almost time for new track

barkerman77

barkerman77

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2013
Messages
156
Age
32
Location
Madoc, Ontario, Canada
Ok so I just bought my viper this year and the previous owner put 96 Woody's studs on it. My track is getting pretty rough. I'm not hooking that week anywhere. It feels like the stuffs aren't doing much on the ice. I raved my dad's vmax and he got me out of the hole. Anyways I want a new track and they and reuse some of my studs to make it cheaper. I want a 1 1/4 with studs but I've been reading that's kind of a no no. Then I got reading about the 136" conversion kits they look sweet and I could run a 1" 1/4" no problem right?. So I guess my big question is what are my track options with stock viper.
 
barkerman77 said:
Ok so I just bought my viper this year and the previous owner put 96 Woody's studs on it. My track is getting pretty rough. I'm not hooking that week anywhere. It feels like the stuffs aren't doing much on the ice. I raved my dad's vmax and he got me out of the hole. Anyways I want a new track and they and reuse some of my studs to make it cheaper. I want a 1 1/4 with studs but I've been reading that's kind of a no no. Then I got reading about the 136" conversion kits they look sweet and I could run a 1" 1/4" no problem right?. So I guess my big question is what are my track options with stock viper.
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My dad and I both run 1.25in ripsaw tracks studded on our yamaha's. I have a 03 viper and he has a 02 vmax. If you run a 1.25in track you are going to have to trim the track so it doesn't rub the tunnel protectors and the front heat exchanger. Most people on here will tell you its not a good idea to do so but it has worked fine for both of us. I just long tracked my viper to a 1.25x144 that is all studded. Running it no problem. I can tell ya a ripsaw 1.25in studded rocks on the trail.
 
My stock track had seen better days so....I just put on a 1" Hacksaw fully clipped with 96 studs. I ride groomed packed trails and this track made a huge difference in acceleration and cornering. You'll read alot of guys saying the Hacksaw sucks in the powder but the way I see it , the stock track did too. For me, that wasn't even a concern. I got a smoking deal on my new track and so far it is worth every penny. Stayed with the stock 9 tooth drivers and shouldn't have any problems. Guess it all depends on what you want to spend and what kind of riding you do.
 
well i do alot of groomed trail riding as well as the odd field/powder playing around. im not looking for crazy hook up in the powder since im only riding a 121. but if sure would be nice to hammer it on the groomed trails and the ice on the ponds and actually feel the vipers power hook up. its kind of a piss off when i hit it, it spins and doesn't pull. my 93 exciter 2 570 has a new 1 1/4 on it and i do believe it pulls harder than the viper on the hard packed. it will lift the skis no problem. i know the pro action skid doesn't allow for ski pulling action like the old exciter.
 
I swapped my stock track for a 136" ripsaw 1.25" track. Much better compared to stock short track. Dont think i would run studs with 9 tooth drivers though.
 
barkerman77 said:
well i do alot of groomed trail riding as well as the odd field/powder playing around. im not looking for crazy hook up in the powder since im only riding a 121. but if sure would be nice to hammer it on the groomed trails and the ice on the ponds and actually feel the vipers power hook up. its kind of a piss off when i hit it, it spins and doesn't pull. my 93 exciter 2 570 has a new 1 1/4 on it and i do believe it pulls harder than the viper on the hard packed. it will lift the skis no problem. i know the pro action skid doesn't allow for ski pulling action like the old exciter.
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I ran my viper 3 years with the 121x1.25in. ripsaw and it hooked like crazy when it was studded. You can run studs with a 9 tooth driver. Idk why but I have ok weight transfer with my viper. With a good track you will get transfer. I run groomed trails all the time. I have to go a five miles through a few fields before I get to the trails.
 
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I have stock set up I believe I have the stock track which would be 1" or 1"1/8" and the 9 tooth driver. With studs and I dont rub. I thought that was impossible by the sounds of everybody. ?
 
Stock track was .91 i think for 02 and 03. You can run studs with this track. It's the 1.25 and over that you cannot run studs with. Supposed to run 8 tooth drivers with that. Still, there are guys out there like Agpetro that are running 1.25 with studs with the stock 9 tooth drivers.
 
So I'm looking at 1" camoplast energy track pre holed for 144 studs inside the windows. Pretty good price im just not sure that it's gonna hook enough. What if I dropped to a 8 tooth driver could I fit a 1"1/4" with studs? Would I have to regear? What's the stock gearing in my viper?
 
Dont bother with the energy. Their garbage and are rated for under 100hp. You can run a 1 1/4 with studs using 8t drivers. Have you looked at the camoplast ice attack xt with 240 studs molded in? If your in canada the cheapest place for tracks ive found is royaldistributing.
 
And since youd be going to a bigger lug track with studs going to 8t drivers wont throw off your gearing/clutching as much.
 
x2 on the energy track. My buddy has one on his Polaris 550. Alot of lugs missing with not many miles on it. Yeah, that may be operator caused but it was enough to deter me. Price was right but couldn't see the longevity. Found my hacksaw for just a little more cash.
 
ok so how much work is involved in changing drives? what are the pros and cons of downing a tooth on them? should i run a 1 1/4 with 96 studs or 144 studs? i want the best bang for my buck.
 
Remember that your gona need to take out the drive axle anyways to change the track. About an hour job. 8t drivers will allow you to take off faster and if you get into snow theres more room for it to be channeled out. It will also let you use a studded 1/ 1/4 track With much less risk of a stud hitting the exchanger. Your top speed will be limited somewhat but its a small price to pay for more hook up. In most cases 96 is enough but with 144 you got them when you need em.
 
You can get some used yamaha ones off a venture or mountain max for cheap. On royals site you would use [ 2 of (04-108-63) and 2 of (04-108-62)] OR just 2 of (04-102-02)...theres are anti-ratcheting but not needed.
 
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