How many vipers with starters going bad?

[hardcor_32]

Yes I do exactly that! Have walked many times. No wolves but bear and coyotes seen and heard at night. Still kicking. Be prepared.

You have a backup sled to keep riding when sled in shop/down?
Or a rack for extra parts and emergency gear?
How much do u have invested in your viper?
Looks like you enjoy wrenching on it as much as you enjoy riding it.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yes I do exactly that! Have walked many times. No wolves but bear and coyotes seen and heard at night. Still kicking. Be prepared.

Bears are sleeping but have had the Wolves come to within 30 40ft or so. Could hear their pads on the snow, earlier they where howling on and off as they got closer. We sat talking in the dark and the last time they howled they where within a hundred yards so we stopped talking and where listening when all of a sudden you could hear them trotting down the trail. Turned a couple flashlights on them and they paused then just angled off into the Bush and disappeared, thinking maybe three of them. In the dark it was spooky, kind of a gut clench feeling! They where Brush wolves but Timber wolves are around!

Old adage used around here by sledders, You can ride further in a hour then you can walk back in a day. Ridding alone is done all the time but I carry enough to saw some wood, start a fire, first aid kit and other survival stuff is kind of a must if you ride alone.

 

[cannondale27]

You have a backup sled to keep riding when sled in shop/down?
Or a rack for extra parts and emergency gear?
How much do u have invested in your viper?
Looks like you enjoy wrenching on it as much as you enjoy riding it.

Yes I have a backup. Haven't needed it since the Phazer issues though. No rack. If I breakdown will walk to a ride or stay the night. Only had to stay overnight once and it was summer with a Atv. That's when I saw the bear and the coyotes wouldn't leave me alone! Seeing a bear by the light of a cellphone and not carrying isn't too fun. Around here and UP as long as not lost a walk to help is less than a day for sure. I enjoy working on my stuff for more performance and to avoid a breakdown. Always carry enough for a overnighter. Basic tools. Jump pack and Just spare belt. As for the sled I don't want to start adding it all up. Sled is always not a $ wise investment. If I rode off trail and remote areas alone something like that VX540 is what I would own. Could carry everything needed for a week! When riding alone I really don't take chances unless I know for sure help is real close. Key is not getting lost and not getting hurt. I can honestly say that if I go out riding I will be bitching but there is a lot worse ways to go.

 

[Nytros rule]

Yes I have a backup. Haven't needed it since the Phazer issues though. No rack. If I breakdown will walk to a ride or stay the night. Only had to stay overnight once and it was summer with a Atv. That's when I saw the bear and the coyotes wouldn't leave me alone! Seeing a bear by the light of a cellphone and not carrying isn't too fun. Around here and UP as long as not lost a walk to help is less than a day for sure. I enjoy working on my stuff for more performance and to avoid a breakdown. Always carry enough for a overnighter. Basic tools. Jump pack and Just spare belt. As for the sled I don't want to start adding it all up. Sled is always not a $ wise investment. If I rode off trail and remote areas alone something like that VX540 is what I would own. Could carry everything needed for a week! When riding alone I really don't take chances unless I know for sure help is real close. Key is not getting lost and not getting hurt. I can honestly say that if I go out riding I will be bitching but there is a lot worse ways to go.

AMEN
There are a lot worse ways to go.
My preferred way to go would be "Shot in the Back by a Jealous Husband, climbing out A BEDROOM window at 87 years OLD".

 

[TestMaster]

Well I just got my wife's sled back from the dealer after starter replacement! They said it was the worse they have ever seen as you can probably tell by the tear down picture above.

The starter went the end of March on our second from last ride. When I told her that it made a horrific noise during startup she stated let me see and she proceeded to start the sled and the starter made less noise that normal. So of course now she is accusing me not wanting to go riding. LOL. So off we went and rode 250 miles over the next 2 days. The starter was working when I took it into the dealer a few weeks ago. The mechanic was amazed it was working, three broken teeth, the magnets were broken in multiple places, etc. the new starter sounds better than either of our vipers did even when new.

They told me to bring the other sled in this fall so they can check that one too!

It sure is nice having a great dealer!

 

[cannondale27]

Ouch!

 

[TestMaster]

Ouch!

With my dealer I have never had to feel the ouch! Oil and filter change were included in the repair so one less thing for me to do. Making it through the season was lucky for us and the dealer. I was able to bring it in during a lul in his workload and he knew seasonal work taking precedence was not an issue with me!

 

[cannondale27]

Thats awesome! The ouch is for me. Everytime I see one of these especially from well known members I feel like someone punched me in the gut. Just waiting for my turn.

 

[TestMaster]

Thats awesome! The ouch is for me. Everytime I see one of these especially from well known members I feel like someone punched me in the gut. Just waiting for my turn.

I had heard so many people talking about their starters failing after one incident that I was expecting to have to tow her sled every time we stopped and shut off our engines. The sled must have had 15-20 starts after the Big Bang event.

 

[cannondale27]

I had heard so many people talking about their starters failing after one incident that I was expecting to have to tow her sled every time we stopped and shut off our engines. The sled must have had 15-20 starts after the Big Bang event.

Was it a "Kickback" that started it?

 

[TestMaster]

Was it a "Kickback" that started it?

Yes, first start of the day, first turn of the key, a loud bang that either caused the engine rotation to stop or perhaps the bang caused me to release the key. Not sure which one. The second start the starter made a lot of noise but the engine fired. All 15-20 starts after the second start the starter sounded quieter than before the Big Bang.

The sleds are kept in a heated garage normally about 42-46 degrees but occasionally 52 degrees if I'm working on something.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Yea and when I bought the sled, I stated the fact I didn't like not having a pull start. Salesman said "Oooh they always start right up because of the fuel injection"

Whatever Chisel Dik

 

[ClutchMaster]

I was bitching about how unreliable this sled was at the dealer, and I get the standard "well it's really not a Yamaha snowmobile, it's an Arctic Cat." I snapped and said WTF does it say on the side of it?
The friggin gear is part of the "Yamaha" motor, isn't it?
Stop talking stupid!

 

[yamahaguy]

View attachment 118441

Well I just got my wife's sled back from the dealer after starter replacement! They said it was the worse they have ever seen as you can probably tell by the tear down picture above.

The starter went the end of March on our second from last ride. When I told her that it made a horrific noise during startup she stated let me see and she proceeded to start the sled and the starter made less noise that normal. So of course now she is accusing me not wanting to go riding. LOL. So off we went and rode 250 miles over the next 2 days. The starter was working when I took it into the dealer a few weeks ago. The mechanic was amazed it was working, three broken teeth, the magnets were broken in multiple places, etc. the new starter sounds better than either of our vipers did even when new.

They told me to bring the other sled in this fall so they can check that one too!

It sure is nice having a great dealer!

Its a great time of year to deal with a starter issue. I am glad we share the same dealer! He said mine was the worst he ever seen but it looking at your motor being out I think you now have first place for starter destruction.

 

[TestMaster]

Its a great time of year to deal with a starter issue. I am glad we share the same dealer! He said mine was the worst he ever seen but it looking at your motor being out I think you now have first place for starter destruction.

However, you pull started your machine in the middle of the wilderness using innovative techniques to get home without being towed. In my book, you win! But yes my timing was better than yours, we did not lose any riding time due to the starter!

I believe my starter was number four replaced at their dealership.