Tunnel Icing... Solution?

[mach9]

Hi guys,
I started this in a reply in another topic then some guys were sending PM's asking questions.
So I figured I'd start a new topic.

Let me first say I'm not trying to be a new vendor.
I don't have the set up for that I'm simply trying to test an idea this year to solve my ice build up issue and maybe help some others at the same time.

Here is my reply quote from the other topic.

I'm in the sign industry.
There is this clear tough laminate material that is used to cover such things as bank ATM key pads etc.
It is not a 1/4" thick and will be light weight, comes in rolls and applies to surface by adhesive backed liner.
I'm almost positive it is a Polypropylene plastic and tough enough. (although under tunnel is a brutal environment)
You can trim it to fit areas easily enough.

Anyway...
Running it down the tunnel sides and other flat areas under might be enough to insulate the aluminum and is also a poly plastic that should repel water.
Keeping it away from the hottest areas of the exhaust would be a good idea.

My chassis will be pulled in about a month from now.
I'm going to test this stuff this year.
Anyone else want to test some.
We get it in rolls 13" wide.
I can sell it by the foot.

Here is some more info. This product is a simple peel and stick system. It is not Polycarbonate, that stuff would be too hard and brittle. After it is applied think of it as a teflon coating to the inside of your tunnel. But this plastic sheet is somewhat rigid so my plan is to lay it out on the flat area sections only. (and maybe strips down the sides of the tunnel protectors) Then I'll trim or cut small holes to go around bolts or rivits. Otherwise I feel it won't bond as bumps underneath would try to push it off the surface. I'm also fairly sure that it won't bend around corners or into cracks very well. As long as you stick it to a clean flat surface it should stay bonded.

It won't be super expensive and is light and easy to ship. My work place is not interested in cutting patterns or templates for all the various tunnel designs. It would make the cost go way to high and guys will want to stick it in various locations anyway. Depending on the various tunnel block off systems you have or don't have. This product can cover those flat areas also. It is easy to cut with scissors etc. I'd like to keep this as cheap as possible for anyone interested. Anyway... This will be a test season for this product. The only way to find out if it works is to try it.

September is upgrade time for my XTX and that is when I'll pull the chassis. That is when I'll have access to many more feet of this product.

Cheers

 

[SledderSteve]

Thanks for breaking this out into a separate thread.

Like the handwarmers during previous seasons, tunnel icing is a concern to many on this forum. It'll be interesting to follow the test this season.

 

[mach9]

Pulled chassis, work being done.

I started to apply the Poly stick on. Doing the tunnel protectors first. Last year it seemed that ice build up was common on the tunnel protectors.

I was going to do before and after photos. But realized that you can't see it much on there after applied. It is quite clear. So I did a short vid on You Tube to show how easy it is to apply and trim. (at least so far for the tunnel protectors) Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNWhanvL7PU

Cheers

 

[shadow44]

Why trim off the excess, why not just just wrap it all the way around the tunnel protector?

 

[mach9]

Why trim off the excess, why not just just wrap it all the way around the tunnel protector?

I don't want to try that as it is rated for flat surface bonding.
It is sort of tough and stiff and any major curves or corner bends could cause it to lift and create a pocket underneath as it will try to fight it's way off the surface.
Then any pockets that are there would have more chance of getting wet during the season. (inside on the adhesive)
And I don't want that to happen, I want a perfect bond / seal to the flat surfaces.

One other thing... I don't plan to apply it to the bottom of the tunnel protectors. (maybe I will at the rear areas)
I figure the track is going to slap the tunnel protectors at some point.
Coating on the tops and sides it will do something.

So there is going to be alot of trimming with a blade around all sorts of things like brackets, bolts, rivets and tunnel seam overlaps.
Some brackets, bolts and rivets will still be exposed to the water/ice spray. But I am fairly certain that as soon as the ice tries to build up to any coated flat surface, it will have difficulty growing.

Plus it is so much easier to install in small sections.
Big sheets of anything is a pain in the butt to deal with.

 

[skidooboy]

i think one issue you will run into in the tunnel top and sides will be the rivets and fastners in the tunnel itself. no way around them without creating a large amount of air pockets.

this is where i believe a spray on type shielding device would work better but, the key to that is what type of anti icing spray do you apply?

if there was some sort of permenant teflon type impregnated finish you could apply, that would be great but, i dont know of any.

ski

 

[**sj**]

spray teflon coating???

 

[mach9]

i think one issue you will run into in the tunnel top and sides will be the rivets and fastners in the tunnel itself. no way around them without creating a large amount of air pockets.

this is where i believe a spray on type shielding device would work better but, the key to that is what type of anti icing spray do you apply?

if there was some sort of permenant teflon type impregnated finish you could apply, that would be great but, i dont know of any.

ski

I'm cutting out around for every hole, rivet, bolt etc.
This stuff is easy to trim.
It is going well.

Cheers

 

[snowman4]

Please let us know how this works when the snow hits the ground. Great idea.

 

[jkenosh]

where did you get the laminate?

 

[Eagle1]

ttt- Just wondering how this worked out for you this year?

 

[sleddingfarmer]

ttt- Just wondering how this worked out for you this year?

x2!

 

[mach9]

It helped a little.
I can't say that it stopped ice build up.
But once frozen I could bang the tunnel and the chunks fell off easier than if i did nothing.
Is it a solution? No.
But I'm glad I did it.
Did the stuff I used look good and stay bonded? Yes.

 

[billymx815]

You guys will all laugh at this one...but what I did was take a bench grinder to all 4 edges of the tunnel protectors and took off the edge. It helped alot (not a complete solution) but honestly it's 50% better and costs $0...
Only took about an hour to round the edges. I think it makes it hard for the snow to sit on and accumulate.

 

[RealDeal]

How about finding another material to make the tunnel protectors out of. Something similar to the old style but with a backing to make it rigid.