[Getzy]

So after some cold temps with the Viking, there are two mods a person should really look into doing.
1. Is a solid state red top fuel pump relay. I was ice fishing in a -35 windchill and couldn’t get my Viking to start. Would crank but not start. Turns out the stock relays are mechanical and can freeze up. I had to walk 45 min back to shore.Next day I warmed up the relay and started right up. Ordered a new snowmobile relay and now starts every time.

2. Is a tee with a filter in the crank case breather hose. I was once again in negative weather plowing snow, and my dipstick blew out. I smelt it right away and got it in the garage before it did any damage.
Just some things to look for if you live in a cold climate.

 

[Getzy]

 

[Getzy]

 

[Getzy]

You could add a small hose and make it look neater but this has worked for me.

 

[bd_skrillz]

Awesome advice

 

[Sport4x4]

Can you please explain the crankcase breather and why that helps?

 

[Getzy]

Can you please explain the crankcase breather and why that helps?

My hose built up ice and blocked off my hose to the air box. This lead to my engine building up pressure in the crankcase and blowing the dipstick out, and a lot of oil in a little bit of time. This way if the hose freezes up at the air box again, it will have another spot to vent off at.

 

[Sport4x4]

Thanks now I understand

 

[cactus]

Thanks now I understand

It's happened a bit in cold climates, some have seized their motors on a ride from the dipstick blowing out.

 

[cactus]

Good write -up! The only issue that I see is that once the airbox freezes up then maybe the small T might freeze eventually too? What do you think?

 

[Getzy]

Good write -up! The only issue that I see is that once the airbox freezes up then maybe the small T might freeze eventually too? What do you think?

It could possibly freeze up also but My thinking was that it’s still fairly close to the top of the case to where there is warm enough air and enough pressure that if the box did freeze the tee would have a fair chance at being a good relief spot. So far it’s worked but not saying it’s a guarantee. But blowing the dipstick isn’t fun!

 

[Blue Bull]

But blowing the dipstick isn’t fun!
That could be taken so wrong...lol!

 

[cactus]

It could possibly freeze up also but My thinking was that it’s still fairly close to the top of the case to where there is warm enough air and enough pressure that if the box did freeze the tee would have a fair chance at being a good relief spot. So far it’s worked but not saying it’s a guarantee. But blowing the dipstick isn’t fun!

Ok fair point, can you move it even closer to the engine so that it definitely gets warmth? And you might want to snorkel the end of that filter too.

 

[Sport4x4]

I wish Yamaha would come up with a better dipstick Idea. The Kodiak & Grizzly use the same one and guy’s have lost them on those 4 wheeler’s. I had a removable zip tie tethered to my Kodiak dipstick so it wouldn’t get lost it it did come out and so it couldn’t come out more than 1/2” if it did. Guess I will be looking at doing this again at least for the winter 🥶

 

[Getzy]

Yes the tee could definitely be closer but that is where I had the slit in the hose before I thought about putting the tee in. And yes I will be adding some fuel line once I get around to it to rout it off of the filter. All good ideas!

 

[cactus]

I wish Yamaha would come up with a better dipstick Idea. The Kodiak & Grizzly use the same one and guy’s have lost them on those 4 wheeler’s. I had a removable zip tie tethered to my Kodiak dipstick so it wouldn’t get lost it it did come out and so it couldn’t come out more than 1/2” if it did. Guess I will be looking at doing this again at least for the winter 🥶

If I was riding cold like you guys I'd be firmly wiring my dipstick in so that it can't move at all. Put a piece of tie wire through the ring pull and down around the bottom of the engine somehow.

 

[BadM0nkey]

I wish Yamaha would come up with a better dipstick Idea.

Not sure if a better dipstick, but Yamaha could give a Skrillz away with each Viking.

Sent from my SM-F707U using Tapatalk

 

[Sport4x4]

So I looked at mine tonight and strapped it down like I did with my Kodiak but this one can not move at all unless the reusable zip ties are removed.

 

[cactus]

^^^^^ Your dipstick might still blow out AND pull your coolant line off lol

 

[cactus]

Not sure if a better dipstick, but Yamaha could give a Skrillz away with each Viking.

Nasty!!! Skrillz might be a lot of things, a yuppie being one, but he's certainly not a dipstick!