track. There is a seller on here who's selling ripsaws for $400 and the predator for $350 I believe.
03viperguy
Moderator
I love my ripsaw. without a lot of studs, that track is useless. and then it is only helpfull to have studs on real good hardpack. for the trails, the ripsaw works great for me. dont want to run studs ( don't want the headache) and this track really works well for me
journeyman
Active member
ZRX........As long as the track has a 2.52 pitch you are OK
comotoast........you probably have the Iceripper. You could probably gear down 1 tooth.
comotoast........you probably have the Iceripper. You could probably gear down 1 tooth.
Zrxpilot said:
Can't imagine your viper being any different than my SRX. The track thats in it now came out of a Polaris and the OEM yoko went into the Polaris.
Viper_Jim
New member
Before I longtracked my Viper I was running a 1.25" Ripsaw, this track was night and day compared to the useless stock piece of garbage that comes on it. If you spend any time at all off the groomed trail or lakes you will thank yourself over and over again for installing the Ripsaw track. If I were to do it again I would remove the heat exchanger protectors and tunnell protectors and go with the 1.5" Ripsaw.
Sorry for beating a dead horse but I gather you "have" to remove the tunnel protectors? I ran a ripsaw on an older polaris and simply cut a bit off the top of the track fingers where they lined up with the under-tunnel coolers. Some have just ran it without doing anything and the normal operation of the sled did the work. Evidently a 1.25 will hit the front cooler? Aint no trimming to clear that one. Must not be much to take out the protector eh? Has anybody had any negative effects from removing the tunnel protector? Would think the front one near the bulkhead is protected fairly well.
They went backward in 03 with that finger track. The only thing they are is fast when studded.
The first year viper had a better track, not as good as the predators though. Those tracks last, hook up and are great for studding in the middle since there are few bars in the center.
Dont forget with any camo track in this chassis with gaurds, you need to clip the track for clearence
The first year viper had a better track, not as good as the predators though. Those tracks last, hook up and are great for studding in the middle since there are few bars in the center.
Dont forget with any camo track in this chassis with gaurds, you need to clip the track for clearence
Viper_Jim
New member
No problem to remove the tunnel or heat exchanger protectors, they serve no purpose unless you are running a studded track. You just have to be delicate when removing the protector s from the heat exchanger so you don't cut into it too deep.
I actually didnt remove the protectors when I ran the 1.25" track, rubs a little but I ran it for 9000km and had zereo issues
I actually didnt remove the protectors when I ran the 1.25" track, rubs a little but I ran it for 9000km and had zereo issues
journeyman
Active member
comatoast said:I'm assuming these 2 metal pieces are what needs to be removed?
Yes on the protectors. Is that the track that is on your Viper? That thing is shot. That looks like it was the stock track with studs. The studs are shot, the lugs are shot and the track clips look really rusty too. Don't forget to change your hyfax if you get another track, check all your wheels, your bearings etc. It will save you time, work and $$$ in the future. Also I would make sure your shocks are OK too. When you pull the rear skid it would be the time to rebuild the shocks.
With a few too many beers one night we replaced the stock track in an old sx with a 1.25 ripsaw, backwards!!! Oh well, loaded up and rode for a week. That sled hooks up and still does today better than any nonstudded track I have ever been on. Go figure.
journeyman
Active member
comatoast said:haha no thats the 97 sx700 .. The viper is showroom condition
I will get new slides for sure, and Im in the same boat on looking for a track as well.. As you can see this thing really needs it
I was wondering...it looked like a red sidepanel showing in the photo.