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Made a tunnel block off plate

S

ssrider

Veteran
Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
44
Location
Manitoba
Country
Canada
Snowmobile
2009 Nytro RTX
I was tired of the tunnel icing problem so I decided to make a block off plate. Just a piece of aluminum plate riveted to the tunnel protectors. I put 70 miles on the other day and had zero ice form in the tunnel, granted it was only about -5 Celsius. I'm hoping it works as well in the colder temps. Cheap and easy solution if anybody is looking for one.

Before plate
View media item 1609
After plate
View media item 1610
After 70 mile ride
View media item 1611
 

Thanks guys. I hadn't seen any other ones that were installed under the tunnel protectors like I did. Not sure why? So far it works great and was definitely the easiest way to do it.
 
Nice job - that looks great!

I did something similar a couple of seasons ago, literally just removed it an hour ago after trying to deal with torched plastics/burning plastic smell since I put it in, as too much heat got trapped under the seat with the block off in place/no snow hitting the exhaust to cool it. I see that you wouldn't have that particular problem though ;) lol

I was also getting an occasional over temp warning, even though I have a MT tunnel cooler installed, and even when trail conditions probably shouldn't have contributed to it. That never happened until I had the block off in place, so I've decided to just do my best to live with the ice issue instead. Just have to bring a rubber mallet along from now on!
 
MrChetStuart said:
Nice job - that looks great!

I did something similar a couple of seasons ago, literally just removed it an hour ago after trying to deal with torched plastics/burning plastic smell since I put it in, as too much heat got trapped under the seat with the block off in place/no snow hitting the exhaust to cool it. I see that you wouldn't have that particular problem though ;) lol

I was also getting an occasional over temp warning, even though I have a MT tunnel cooler installed, and even when trail conditions probably shouldn't have contributed to it. That never happened until I had the block off in place, so I've decided to just do my best to live with the ice issue instead. Just have to bring a rubber mallet along from now on!
Click to expand...

If you left an inch space at the rear, or even drilled holes across the rear(in the block off plate) after you realize not enough ventilation, would that have solved the problem?
 
Last edited:
That's funny
I would argue that the sleds cooling would be better with a plate since the snow sucked into the tunnel by the track doesn't hit the hot exhaust first , and has a better chance making it to the front heat exchanger
Ms
 
gitrdun said:
If you left an inch space at the rear, or even drilled holes across the rear(in the block off plate) after you realize not enough ventilation, would that have solved the problem?
Click to expand...

Not sure, but there was plenty of gap all around the top, probably not 1" at the rear, but there was a gap at the rear as well. I may revisit it in the off season again, as it did help (but not eliminate) the icing problem.
 
MrChetStuart said:
Not sure, but there was plenty of gap all around the top, probably not 1" at the rear, but there was a gap at the rear as well. I may revisit it in the off season again, as it did help (but not eliminate) the icing problem.
Click to expand...
Yeah the plate does help the icing issue for sure but it still builds up a bit. Have you ever changed your coolant? That could be causing it to get hot. Old coolant will lose its cooling abilities over time. I changed my coolant last year and my sled runs a bit cooler then it did and I have a little over 3000 miles on my nitro now.
 
Deeppow16 said:
Yeah the plate does help the icing issue for sure but it still builds up a bit. Have you ever changed your coolant? That could be causing it to get hot. Old coolant will lose its cooling abilities over time. I changed my coolant last year and my sled runs a bit cooler then it did and I have a little over 3000 miles on my nitro now.
Click to expand...

Yes, when I did the MT tunnel cooler I drained and replaced with new coolant. It's really more of a torched plastics issue that bugs me every time I/we stop, and the inevitable "I can smell someone's belt/hyfax/something burning" comments when there's anyone behind me in the pack that just confirms that what I've got going on isn't working out the way I had hoped. No biggie, gonna run without the block off this season (if I can get my electrical issue figured out that is), deal with the icing, and think it over during off season again. Ssrider has the ultimate solution due to the aftermarket can - just pull all of the rear plastics! lol
 
MrChetStuart said:
Yes, when I did the MT tunnel cooler I drained and replaced with new coolant. It's really more of a torched plastics issue that bugs me every time I/we stop, and the inevitable "I can smell someone's belt/hyfax/something burning" comments when there's anyone behind me in the pack that just confirms that what I've got going on isn't working out the way I had hoped. No biggie, gonna run without the block off this season (if I can get my electrical issue figured out that is), deal with the icing, and think it over during off season again. Ssrider has the ultimate solution due to the aftermarket can - just pull all of the rear plastics! lol
Click to expand...
Yeah that what I did with my sled too. I put an aftermarket exhaust one and it actually did melt a bunch of my plastics so I just removed them and now ride with just the seat on and no rear plastics.
 
SS, nice clean look to your plate, seems like the simplest install to go on as you did. I looked around and the feedback I received on the full block off plates was that heat buildup was an issue and that the partial block off stops the build up issue where the snow is kicked up from the track yet allows the muffler to cool. On the front no build up issue so remains open for cooling. I just installed my SB partial block off, forward of the muffler bracket remains open, went on easy, will test this winter and report.

12s.jpg 13s.jpg 14s.jpg 15s.jpg 16s.jpg
 
Ya I could see possible heat issues with my plate and a stock exhaust. I made that exhaust, and couldn't fit the rear plastic piece back on with it. Don't think it looks bad. The plate still exposes the headers so I get air flowing under the seat. Those half plates look like they should considerably reduce the icing as well
 
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