Cooling hose question

[RTX]

I am potentially in the market for a sidewinder/thundercat.
can anyone tell me if the issue with the cooling hose that runs in the front of the tunnel has been fixed on the newer models?
My understanding is the hose is susceptible to damage form ice build up in the tunnel.
Has yamaha fixed this? Or does it require repair/mods owners

 

[Pstn head]

I am potentially in the market for a sidewinder/thundercat.
can anyone tell me if the issue with the cooling hose that runs in the front of the tunnel has been fixed on the newer models?
My understanding is the hose is susceptible to damage form ice build up in the tunnel.
Has yamaha fixed this? Or does it require repair/mods owners

Barn of parts has a fix for this, aluminum formed to go over both the hoses and bolts in perfectly.

 

[WVTurboLTX]

Just make sure you clear the ice from your tunnel in the mornings. Beat on the tunnel and floor boards with a rubber mallet then reverse the sled. It should all fall out.

 

[RTX]

Barn of parts has a fix for this, aluminum formed to go over both the hoses and bolts in perfectly.

I assume the suspension needs to be pulled for access?

 

[RTX]

Just make sure you clear the ice from your tunnel in the mornings. Beat on the tunnel and floor boards with a rubber mallet then reverse the sled. It should all fall out.

Ya, thats an issue for me. Never had a sled i needed to do that to and dont want to start now.
My buddy had a nytro he needed to do that with me, i prefer to avoid that at all cost.
if that hose guard resolves the issue, thats great, but i need to buy something soon and really dont want to be tearing it apart before i ride it, season is too short.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I assume the suspension needs to be pulled for access?

Pics of all this, my build thread.

Dan

 

[WVTurboLTX]

Ya, thats an issue for me. Never had a sled i needed to do that to and dont want to start now.
My buddy had a nytro he needed to do that with me, i prefer to avoid that at all cost.
if that hose guard resolves the issue, thats great, but i need to buy something soon and really dont want to be tearing it apart before i ride it, season is too short.

Decisions, decisions.

Not much of a choice. The tunnel packs with snow, turns to ice over night. If you leave it then if it letts go as a solid chunk it will stop you dead in your tracks. That best case scenario. Worst is it pushes up the top of the tunnel and rips that hose. Only takes a second. Every sled I've ever had did this. You can usually just pick up the rear and drop it a couple times then back up.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Not much of a choice. The tunnel packs with snow, turns to ice over night. If you leave it then if it letts go as a solid chunk it will stop you dead in your tracks. That best case scenario. Worst is it pushes up the top of the tunnel and rips that hose. Only takes a second. Every sled I've ever had did this. You can usually just pick up the rear and drop it a couple times then back up.

True....

I always spray down(all my sleds) inside the tunnel(sides) with teflon spray(made for snowblower chutes)

After a lunch stop, or in AM, i can usually pop the outside wall of tunnel from footwell near rear, and ice will usually pop off....gotta grab those big solid chunks out from sitting on track then, or just go reverse initially. Many times a drop or two of rear will do it, but many times it wont.

Dan

 

[Ironbutt]

I am potentially in the market for a sidewinder/thundercat.
can anyone tell me if the issue with the cooling hose that runs in the front of the tunnel has been fixed on the newer models?
My understanding is the hose is susceptible to damage form ice build up in the tunnel.
Has yamaha fixed this? Or does it require repair/mods owners

My New Sidewinder built up so much ice, in one days ride, that it actually wore an inch of the corners of my 1 . 3/4 lug track!! tried breaking it out without success. ended up buying a propane heater for my trailer and let it set for 8 hrs to thaw out. Conditions were brutal, minus 30, but thats what I bought it for. Relays also froze up ever time I shut it off. Had to remove and thaw them everytime!! Oil filter blew out at 1000 miles. DEALER did the oil change, not me. Selling it at a loss if anyone wants aa vertually new X TX LE 137 . 51.5 hrs, 7 days of running!

 

[ROCKERDAN]

My New Sidewinder built up so much ice, in one days ride, that it actually wore an inch of the corners of my 1 . 3/4 lug track!! tried breaking it out without success. ended up buying a propane heater for my trailer and let it set for 8 hrs to thaw out. Conditions were brutal, minus 30, but thats what I bought it for. Relays also froze up ever time I shut it off. Had to remove and thaw them everytime!! Oil filter blew out at 1000 miles. DEALER did the oil change, not me. Selling it at a loss if anyone wants aa vertually new X TX LE 137 . 51.5 hrs, 7 days of running!

Yes at extreme temps more stuff ices up.....Must be careful and mindful.

First normal temp day riding all winter yesterday here at 20*F and ZERO ice on my side tunnels in these temps. Powder or trail. Big differences when riding cold temps.

Dan

 

[Joseph Levandoski]

Ya, thats an issue for me. Never had a sled i needed to do that to and dont want to start now.
My buddy had a nytro he needed to do that with me, i prefer to avoid that at all cost.
if that hose guard resolves the issue, thats great, but i need to buy something soon and really dont want to be tearing it apart before i ride it, season is too short.

Decisions, decisions.

Put 1,600 miles on this season so far with another 1,500+ miles planned for next weekend. Currently running a stock sled (save for a windshield and skid plate). These past few long weekends have been super cold and powdery - the perfect combination to make ice on any sled. So far, we've seen every model ice up and have issues.

I'm not too worried about the coolant hoses at this time as I make sure to clear out my track in the morning and after lunch - it takes less than 5 minutes.

If you have the opportunity to buy a SideWinder, I'd jump on it and take care of the coolant hose protectors this summer during the off season.

 

[Big_Phil]

I wouldn't worry too much about the cooling hose. 9000kms on mine and its still fine. I do keep it in a heated garage so it thaws out periodically, but I have done a few backpack trips and lots of multi day trips where it stays outside for days at a time.

 

[RTX]

Thanks for the replys guys. I gave it a ton of thought but after 18 years of strictly yamaha sleds i went with the 19 doo renegade xrs 900 turbo.
I put on 150 miles last saturday and loved every second of it. I hope it stays that way.

Best of luck to all of you!

 

[Doowithblue]

Congrats. They're great trail sleds. I hope doo brings back the mach z.

 

[sabrecat]

I ran tall studs so I put the larger tunnel protectors on. It protects the hose from being able to get hit by ice.