CSC Viper Rear End Oil Change!

[Grandpa1]

California Sidecar says to change the rear end oil at 6 months then at 3000 miles in their Viper kit.<br />
Sounds simple, right?<br />
Simply drain and put in a quart of non synthetic 90 weight gear oil. Those are the only instructions. Simple.<br />
At the 6 month service the dealer changed the oil so now it's my turn.<br />
So, I put the 2012 trike on my homemade ramps and crawl under to drain the rear end and put in a quart of 90 weight non synthetic gear oil. Simple.<br />
I find the drain plug, but wait! It's not lined up with the access hole! I can't get it out! I look and look and do not see any way other than taking out several nuts and bolts and removing a plate. <br />
I decide against that and drag my 65 year old fat out of shape body from under the trike.<br />
I go in and call CSC for advice. They are very helpful and tell me what to do. I'm just glad this wasn't the weekend.<br />
<br />
If they had simply added the following instructions to the meager paperwork that came with the trike I could have done the job real quick.<br />
<br />
1.

With wrench on top nuts loosen the four allen head socket screws on bottom of plate.<br />
2. Using a flat screwdriver pry the differential back until the drain screw will clear the plate.<br />
3. Drain oil then replace plug and pry differential forward and tighten bolts.<br />
4. Remove side nut on left side of differential and add 1 quart of 90 weight non synthetic gear oil then replace nut. <br />
<br />
It's not a bad job but sure is a pain in the butt without instructions.<br />
<br />
I love the CSC Viper but have complained about the lack of an owners manual from the very beginning. They have stuff online but it just isn't enough.<br />
<br />
Now I'm going to get some cheese for my whine.

[dogman513]

All that every 3000 miles, Geez!

[tfdeputydawg]

Why every 3K??????????????

[SEABILL]

Imagine my suprise when I found out that the '05 CSC Cobra didn't even have a drain plug. So this is what I did:<br />
Stuck a 1/4" tube into the fill hole and ran it down until it was at the bottom of the differential. Put the other end of the tube in the vent hole of an older style jerry-jug and then used a shop-vac to create a vacuum in the jerry-jug.

[Grandpa1]

I think they just missed the tolerances on the design of the access hole in the plate. I only had to slide the differential about 1/4" to get it to clear. The access plate has slots in it for adjustment so I tend to think the drive shaft was made a little too short and the differential was slid forward to adjust for that.
They are very aware of it at the factory and knew exactly what I needed. Very helpful over the phone.
Sure was a pain in the butt without instructions though.

No, it's not every 3000 miles. It was for the first 3 months and then at 3000 miles. Next time is 20,000 miles. Now I can go for a long time but it don't matter because I know how to do it!

As I said, I really love my Viper kit. Other than no owners manual I think it is a really good and well designed kit. I'm doing all my own service and learning about it but a nice manual sure would be good!

[Chazzman]

I have a Viper and it's the best kit I have owned or ridden. It does say that the first oil change is at 3K but then it's every 30K thereafter.

[NQ5EDave]

I have a Viper and it's the best kit I have owned or ridden. It does say that the first oil change is at 3K but then it's every 30K thereafter.

I went to the CSC web site and downloaded the owners manual for the Viper. It includes instructions on this oil change.