Tunnel protectors for a sidewinder

[ROCKERDAN]

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?

It can mess up alot more then that if you tail land hard, likely rip out that stud and track will have a hole.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I love this stud boy pattern.....Perfectly setup so it wont touch center protectors. After all the most popular sleds on market have been running a front center protector for a very long time. So STUDDING THE EXTREME CENTER IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA IMO.

Dan

 

[Blue Dave]

Here is a link to my post in a different thread that has some information that may be of interest to you guys.

View This Thread

 

[fast n furious]

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.

My sled was also purchased and studded at the cat shack and yes they studded mine the same way. I have 3500 miles on it like that only a couple nicks in the center protector. I have recently increased my studs to 1.5 but I left the ones in question at 1.325.

 

[Blue Dave]

My sled was also purchased and studded at the cat shack and yes they studded mine the same way. I have 3500 miles on it like that only a couple nicks in the center protector. I have recently increased my studs to 1.5 but I left the ones in question at 1.325.

That dealer needs to clean house in their service department. Only a complete idiot would install the center heat exchanger protector AND stud directly underneath the center heat exchanger protector.

 

[DooZ]

They probably have some kid getting paid minimal wage doing the studding because it's such a monotonous task. The same can be said about some of these dealers setting up sleds.

 

[SUC_doo]

My sled was also purchased and studded at the cat shack and yes they studded mine the same way. I have 3500 miles on it like that only a couple nicks in the center protector. I have recently increased my studs to 1.5 but I left the ones in question at 1.325.

I have a 2 other friends with sidewinders that came from a different dealer studded the exact same way right under the center protector. The mans sled has alot of miles and alot of marks in his center. His wifes sled had 0 marks so far. So there is more then 1 dealer in the maritimes studding them like this. I removed my center protector and have had 0 issues just running the outside 2 protectors so far.

 

[Blue Dave]

I have a 2 other friends with sidewinders that came from a different dealer studded the exact same way right under the center protector. The mans sled has alot of miles and alot of marks in his center. His wifes sled had 0 marks so far. So there is more then 1 dealer in the maritimes studding them like this. I removed my center protector and have had 0 issues just running the outside 2 protectors so far.

You can’t fix stupid!

 

[Brian Friebel]

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.

Do you really have to take skid out to put the STM kit in? Im curious to know why most seem to be just using the rear heat exchanger protectors and not full tunnel protectors all the way to front? Are all the way up front not needed?

 

[**sj**]

Do you really have to take skid out to put the STM kit in? Im curious to know why most seem to be just using the rear heat exchanger protectors and not full tunnel protectors all the way to front? Are all the way up front not needed?

Front and rear are separate.. In fact there's two different options for the rears... Yes you have to rotate the skid down for the fronts..

 

[Blue Dave]

Do you really have to take skid out to put the STM kit in? Im curious to know why most seem to be just using the rear heat exchanger protectors and not full tunnel protectors all the way to front? Are all the way up front not needed?

I figured better safe than sorry.

 

[**sj**]

Do you really have to take skid out to put the STM kit in? Im curious to know why most seem to be just using the rear heat exchanger protectors and not full tunnel protectors all the way to front? Are all the way up front not needed?

the rear cooler protectors are .875" thick....havent checked the "net" protection but should be good in most setups

 

[Blue Dave]

the rear cooler protectors are .875" thick....havent checked the "net" protection but should be good in most setups

They are plenty thick. I run 1.50” studs and have bottomed out many times on high speed dips in the trail without even putting a scratch in my tunnel or heat exchanger.

 

[**sj**]

They are plenty thick. I run 1.50” studs and have bottomed out many times on high speed dips in the trail without even putting a scratch in my tunnel or heat exchanger.

agree...just cant give specific protection.... I run 1.630's and no hits

 

[DooZ]

They are plenty thick. I run 1.50” studs and have bottomed out many times on high speed dips in the trail without even putting a scratch in my tunnel or heat exchanger.

agree...just cant give specific protection.... I run 1.630's and no hits

Are you guys using the STM's or Yami/Cat protectors?