New 2014 Viper LTX help

[Hodgey]

Looking for set-up help on my 2014 Viper LTX. I've tried to search this site, but I'm better at snowmobiling than searching internet forums. I bought this Viper new at the end of last season "2015" and only got the break in miles in before the thaw. Now is the first time running her and really getting a full feel of how it handles and i've noticed a few things I need help with.

1. Steering seems overly heavy "save the 4 stroke jokes" and some darting. I put SnowTrackers carbides on my last Apex which made a big difference. Should I go there for the fix? I have just installed 96 picks, mostly a groomed trail rider.
2. Rear Suspension seem stiff, I only have 500 ish miles, but was hoping for softer ride, any tips?
3. Not crazy with clutch engagement, seems to come in real hard, I've seen some suggestion of changing the clutch spring?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Vilas]

Looking for set-up help on my 2014 Viper LTX. I've tried to search this site, but I'm better at snowmobiling than searching internet forums. I bought this Viper new at the end of last season "2015" and only got the break in miles in before the thaw. Now is the first time running her and really getting a full feel of how it handles and i've noticed a few things I need help with.

1. Steering seems overly heavy "save the 4 stroke jokes" and some darting. I put SnowTrackers carbides on my last Apex which made a big difference. Should I go there for the fix? I have just installed 96 picks, mostly a groomed trail rider.
2. Rear Suspension seem stiff, I only have 500 ish miles, but was hoping for softer ride, any tips?
3. Not crazy with clutch engagement, seems to come in real hard, I've seen some suggestion of changing the clutch spring?

Thanks in advance for any help.

You'll find so many people here to help you, you'll be set up in no time. First thing is that we'll need to know your current psi settings on your shocks. Report that back when you can.
Regarding the engagement, there are many ways to approach that. Are you looking mainly for smooth engagement or also for additional performance? There are some real clutch gurus on here that can help once they know what your goal is.
I do recommend getting the OSP belt deflection / adjustment mod. It's less than 100 bucks and it is easy to install and it allows you to adjust your secondary belt height without messing with little shim washers. Proper belt deflection is key to a good clutch setup so this will be helpful no matter what route you take to solve the engagement issue.

 

[Hodgey]

Thanks Vilas,

The front shocks are coil over not gas adjustable and my ride issues are more about the rear being pretty stiff. As far as the clutch I'm definitely looking for smoother engagement not necessarily any more performance. Also, I have the 137" rear.

 

[Hodgey]

Still looking for set up help from this initial post.

Looking for set-up help on my 2014 Viper LTX. I bought this Viper new at the end of last season "2015" and only got the break in miles in before the thaw. Now is the first time running her and really getting a full feel of how it handles and i've noticed a few things I need help with.

1. Steering seems overly heavy "save the 4 stroke jokes" and some darting. I put SnowTrackers carbides on my last Apex which made a big difference. Should I go there for the fix? I have just installed 96 picks, mostly a groomed trail rider.
2. Rear Suspension seem stiff, I only have 500 ish miles, but was hoping for softer ride, any tips?
3. Not crazy with clutch engagement, seems to come in real hard, I've seen some suggestion of changing the clutch spring? I would prefer smoother engagement.

 

[Hodgey]

So, my thread is as stale as a week old doughnut. I feel like the ugly red head, at the blondes only dance, who didn't get the memo that red heads aren't really blonde, they're gingers.

Here's where I'm at, I ordered semi aggressive Snowtrackers yesterday and expect to get them this Thursday in hopes that it will eliminate the darting and possible help with the heavy steering.

Unless something magic happens to the rear suspension, i will remove the rear shock this spring, after the seasons over and have it re-valved. Unless there's some other something I should do to soften up this overly stiff rear. I 'm currently on the lightest settings on everything in the rear except the spring pre-load which I haven't messed with yet.

As far as the clutch, I will wait and see if anyone here thinks Gingers are hot and help an ugly duckling get his new Yamaha tweaked if not twerked.

P.S. My Yama-Cat is not built anywhere's near as well as my old Apex. Can you believe a Manufacturer would sell a nearly $13k machine, with a sharp metal tab that cuts into your storage bag???? WTF? Other fit and finish items on this sled have a lot to be desired, not even getting into the list of things I'm looking at getting help here for. Tsskk Tsskkk Yamaha!

 

[SounderMN]

Search the threads. I have a 15, so didn't deal with this. But, look in the old threads. It seems to me there was an issue with the 14s that the shock was improperly valved, and the 15s have a different spring or shock setup.

 

[InRBigness]

If I recall the shocks need to be revalved as they are way to stiff.

 

[tator]

correct the shocks are stiff, especially the rear one. compression and rebound are very slow. mine are off now and going to be sent out.

 

[trailtamer]

I had both of my rear shocks revalved in the off season with great results. The rebound and compression dampening are all wrong inside of these shocks. A revalve is a must for a compliant ride. I read somewhere that you can put a softer clutch spring in the primary (not sure which one you need) to get a smoother clutch engagement. I have snow trackers on my Ski's and the steering is easy but I still get some push into the corners. I am learning real quick that this sled likes to be "ridden". Body English is key to the sleds handling.

 

[Vilas]

For clutching I highly recommend the thunder products big venom kit. This is what I have and it rocks! Here is a link.
https://thunderproducts.com/shop/yamaha-big-venom/

Call up thunder products and talk to Lonn. Tell him you weight and riding style and he will set up your clutch weights. Also tell him you want low engagement and he can adjust for that. The weights are easy to adjust in the future if you want to make changes. So far, I haven't done anything to mine because it just works great out of the box. Lonn also recommended a Gates belt which I did as well.

Also get the OSP belt deflection adjuster, what a genius little invention that is.

 

[yamamarc]

hey hope your enjoying your new sled
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=126474 ltx suspension set ups
some guys here are running to soft start spring in there primary for smoother engagement I think it's bought a Barn o parts

marc

 

[STAIN]

I would opt for the softer rear springs also......

 

[Nkroeger80]

Here's what worked on my '14 viper ltx, all of which was suggestions that everyone on this site seemed to rave about.

1- revalve rear shocks
2-get rid of stock '14 Arctic cat skis (Mohawk or curves, I got curves and they're great!)
3- soft start primary spring from barn of parts

That's what it took for me to get this sled to where I can ride it confidently.

Hope it helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tator]

im all in, got the softer springs coming, shocks went to cannondale27 (hopefully there now), already had the curves, turbo, intercooler, custom cold air intake under hood, 1.6 ice ripper, regeared to 22-41, not much left unless i go bigger! will have some fine tuning to do on clutching when it all back together, just seems to hit a wall at 100. think secondary is getting too tight. see 104 breaking trail across the lake, on ice it will spin to 125.

 

[cannondale27]

Hold on guys. More question for OP. Hodgey you said you have coilover front shocks right? In that case you have a standard LTX in 14. Those are small body shocks. Here is the issue. I found those shocks to be very soft front and rear. Rebound was much better than RTX also. Is it possible that instead of the shock being too stiff that it is actually bottoming or riding to low in the stroke? What do you weigh? I weigh 145 and bottomed a standard twice within 100ft. Any road approach it bottomed. Solution that day was turning the rear torsions to med. Try it.