Slides Sticking and overheating. Things I noticed.

[jaydaniels]

Well, got out for a ride this past weekend and the snow was very hard. We had a variety of sleds in the group including 2 Apex's. The only sleds that had trouble with slides melting and sticking and engine overheating issues were the Apex's. I love my Apex but must admit this was a bit frustraing when we had to keep stopping to cool down. One thing everyone noticed was that every other sled in the group had some snow/slush build up in their rear suspension but both Apex's were dry. It seems to me that the sticking /melting slides and overheating issues stem from the same problem. I wonder if the rear exit exhaust causes any snow in the tunnel area to basically evaporate away. Normally your track would pull snow up through under the tunnel towards the front of the machine hitting the front cooler. Obviously some of that snow would fall down inside and melt on the slides helping to lubricate. It seems to me that the snow might be melting away/evaporating when it hits the under tunnel exhaust. Things seem okay when there is a lot of snow but when the amount of snow being picked up is limited Apex's really seem to struggle staying cool and keeping slides lubricated. Thoughts?? Is the exhaust exposed to keep it cool?

 

[aceltx09]

Never really thought about the exahaust meoting it away. I have same problem as you stated exactly. Ice scratchers is the cure for the slides and an extra cooler for the rear. I have ltx with rear cooler my buddy has rtx without rear cooler. We both had slide issues but I did not have problems overheating and he did. I think those 2 things will solve both your problems. I'm also adding p.p. wheel extender kit this summer.

 

[Grimm]

I also think that switching to a fully clipped track with large windows will help too, as would narrow sliders. I think the new Yammys now have all windows open on the tracks.

 

[bjniceguy]

we rode this weekend too. Some places were hard & dry. I have 2011 Apex XTX w/ the Excell wheels. I had no issues, but the guy with the 2010 rush 600 was stopping all the time. They added another exchanger on the 2011 Rush, but won't help the 2010 guys. Yamaha is not the only one that thinks they don't have any problems. Look at the location of the front radiator on a rush and think about the last time you were going thru a brush patch. Not a pretty thought LOL

 

[Sled Dog]

Nothing a little bumper could not protect. I like where they put it and I think that is where Yamaha should of put it also.

 

[jaydaniels]

I also think that switching to a fully clipped track with large windows will help too, as would narrow sliders. I think the new Yammys now have all windows open on the tracks.

I have a fully clipped track now and still have the issues. Its nice to see that we have options for fixing the problem but I'm curious as to why the Apex has this issue and not the other sleds in my group. The biggest variable I can see between all the sleds that day is the rear exit exhaust. My buddy has an SRX with Apex slides on it and an 1 1/4" ripsaw and he had not issues with slides sticking at all. Not sure if it would cause the exhaust to overheat but maybe an aluminum shield keeping the snow off the exhaust would help things out not sure.

 

[smoothride]

if you have the ski's towed out so it does not dart they will help thow snow into the skid. stud boy ducers.

 

[yamahas]

I am not sure how they are on the Apex's but on my phazer the snow flap does not reach down as far as other sleds. Maybe our snow flaps are not deflecting as much snow back onto the skid as much as the other brands resulting in needing ice scratches to throw the snow on the skid? or am I way off?

 

[aceltx09]

I think all suggestions are good, but the cheapest and most efficient fix is Ice scrathers and adding a bogie wheel. And Pioneer Performances' wheel off set kit. During spring conditions and any freeze up after warm weather the trails are so hard ice scratchers will deflect snow into the skid. For overheating the 121" need that rear heat exchanger IMO

 

[Budweiser]

2 pics. One Yamaha with no ice scratchers and 1 with. Sorry pics are not that good. The Arctic Cat we were with had more snow in the skid than mine with the scratchers.

Although, I changed out the sliders on both sleds after this 1200 mile Gaspe trip and both were worn through to the rails. No wear on rails but they were through. Both at the bend in the rails. I put the marginal snowwheels on mine but it hasn't had to be tested this year...

 

[titanrcr]

2011 Apex SE here....... 1,050 miles and barely show any wear. Not sure how many miles you all are getting but I'm quite pleased with mine. My SRX was always hard on hyfax but this New sled is great.

 

[gun nut]

Pioneer wheel mounts, or larger wheels will cure it.

 

[apex55]

kympex pro wheels. A little bigger than stock. 2100 miles this season and slides are at 50%. Last year with the stock wheels I went thru 2 sets in 1500 miles.

 

[jaydaniels]

2 pics. One Yamaha with no ice scratchers and 1 with. Sorry pics are not that good. The Arctic Cat we were with had more snow in the skid than mine with the scratchers.

Although, I changed out the sliders on both sleds after this 1200 mile Gaspe trip and both were worn through to the rails. No wear on rails but they were through. Both at the bend in the rails. I put the marginal snowwheels on mine but it hasn't had to be tested this year...

Yeah, pretty much exactly what I noticed. There are options for fixing the problem but why the lack of snow in the track area? Definately something going on with them compared to other machines when it comes to the lack of snow being retained in the rear suspension.

 

[Super Sled]

I use Slide Kicks cable scratchers and they work very well. They throw lots of snow/ ice into my skid. I replaced my sliders at 2200 miles and they had lots of meat left -- I changed them too early.

Budweiser -- if your scratchers are truly down deep enough into the snow dragging, then they should be kicking up more snow then they are for you. Have they possibly worn down a bit and need replacing? Just a thought I had, because my skid gets caked with snow and i see yours looks dry. Weird.