Tunnel protectors for a sidewinder

[WVTurboLTX]

I left the center out on my viper and sidewinder. Studded in the middle on all 5 sleds in the group and have never had an issue.

 

[SUC_doo]

Dont stud center if you have a center protector, that is common sense as studs in center will hit that center protector.

Mike wants more scratch lines, so he is going into that center area, so he wont be using that center protector, very clear and correct.

Lots of thoughts and theories on studding patterns/lengths ect...Many guys dont bother with center area as their is less penetration the further you get away from rails and wheels. Some stay out of the center due to the vents in frontward section of tunnel that stick down a bit. Both good points and some use these rules whole others dont. No right or wrong here.

Over a season now of consensus("wisdom of the crowd") and that conclusion seems to be around 1.450'' max will NOT hit those louvers, so place them where you like(and do NOT install center rear protector if you plan to stud extreme center) and you should be fine overall. If you go bigger, you start to get into the area where you "may" touch those louvers, even though we have several guys running 1.575'' within that area of the louver and not a scratch. I would say OVER 1.575 you would want to remain outside of those louvers AND it may be smart to consider the full coverage protector down to the front. But you now have much less area for scratch lines with this route, although more penetration.

So pick your poison.....Im not a big drag racer guy so I chose a nice trail pattern/Qty and length......1.450 Gold Diggers averaging 3 per bar (2/4/2/4) with the factory CAT protectors(3 pieces with glue/screw) installed.(YAM were out of stock but i assume same kit)

Dan

So i got 600 miles on my new winder....Today while working on it noticed the dealer put studs in the middle of my track in line with the middle protector they installed. For the most part the center protector looks fine but does have one good hole in it. What should i do? I'm sure the dealer isn't going to order me a new track and re-stud. Yes i realize i could remove the center protector, but other then damage to the protector, isn't it better to damage the protector rather the cooler?

 

[Blue Dave]

Installing the center heat exchanger protector with center studs is a mistake. That is common sense as Dan said. Therefore I would make your dealer remove the center protector and ask why they installed it and the center studs in the first place.

I installed 144 Fast Trac Top Gun II 1.500" studs in my 137" track only in the middle following the CB Performance pattern. I also installed the front and rear STM tunnel protectors as shown in the attached pictures. I have not ridden the sled yet but I am confident that I will not have any interference issues between the studs and the heat exchanger and tunnel, however I am concerned about how thick the STM protectors are with relation to my track lugs but I will need to see the clearance once I have my skid frame installed.

 

[SUC_doo]

Installing the center heat exchanger protector with center studs is a mistake. That is common sense as Dan said. Therefore I would make your dealer remove the center protector and ask why they installed it and the center studs in the first place.

I installed 144 Fast Trac Top Gun II 1.500" studs in my 137" track only in the middle following the CB Performance pattern. I also installed the front and rear STM tunnel protectors as shown in the attached pictures. I have not ridden the sled yet but I am confident that I will not have any interference issues between the studs and the heat exchanger and tunnel, however I am concerned about how thick the STM protectors are with relation to my track lugs but I will need to see the clearance once I have my skid frame installed.

I understand it's common sense. I just don't see what it's going to hurt....yah its going to mess up that protector. But who cares i'd rather it hit the protector then the exchanger?

 

[Blue Dave]

I understand it's common sense. I just don't see what it's going to hurt....yah its going to mess up that protector. But who cares i'd rather it hit the protector then the exchanger?

I would be worried about ripping a stud out of your track from the impact with the center protector. I simply would not want to intentionally cause a metal to metal impact. I am not sure why you think that the center studs will hit the heat exchanger if you have the two protectors installed on the sides of the heat exchanger. I have not heard of anyone's studs hitting the rear heat exchanger when they have the two protectors installed. There are many guys here on TY running 1.625" studs in the center with the Yamaha rear heat exchanger protectors only on the sides of the heat exchanger that have had no stud to heat exchanger contact. How long are your studs?

 

[SUC_doo]

I would be worried about ripping a stud out of your track from the impact with the center protector. I simply would not want to intentionally cause a metal to metal impact. I am not sure why you think that the center studs will hit the heat exchanger if you have the two protectors installed on the sides of the heat exchanger. I have not heard of anyone's studs hitting the rear heat exchanger when they have the two protectors installed. There are many guys here on TY running 1.625" studs in the center with the Yamaha rear heat exchanger protectors only on the sides of the heat exchanger that have had no stud to heat exchanger contact. How long are your studs?

ok thanks....my studs are woodys 1.325....im going to call the dealer and complain this is their mess. How the heck would you remove that center protector with all that epoxy

 

[Joe ltx-le]

ok thanks....my studs are woodys 1.325....im going to call the dealer and complain this is their mess. How the heck would you remove that center protector with all that epoxy

If only you knew someone that offerd to install them correctly the first time..........

 

[SUC_doo]

If only you knew someone that offerd to install them correctly the first time..........

"cat shack is the best dealer around"

 

[**sj**]

ok thanks....my studs are woodys 1.325....im going to call the dealer and complain this is their mess. How the heck would you remove that center protector with all that epoxy

grinder...but that would leave the channel filled with epoxy and the "t" portion...no biggie...

 

[Joe ltx-le]

I still say bring it to the dealer Lucas.
If they fu*k it up it's on them. They installed the studs after all

 

[Joe ltx-le]

"cat shack is the best dealer around"

Oo and there could be a screw driver in your sled somewhere. I lost one doing the oil change hahaha

 

[Blue Dave]

I still say bring it to the dealer Lucas.
If they fu*k it up it's on them. They installed the studs after all

Exactly! This should not be your problem to fix. The dealer made the mistake so they should take care of this for you.

I also would be very leery of letting that dealership work on your sled in the future as they obviously lack common sense.

 

[SUC_doo]

Exactly! This should not be your problem to fix. The dealer made the mistake so they should take care of this for you.

I also would be very leery of letting that dealership work on your sled in the future as they obviously lack common sense.

Just heard back from dealer, They were completely UN-aware that center shouldn't be studded in line with the protector. He claimed they used a OEM pattern from Yammy. He says he will make it right tho. He will replace the track if I'm really UN-happy or said he could heat the middle protector and remove it. I don't really want to wait for them to replace the track/nor do i really trust them to do it. I think I will just get them to remove the center protector and sled on.

 

[Blue Dave]

Just heard back from dealer, They were completely UN-aware that center shouldn't be studded in line with the protector. He claimed they used a OEM pattern from Yammy. He says he will make it right tho. He will replace the track if I'm really UN-happy or said he could heat the middle protector and remove it. I don't really want to wait for them to replace the track/nor do i really trust them to do it. I think I will just get them to remove the center protector and sled on.

I see no need to replace the track. Many guys here on TY have studs in the center of the track. Avoiding the center reduces the number of possible scratch lines. Just have the dealer remove the center heat exchanger protector and you will be good to go.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

So i got 600 miles on my new winder....Today while working on it noticed the dealer put studs in the middle of my track in line with the middle protector they installed. For the most part the center protector looks fine but does have one good hole in it. What should i do? I'm sure the dealer isn't going to order me a new track and re-stud. Yes i realize i could remove the center protector, but other then damage to the protector, isn't it better to damage the protector rather the cooler?

Id stop using that dealer first of all....geez.

I would probably remove center protector, unless you only have a few extreme center studs, in which case I would remove them.

Dan