Apex Backcountry Build

[yamahaboy701]

Now you have to learn how to do some backflips, I'll build the jump even!
Are you still thinking about having your graphics done by the guy who is doing mine? I will have my sled down late September to work on it so I am having my graphics made early October.

 

[tkuss]

I don't know, I will probably go with you and see how your graphics turn out, then I will see what I feel like doing then.

On the bright side, the sled is 98% together. If I threw the belt on I could go riding. I just want to take the side panels off again and make sure all wires, bolts etc. are secure and that nothing is the way of anything. And I need to still bleed the coolant system. I will probably cut a bigger slice of the crossover tube protector out, so the bleeding bolt on the coolant crossover tube out back is easier to access.

I started the sled up, after a while the temp gauge read 130 and the heat exchangers out back werent even warm. So I definitely have quite a bit more coolant to add.

Can't wait to get this sled out in some deep pow and see how she does in the backcountry compared to when it was a 121.



Also Luke, before we head out west, we need to figure out what you and more importantly I should run for weights in the primary, and if there are any other easy cheap clutching mods to make. Because I have no clue, and you know that stuff better than me. Also if we ride more places than just Preist Lake, we will probably have to do some middle of the trip clutching changes.

 

[yamahaboy701]

Already on it buddy, I am picking up a set of MPI clutch tools, so we can change rivets as we travel. Also I will have a bunch of clutch rivets with me but you can get some too. Not sure which ones will need until we plan the trip out some more. Do you have the elevation clutching chart for your sled? Email it to me if you do. It will be a little different with the long track but the chart will give us a good start.

I am picking up another set of weights for the trip and setting both sets up for out west. One set for 4-6,500ft, and one for 6-8,500ft. I sure there will be a little fine tuning but nothing much.

 

[tkuss]

Went out my way a bit to get some pictures up earlier.

So I went through and re-replaced the track. Did it in about 6-7 hours time this time including taking the suspension in and out. Next time I will cut that time down even more, so at least I am getting some experience working on this thing. Once the track was but on. I went through, cleaned and replaced a few springs and bushings in each clutch.

This primary cover bushing, was the biggest pain to replace, because it is like a fiberglass material and when pounding it back in, it started to flake a bit on the edge. I didnt get it in all the way, but I got it pretty close.

Replaced both secondary and primary clutch springs. On the primary spring the color of the grey was a bit off between the two, but I think they are the same spring.

Got both clutches back on, and quite a bit cleaner than they were before.

I wired my temp gauge in and spliced into a few wires near the fuse box.

Decided on mounting the gauge here.

Here is my crappy beginner wire job. I am not happy with how it came out. For now I will just electrical tape over all my quick connects for safety and protection. Maybe in the future I will go back and find some nicer quick connects and use those. Also the cold/heat solder gun is a piece of crap. It never got hot enough to melt the solder, so I had to come up with more inventive ways to solder wires without a gun.

At least all the wires are firmly together and the gauge works.

Here is shot of the gauge with the sled off and then on.

And then finally here are some shots of the sled pretty much all done and put together. Still have a few smaller things to do though.

 

[yamahaboy701]

Looks great! I always have to get the goo gone out for those MI registration stickers.

 

[subaru2006]

Boy looks sharp!!!!!
Would be awesome to go ride some in the UP this winter with you. Same setup just different tracks.... would be a blast......

Subaru2006

 

[dox06]

Sled

Very nice. Love the black and red combo. Now the bug is only going to get worse. Praying for snow everyday to ride it and try out the new mods.

 

[sonds]

Nice lookin' whip

sonds

 

[tkuss]

So I took all the foam out of my side panels with the idea that it will help keep things running a bit cooler. Noise may increase a bit, but well worth the trade off I think.

Here is inside of the side panel with no foam. What a pain it was to get this stuff off.

I secured up all the wiring for the water temp gauge so I will have no problems over winter.

The gauge pod for my water temp gauge is a piece of junk. I bought it from the same company as the gauge so I would not have to pay shipping from another company. It is designed for cars and would not take the abuse of rough trails for a season. So I gorilla glued all the hinges on it and this really stiffened it up, and I should hopefully have no problems with it. Time will tell.




I then bought some foam tape from the hardware store and tried to seal up where all the panels attach to each other. I have read on this site and others that a few think most snow under the hood doesn't come from the vents put instead from a poor seal of the hood piece. The tape actually came out really nice and if it stays sticking on throughout winter it will definitely help keep snow out.
Here are some pics of putting the foam on, and then once with the hood piece on.

Today I put my ice scratchers on. I didn't want to take any wheels off the suspension, so I could not find a good spot to mount them there. I decided on mounting them to the skis. These mount super easy and only take about 2 minutes to mount each one.

I plan on keeping those off the sled and only putting them on, on days that I will need them since they only take 30 seconds to put on and off. That way I have less chance of accidently putting the sled in reverse and ruining them.



Only waiting for one more part and that is my custom tunnel/runningboard supports from muffinworks. Should be here any day.

Also on my haydays list is a low black windshield, snow flap, and I need an extra belt. Thats it though. Sled is ready to ride.

 

[yamahaboy701]

Nice sno-bunje. Hayday 22days and counting!

 

[tkuss]

Nice sno-bunje. Hayday 22days and counting!

My cousin got if for my birthday for me. Had to get the extra stiff/reinforced Yamaha 4stroke edition sno-bunge.

 

[birkebeiner]

So I took all the foam out of my side panels with the idea that it will help keep things running a bit cooler. Noise may increase a bit, but well worth the trade off I think.

I've been thinking of doing the same. Let me know what you think of the increased "noise". If any. The sound of a 4-stroke is just nice ;-) And also if there is any added vibration in the body panels after you have removed the foam.

Thanks buddy!

 

[birkebeiner]

That would be on a '06 Vector Mountain I just bought. Not on my current '96 Vmax 600 ;-)

 

[Super Sled]

It turned out sweet!

 

[tkuss]

Got my last piece to put on the sled. Muffinworks made these tunnel supports for me and I think they came out awesome.

Unfortunately I am not were my sled is anymore, seeing as how I go back to college in a few days, so those will have to wait to get installed. It is going to be a little of a pain because I dry fitted them to the tunnel and the rear bolt holding the suspension in is in the way. So I will have to cut a little hole to clear that bolt. Also since the words are so big on them, there is not many solid spots to rivet them to the tunnel, and with all the rivets in my tunnel from the ZX-2 it is going to be hard to keep the supports looking as good as they do in the picture above.