Sidewinder Heat Exchanger Hose

[Sevey]

When those ice chunks build-up and eventually break off and roll to the front of the tunnel getting crushed running through the front exchanger the force is tremendous.

I have had some ice break on the nytro where I thought for sure the front heat exchanger would be caved in. luckily not. Something soft like that hose would be mashed.
MS

 

[Sprint44]

Me and my buddy just got back to the motel after are 3 day ride that turned into 4 with both new sleds ending up at the same dealer with having to replace the same hose. Here are a couple pictures of the hose. When we were riding it was -25 f. We slam the back of are sleds every morning and run them in reverse to get the ice out. I'm sure I knew when it happened as I heard a huge sudden noise of a chunk of ice hitting the tunnel. When the ice hit the tunnel it actually dented the top of the tunnel up a bit. In one of the pictures you can see how the hose is not straight. There needs to be some sort of guard made so this doesn't happen again. Me and my friend make 3-6 day saddle bag trips putting on over 200 miles each day. We're a little hesitant on going on are next one but when we get home we're going to see what we can do to protect it. I will share what we try!

 

[ROCKERDAN]

It seems to me you would do more damage reversing track if ice chunk goes the opposite way, going forward the hose is up higher then the alum tube, and ice should not hurt it. I could see going in reverse this happening though.

Here is a pic from rear and front of track, you can see how ice going the wrong way could cause damage moreso.

Dan

 

[Sevey]

Have these engineers ever driven a snowmobile......
Do you know how much grit, sand and other items get pelted to the front of the tunnel running down a road. That joint will disintegrate over time. Even the abrasion from small ice pellets let alone the chunks.
This is a huge flaw. Someone has to make a guard (bent aluminum) that can be riveted on the underside protecting that joint.
MS

 

[lhdriller]

It seems to me you would do more damage reversing track if ice chunk goes the opposite way, going forward the hose is up higher then the alum tube, and ice should not hurt it. I could see going in reverse this happening though.

Here is a pic from rear and front of track, you can see how ice going the wrong way could cause damage moreso.

Dan

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I know for my experiences it seems sometimes the ice chunks are very large and they can't fit through the clearance so they end up bouncing around until it grinds small enough. Not bad if your going slow but at speed you can't stop it in time. When I reverse I just slowly back up and plop out comes the chunk

 

[Sprint44]

I know for my experiences it seems sometimes the ice chunks are very large and they can't fit through the clearance so they end up bouncing around until it grinds small enough. Not bad if your going slow but at speed you can't stop it in time. When I reverse I just slowly back up and plop out comes the chunk

Exactly, these are big chunks that are causing this issue. This is a problem when saddle bagging and can't thaw the sleds out each night. Guys that saddlebag, do all you can to get the ice out before taking off especially when riding in extreme cold conditions! I will be shocked if more people don't have this same issue as me and my buddy had.

 

[JestersYamacat]

I h ad this happen to a couple of other sleds and it always happens when it is really cold conditi0ns. I made myself a ice breaker from the butt end of a hockey stick and slowly break out all the ice after the ride is over and will even put it on its side to ensure I get it all out. Never been a problem since. I also have a large bag on the rear so that it holds heat better keeping the ice buildup to a minimum. I do agree however that they could make a stainless cover for these and rivet them in place. Extra protection.

Jester

 

[Sprint44]

It seems to me you would do more damage reversing track if ice chunk goes the opposite way, going forward the hose is up higher then the alum tube, and ice should not hurt it. I could see going in reverse this happening though.

Here is a pic from rear and front of track, you can see how ice going the wrong way could cause damage moreso.

Dan

View attachment 136278 View attachment 136279 View attachment 136280

What we were told by the dealer is that the chunks of ice get hurled to the front and actually force the front part of the connection up vertically causing the connection to become offset or S shaped. This either stretches the hose enough to tear it or it is cut by something up there. It's not actually cut by the ice, but the fact that the front part of that cooler has been forced up and needs to be hammered back down to make the connection straight again. Something needs to be reinforced so the front part of the connection can not move up out of position. This is what the dealer told us happened.

 

[Sevey]

Exactly, these are big chunks that are causing this issue. This is a problem when saddle bagging and can't thaw the sleds out each night. Guys that saddlebag, do all you can to get the ice out before taking off especially when riding in extreme cold conditions! I will be shocked if more people don't have this same issue as me and my buddy had.

After owning a Nytro and seeing some crazy ice build up - when temperatures are below -15 C there is not enough heat produced to keep the ice recycling so it builds up - and can get quite large. When it does come loose expect a decent size chunk coming around through the front exchanger. Even clearing the tunnel at the end of the day or am does not do away with this issue. Reversing it every now and then is unrealistic - sorry. It may alleviate it, but under the right conditions you will be right back where you began after an hour of running. This is a problem that will plague this chassis unless that joint is protected.

I have created a block off plate out of aluminum for the nytro works great. When it was installed I had polished it like a mirror. You would be surprised at the abrasion marks left on that plate from sand, stones, ice etc. A rubber hose at the front of the track drive will get pelted.
MS

 

[Sevey]

What we were told by the dealer is that the chunks of ice get hurled to the front and actually force the front part of the connection up vertically causing the connection to become offset or S shaped. This either stretches the hose enough to tear it or it is cut by something up there. It's not actually cut by the ice, but the fact that the front part of that cooler has been forced up and needs to be hammered back down to make the connection straight again. Something needs to be reinforced so the front part of the connection can not move up out of position. This is what the dealer told us happened.

Are you saying the front heat exchanger is actually moving, flexing or buckling causing the hose to kink?
MS

 

[Sprint44]

Yes. The tunnel and heat exchanger are getting bent and pushed up causing the hose to not be straight. They beat the front part down with a hammer so the two hose

Are you saying the front heat exchanger is actually moving, flexing or buckling causing the hose to kink?
MS[/QUO

 

[Sevey]

In the apex and nytro the heat exchanger forms part of the bulk head at the front of the tunnel. In the pro cross it is a separate piece that is fastened up in there and can move. Didn't think could though....
Initially I thought creating some kind of cover to shield the joint may help. What do you think would minimize this from happening?
MS

 

[ROCKERDAN]

What we were told by the dealer is that the chunks of ice get hurled to the front and actually force the front part of the connection up vertically causing the connection to become offset or S shaped. This either stretches the hose enough to tear it or it is cut by something up there. It's not actually cut by the ice, but the fact that the front part of that cooler has been forced up and needs to be hammered back down to make the connection straight again. Something needs to be reinforced so the front part of the connection can not move up out of position. This is what the dealer told us happened.

Now that makes complete sense, I could understand that happening.

 

[XP123]

I have had great luck spraying 100% silicone along the inside of the tunnel once a week or so to control how much ice sticks there. I make sure I do it before any trips I take. I also carry a rubber mallet in my rear bag at all times.

 

[HMTurbo]

I have had great luck spraying 100% silicone along the inside of the tunnel once a week or so to control how much ice sticks there. I make sure I do it before any trips I take. I also carry a rubber mallet in my rear bag at all times.

Bang the rear suspension up and down multiple times real hard while the sled is hot and you are done riding for the day works wonders as well. I try doing this going into and coming out of a bar stop as well. I had so much ice jam in a XRS that it frayed the track pretty good a few years ago. I try to run my sled on stand after doing that then in the morning (slowly) to get any remaining chunks to come out.