Exhaust Donut Replacement quick question(s)

[Jimdevjr]

Guys,
Great website. Haven't been on in awhile because we've been riding alot this year. Got an 09 Nytro and an 09 Apex. Both great sleds, never have problems. Last ride, I heard some exhaust rattling. Quick search, and I'm sure it's the donuts/lose clamps. I read up on "how to" replace them.....however, we are planning our last ride of the season this weekend. I absolutely DO NOT want to get into some project, break a bolt, whatever, and cancel my ride for the weekend. No way. First question. Copper Donuts from Excel Motorsports? Second question. It seems to me that this just started. No more than 200 miles ago. And I don't hear any exhaust leaks at all. Just the rattling. Do I dig into this this week? Or can I let it go for one more ride? Sleds got about 3500 miles on it if that matters. Again, I'm no stranger to spinning wrenches. I do all the work to my sleds, ATV's, etc myself. I just don't want to get into a situation where I disable my sled before the weekend, and I can't get parts.

Thanks guys!
Jim

 

[mnman309]

I would say the copper gaskets from Excel or Ulmer are most likely the same ones, just get them. The areas of concern for rusted or stripped bolts will be the bolts that hold the pipe on under the gas tank, you will remove 2 plastic body plugs to get to them. Get an impact driver and if you can get under the tunnel spray the bolts with WD40 to help release them. The bolts for the flange to the head, get a 6 point socket and swivel socket and go slow and you wont have any problems. The muffler will fight you a little but no big deal. When you have the pipe off look for cracks in the manifold (3 pipes) where they connect, the factory on and my first Excel one cracked there in multiple places. Should be a 2 hour job start to finish so 3-4 beers.

 

[MrSled]

You could have other damage too, I would ride and deal with it later..... pretty sure the 2009 are SS but not 100% sure. The SS would be more durable.

 

[NS FX NYTRO]

Drive it, I know I did late last season when mine started to go bad. They were toast when I replaced mine at around 5000 miles. No harm done to sled. I'd wait personally, but that's just my $0.02

 

[mnman309]

Yes ride it as it is, BUT if you want an excuse to get an aftermarket pipe and muffler for the sled and not get in trouble with the wife.... Perfect timing when you have it apart in the off season and find "other" issues with the stock pipe. Not sayin I have done this but it does help the arguement!

 

[IA Rider]

I noticed the rattle on my 09 Nytro XTX at 3500 miles. It was the first day on a 5 day trip. The 5th day 1000 miles later one of the head pipes broke.

 

[Jimdevjr]

Yes ride it as it is, BUT if you want an excuse to get an aftermarket pipe and muffler for the sled and not get in trouble with the wife.... Perfect timing when you have it apart in the off season and find "other" issues with the stock pipe. Not sayin I have done this but it does help the arguement!

You got it. I did about 2 more hours of reading after posting this, and decided without questions I'll be doing full exhaust next year, with clutching and Power Commander. Just makes sense to me. I was toying with buying a Viper, but, I just love the Nytro. I've got nothing bad to say about it. After putting on Dupont slides, basically you change the oil every year, and ride it like you stole it. Love the sled. Why spend $14k on a Viper when I could spend $1500 on my sled, and love it more.

 

[greenmachine93]

i think i rode mine that way all year. i alway heard a rattle but it seemed ok. but now i just bought some excell headers off ebay for only $100. so now im workin on replacing them. im shootin the bolts with pb blaster for a day or 2 then i will try to loosen the bolts. probable will switch some of the bolt for hex head later.