Studs went through front exchanger!

[Blue Oval]

Well it finally happened, after 3 years of constantantly checking the front clearance running on the lake tonight I heard the dreaded sound of running water!! the idiot light did not come on during the last speed run and we only noticed the leaking after about 3-4 minutes. I started the sled, moved it up 3-4 feet and shut her down, tipped her over and saw that the studs finally did penetrate the fins right through the front exchanger.
I was towed by my buds 800R back about a half mile to his house on the lake shore Yes I owe him
What am i looking at for scenarios? Can it be welded? will the front exchanger need a total replacement? This is all Greek to me. I'm assuming that if the skid is removed if it is at all able to be brazed, the welder can't plug up any of the cores This really sucks on my first ride of this season. Any suggestions will help, Thanks Doug

 

[RTXs]

Just pull the skid have it brazed should be good as new. Dont use JB weld I did that and tahts just a temporary fix. I just got done changing the front heat exchanger and its not fun to say the least.

 

[**sj**]

make sure you remove the ecu before welding...and as said , remove the skid....a good welder will work it out...bigger question is how did this happen...

to loose of track tension ?

 

[Blue Oval]

So you think it will be able to be brazed?? why did you change the front exchanger? I should put some type of spacer on the aluminum protectors too right while we are in there? forgot to mention my studs are 1.450's but only caused an issue now, guess it was bound to happen, my track may have been too loose as well.

 

[Blue Oval]

Sorry on the lack of correct grammer and puncuation on my last post, not happy currently. What do you mean on ECU, sorry, where would I go about doing this? Doug

 

[NY AttakGT]

Meaning unplug your ECU, basically the electronic "brain" for the seld. It is located in the front area, under the air box and battery box (I believe). Pretty sure there is a rubber strap holding it in place to a gold metal bracket. Reason being is when the exchanger it gets welded there will be current surging through the entire chassis of the sled. Dont want to fry out the most expensive electrical box on the sled when welding. Shoot, I would even go as far as unplugging and unbolting the rectifier too. Rectifier is in the nose area on the left hand side (two 10mm bolts mounting it, along with a ground terminal under one of the nuts, I believe)

PS. Sorry for your misfortune. Thats kinda of why I stopped studding any of my sleds.

 

[Blue Oval]

Can anyone give me their experience with having to weld the front exchanger? how big of a job is pulling rhe skid on my 07 w/pro action. Any suggestions on adding increased protection on top of the tunnel protectors? Doug

 

[yamman]

remove skid unplug ecu clean well use stainless steel wire brush have it tig welded and your good to go run the 800 good luck

 

[Lightning Rod]

I heard the running water...Green slime...Toxic juice...LOL
Talk to Alan yet?
Bring it over so we can pull the skid

 

[kinger]

Try this, you can do it in your garage with no welding!

http://durafix.com/

 

[shawnj]

Crap that too bad. I have the same studs in my ltx and mashed up rear heat exchanger fins real good and that was on good trails, no jumps, not even little ones. I put the extra protection on for the rear but didnt know the front was as bad of a concern. My dealer is who suggetsted the studs and said that is what he sells most of, or just that day as he was out of the smaller ones....

 

[RTXs]

I used JB weld the first time I put a stud through the heat exchanger and used more on the second stud that went through. There was such a huge blob of JB weld on it that when it heated up it would leak, finally had to replace it. I should have brazed it from the get go.

 

[Blue Oval]

Try this, you can do it in your garage with no welding!

http://durafix.com/

Sounds interesting, awaiting a call from a bud that should be able to braze it. My dealer has a used damaged track with 1.325 woodys that he will sell me for $75, just may need to make up the difference for 144 studs that I have now. how are you guys with the 1.450's making out with clearance issues? are there any extra tunnel protectors that can mate on the factory ones?

 

[Blue Oval]

remove skid unplug ecu clean well use stainless steel wire brush have it tig welded and your good to go run the 800 good luck

Is Tig the same as brazing? Actually I never have any problems with running that 800R,any conditions, all the time I'm always beating him handily Except of course last night under the cover of darkness when he towed me. Doug

 

[mr.pitstop]

Interesting, this is the first time I've heard of this happening due to just longer studs and maybe a loose track.. Weird that you have had them in for some time and it is just now an issue.. I guess I'll have to keep my track good and tight so I don't do this on some of those high speed runs across the lake...