Skid Plate...who has added it to their Apex?

[viper7mi]

That was the first thing I put on before I rode it.

 

[grubf]

Rivnuts

I have had a skid plate on every sled I have had. The problem with the plates for the apex/warrior,rx, etc is that the barrel nut inserts you install in the bottom, to make the plate easily removable, dont work well and end up loosening in the aluminum and fall out. That happened to me anyway. On the 2-strokes you just riveted it on underneath with a couple phillips screws in the front. I am curious if yamaha has done anything different with the mounting hardware?? Please let me know because I will be getting one for my apex. If nothing else I'll just rivet it to the bottom and then drill out the rivets and remove the plate when its time to change the oil, then rivet it back on for the season. No big deal i guess.

I bought a used sled that already had a skidplate. After my first ride the back two mounts pulled down and out. I just happened to be at a stop with a bunch of other Yami riders. They all gave me a knowing look and said 'Yeah, thats normal. Just line it up and pound it back in place.' Well, by the end of the trip the thing was hanging down with only the front two screws holding so I took it the rest of the way off. I got it home and went to my bodyman friend to try to see if he had a better way to secure it. He took one look and pointed out that the rivnuts had never been properly expanded. Whoever installed it to begin with just drilled holes slightly smaller than the rivnuts and then just pounded them in. This won't work and is probably why so many guys are having trouble. There is a tool that looks like a pop-riveter that you expand the rivnut so it gets tight and can't fall out. My friend had this tool and put in new rivnuts the correct way and I have had no problems since. Hope this helps.

 

[mr. shide]

HaHa!! Yeah thats exactly what happened to me. Why doesnt yamaha send the tool in the hardware kit? I installed it according to the directions to a T. I'll be putting one on my "new to me" Apex GT per the instructions, if it fails again on me I'll rivet the damn thing on there and forget about it till my annual oil change, then drill out the rivets, remove the plate and the then re-rivet it back on when I am done.

 

[robertbubba2]

For the 80 or so bucks the skid cost's I woul say it is worth it my 06 apexgt put on myself when I got the sled new you never know what kind of stupid #*$&@ can happen Bob

 

[Pureadrenaline]

X100 that was the first thing we did to our Apex, Had it on 2 months before the first snow flake hit the ground. Worth every penny!

 

[CaptCaper]

I remove mine for oil change alot and never had a problem with it as I installed mine the way an engineer posted on TY. The McMaster ones are just a tad longer to hold.
Do the mcmaster aluminum rivnutst they are cheap and hold well. You make a home made rivnut tool by looking here http://www.fjr1300.info/howto/rivnut-tool.html
The pan is open all around for lot's of access if you screw up a hole at one time or another. I hit a rock and it tore and bent the rivnut and runined the hole so I moved it over with a new rivnut.
Cost's about 12 bucks for a package of ten aluminum ones and they hold. You can enlarge the holes on the skid plate to make it easier to line it up. Use fender washers if you have to on the bolts.
I used SS hex heads. Got long ones and shortend them accordingly.

, part number 94020A387, from McMaster-Carr use drill bit size 25/64 ths.
the homemade rivnut tool works great.

 

[welterracer]

Took mine off.. ice kept building up between the frame and the sheild and forced it to pull threw the screws..

 

[cat hunter]

No problems with mine after 4 years.

 

[Berg570]

Im looking in the Yamaha 2013 catolog, and it lists '06-'10 Apex MTX? I have an '07 Apex Mountain. Is this all the same? Will it bolt right up to my sled?

Sorry for the ignorance, Im sort of new to sleds, and just bought my first Yamaha.

Thanks!

 

[Irv]

Im looking in the Yamaha 2013 catolog, and it lists '06-'10 Apex MTX? I have an '07 Apex Mountain. Is this all the same? Will it bolt right up to my sled?

Sorry for the ignorance, Im sort of new to sleds, and just bought my first Yamaha.
Thanks!

No need to be sorry Berg, we have all been there before so ask away at will.

Personally, I don't know for sure about your question but if I had to guess, I'd say it would fit?

Also, just so you know, the skid just doesn't bolt up, you have to carefully drill 4 hole and use rivnuts that come with the kit to install it.
Not to worry, lots have done it so it will be an easy walkthrough for ya.

 

[yamaha1973]

Im looking in the Yamaha 2013 catolog, and it lists '06-'10 Apex MTX? I have an '07 Apex Mountain. Is this all the same? Will it bolt right up to my sled?

Sorry for the ignorance, Im sort of new to sleds, and just bought my first Yamaha.

Thanks!

Yea its the same sled other than the name

 

[Jona$]

I know the popnuts that come with are to short and there are someone that sells them but i don remember their name and they didnt ship to Sweden,

Is there someone that can help out, will pay!

 

[Sasquatch]

I smacked a rock at the end of a lake a couple years ago that grooved my skid plate. If I would have not had one I would have punched through the plastic inspection plate and tore out the back of the bulkhead slamming the heat excharger into the track.

Basicly sled totaled! All sleds should come with one from the factory IMHO!

 

[Sasquatch]

I bought the tool from yami to do the rivnuts. Its basicly a bolt and nut assembly.

 

[Berg570]

So my simple hand operated rivet gun won't do the trick? Ok.

I couldn't find the specific topic on installation? Where do you buy longer rivnuts at? Local shop I guess.

My Husaberg and KTM aren't full of rivets, so I'm still figuring these things out!

Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated!