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

[lawmanbsi]

Got a thick gauge aluminum sheet. Cut it to fit and riveted it to the bottom. If you look at the cooler you can see what happened before I installed it. I inspected it several times since and its definitely doing it job well.

 

[Paraclete]

I bought some wellnuts and going to install tomorrow

 

[MAINEiak]

Installed mine 2 days ago. Used (4) 1/4"-20 x 3/4" well nuts and (4) 1/4"-20 x 1.25" stainless steel button head
(lower profile) cap screws & washers. Also used collar stops on drill bits to prevent drilling too deep.
All fasteners and stops came from local Lowe's store. The whole install went fast and smooth.
Just drill the rivets out with a 1/4" bit. Then drill final holes to 31/64" (just under 1/2")
and you will get a snug fit when the well nuts are inserted. For the 2 bolts on the "nose" section of skid plate, just
replace factory bolts with the 2 longer metric bolts that come with the install kit. The rest of the kit will not be used.

Tip: If you have difficulty inserting a well nut, thread a bolt into it, lightly tap it into place with a hammer, then remove bolt.


How "well nuts" work...

 

[Blue Dave]

Got a thick gauge aluminum sheet. Cut it to fit and riveted it to the bottom. If you look at the cooler you can see what happened before I installed it. I inspected it several times since and its definitely doing it job well.

Isn't it a PIA to have to drill out and re-install all of the rivets every time that you change the oil? The other advantage of a skid plate is that it extends forward and up to help the sled slide up and over rocks and stumps which a flat plate does not.

 

[lawmanbsi]

I change the oil and filter a couple times during the season. I only drain and fill the tank. It would be easy to drill a drain hole.
When I was in high school I had a regal with over 200k miles on it. just kept putting oil in it. It would probably still be running today if it could have cleared the ditch. LOL

 

[Blue Dave]

I change the oil and filter a couple times during the season. I only drain and fill the tank. It would be easy to drill a drain hole.
When I was in high school I had a regal with over 200k miles on it. just kept putting oil in it. It would probably still be running today if it could have cleared the ditch. LOL

You must put on some serious miles to be changing the oil a couple of times during the season!

 

[Nick1945]

I have skid plates on both sleds.

 

[lawmanbsi]

I change the oil and filter a couple times during the season. I only drain and fill the tank. It would be easy to drill a drain hole.
When I was in high school I had a regal with over 200k miles on it. just kept putting oil in it. It would probably still be running today if it could have cleared the ditch. LOL

You must put on some serious miles to be changing the oil a couple of times during the season!

Not really since I've been playing off trail and light snow conditions. seems like only a 1-2 thousand a season. Its only a couple quarts of Mobile 1 each time. actualy I use one filter per season. sled has 17,000 miles on it.

I have skid plates on both sleds.

I would suggest getting skid plates for the side panels and handlebars for you Nick.. LOL ...(Grand Marais)

 

[ranger1]

I have had good luck using coated steel rivnuts to install skid plates. Got a 25 pack of them from flea-bay for 6 bucks including shipping.
To install this type you have to put a nut on a strong grade of bolt, screw the bolt into the rivnut, put the rivnut into the pre-drilled hole, hold the end of the bolt with a wrench & crank the nut against the rivnut to compress the rivnut. If you use a low budget bolt it will bugger the threads on it when tightening it down.

 

[ranger1]

I have had good luck using coated steel rivnuts to install skid plates. Got a 25 pack of them from flea-bay for 6 bucks including shipping.
To install this type you have to put a nut on a strong grade of bolt, screw the bolt into the rivnut, put the rivnut into the pre-drilled hole, hold the end of the bolt with a wrench & crank the nut against the rivnut to compress the rivnut. If you use a low budget bolt it will bugger the threads on it when tightening it down.

 

[ranger1]

I have had good luck using coated steel rivnuts to install skid plates. Got a 25 pack of them from flea-bay for 6 bucks including shipping.
To install this type you have to put a nut on a strong grade of bolt, screw the bolt into the rivnut, put the rivnut into the pre-drilled hole, hold the end of the bolt with a wrench & crank the nut against the rivnut to compress the rivnut. If you use a low budget bolt it will bugger the threads on it when tightening it down.

 

[IH8CROWS]

skinz plate

skinz plate

 

[87gtNOS]

The problem I see with that 'Skinz' plate is snow and ice build up around the a-arm area of that plate....

 

[IH8CROWS]

No problem in the last 2years, but maybe someday.
Who knows.

 

[Daranello]

Does anyone have instructions on how to install the skid plate?