Possible Exhaust Cooling Idea?

[fuse6]

We all know leaving tunnel open causes icing problems. Even the side panels still create icing problems in tunnel.
Most people like myself are a little concerned about completely closing tunnel off creating to hot of exhaust. Those that have seem to be getting along fine.

My idea for a possible solution is:
Close the tunnel off completely with flat panel as many have.
To increase cooling of exhaust weld cooling fins to the muffler similiar to what an air cooled engine cylinder & head would have. This would increase surface area of the exhaust significantly to help disapate heat using cool air instead of snow.
My phazer isn't at home right now so I can't take a good look at the muffler. For those of you that are knowledgable welders would this be practical. Is the stock exhaust stainless steel?
Someone that is handy could likely fab up something that would look good and also be effective at solving this heat problem.
Get to it guys, and send some pictures.

Fuse 6

 

[sniperviper]

There is no heat problem at all with the muffler. I have tunnel closed and nothing have melted yet and I cant see that it will either. Temprature is no were near hot enought to do so.

 

[sniperviper]

How hot do you get your sled? I mean how many mile swill you ride without stopping? Can you ride all day without melting anything?
Thanks!

Have been playing with my sled 2-3 hours without stop in temprature above freezing point (0'C) in all sorts of conditions. Hard packed snow, powder and long lake runs. I dont think exhaust pipe temprature would get higher if I had driven it one more hour, if you know what I meen.

Havent melted anything.

 

[Kråkan]

The plastic dont melt in the summer on the bikes so it is unlikely that it will on a snowmobile...

 

[Traildale]

A previous poster made a good point. My WR250F dirtbike gets ridden in the woods for hours. If I stop for more than 15 seconds in dim light, the header pipe actually glows cherry red (and this is considered normal - every WR and YZ250F does it). The plastic side panel is only an inch from the muffler, and the aftermarket plastic doesn't even have the reflective heat tape that the factory plastic has. I've been riding this bike for 6 years, and the plastic is all scratched up, but nothing even close to melting. And this bike is ridden in temps as high as the upper 90's. That's a lot higher ambient temp and a lot closer to plastic than anything on my Phazer. If the YZ and WR don't melt plastic that's closer to the muffler and at higher ambient temps, why would the Phazer? Taking a look at the muffler under the hood of my MXZ Rev, shows that's there is very little clearance around the muffler, and the right side footwell is the only outlet for all that heat and its usually blocked by my big fat foot. Why doesn't the side of the Rev just melt away?

I'll go out on a limb and speculate that Yamaha made a marketing decision here. With a tunnel full of holes, this sled LOOKS lighter than air, and that is exactly what Yamaha so desperately needs to rid itself of the boat-anchor weight reputation (deserved or not).

I'm closing the tunnel.

 

[indy2007]

For sure there is a lot of heat generated on this exhaust, just look at the color of the muffler! I run a 2005 XR650R and it still has the stock turkey oven hanging on the back. It is steel and it gets hot. There is no sign of plastic melt. I'm worried about big chunks of ice dis-lodging and getting stuck in the tunnel and causing a serious lock-up of the track and my daughter doing the superman over the bars! I think in time there will be nothing left of the track and cooler up in the front of the tunnel. I would love to close that hole off but got to talk to the dealer first. Only 2 days on this forum and I'm whining all ready! Sorry

 

[Voda2000]

My dealer said the hole will be there next year too, so there must be a reason for it.

 

[TRUTH]

I have a YFZ450 quad and ride with various friends with 4stroke quads..We ride in temps exceeding 95+ degrees and never melted anything..Why would the Phazer be any different? Let alone it is ridden in much colder air temps! I really don't understand..I think Yammy did it for cosmetic reasons...If the hole is causing a problem, close it off! If I get a Phazer, I will close mine off and not think twice about it!

 

[TRUTH]

I don't own a Phazer at present and if I buy one, it will most likely be a used unit. If you had a problem, which I am certain you won't, you could always remove the close off before you went to the dealer.

 

[yzf1999]

Trying to lose more weight.. :exc:

 

[Mars]

Yeah you could remove it...but unless you glue it (which I am pretty sure won't hold), there will be holes on the tunnel that weren't there.
What reason, other than putting rivets could you possibly give Yamaha?
Did I mention I love debates? LOL

...could say you were installin' tunnel protectors.

 

[Phazed-Coug]

make a removable plate... I've been trying to think of a design...

 

[Mars]

Mine's done, only 200 miles though, but I run a MUCH smaller muffler.

 

[sniperviper]

I love the debates here, but it seems like until someone puts 1000 miles on a sled w/ the tunnel closed, AND posts the results here, no one will "know" for sure

One guy here had over 1000km on his mountain light back in desember with tunnel closed and had no problems at all. Because of this our dealer closed all tunnels to solwe the icebuild up issue. In fact they have a brand new fx in showroom with tunnel closed.

Dont think there is any good reason why yamaha did this stupid hole in the tunnel thing. Last friday my dealer called me to bring in my sled because they wanted to take pictures of the closing and how it looked inside tunnel. Reason for this was that the yaps was coming on a wisit to yamaha scandinavia (last monday) and they wanted to se how the closing of tunnel worked. I think if it have been so "dangerous" as some says we would have been told to remove the closing at once. Havent heard anything yet.

If it was impossible to close the hole I personally would have traded my sled for something without a big hole in the tunnel. I did not like the weight of the ice build up and either the wet pants driving this thing.

 

[yzf1999]

Why not get the pipe ceramic coated and put on an aftermarket muffler..close the hole and forget about it. Thats what I plan on doing.