brada
Veteran
I have been reading and searching about what to do with the tunnel protectors on my XTX because my studs are marking the bottom of the exhaust. I have figured out I need to take them out and have them welded. My questions are
How difficult are they to get out?
Does the skid need to be totally removed? Can I just pull the bolts out of the back brackets of the skid and just drop the back down or do I need to take the front loose too to get to the front nuts on the protectors?
I am new to this skid, been riding a mono for the last few years. Any help or tricks on getting the skid out would be much appreciated. Thanks.
How difficult are they to get out?
Does the skid need to be totally removed? Can I just pull the bolts out of the back brackets of the skid and just drop the back down or do I need to take the front loose too to get to the front nuts on the protectors?
I am new to this skid, been riding a mono for the last few years. Any help or tricks on getting the skid out would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Caveman
VIP Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2012
- Messages
- 168
- Location
- New Hampshire
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- Yamaha, Polaris, SkiDoo.
I just did this mod to my 2012 XTX. Brackets: Port Yamaha sells the brackets with a piece of aluminum welded between the C shape to reinforce them and also supplies the Yamaha rivets with the kit. I drilled out the rivets (careful not to go too deep and use a punch or nail set to knock them loose) and re-installed the new brackets onto the tunnel protectors. Be watchful of what you're riveting where, there's 2 sizes of brackets and the larger ones go in the back. I also filed off the weld waste from the top of the new brackets to keep them flush against the tunnel when bolting them back in. Mine were badly compressed, especially the ones in the middle. Make sure you shake out the drilled rivets or you'll hear them rattle around forever.
Removal/Install: If you have a way to pick the back of the sled way up in the air (I use the steel beam in my garage with a chainfall and nylon strap off the back bumper) you can get away with only removing the back bolts and not pulling the entire skid. Loosen the rear bolts flat on the floor and then pick the sled way up until you can reach all the way in to access the forward brackets. I think it's a 12mm nut with an extension and I used loctite when reinstalling...even with the nylon lock nuts. I used a ratchet strap on each side to compress the skid before starting to pick it up and only needed to go one click tighter to line up the rear bolts when reinstalling - easy. I also added a small piece of 1/8-3/16" thick cut hyfax as an added pad on the very rear of the protector to contact the heat exchanger so it hangs a bit lower. I didn't need to shim the rear brackets away from the tunnel to do this. All total, probably took a couple hours. Studs are installed, ground is white and 6" more on the way for Saturday. All is good.
Removal/Install: If you have a way to pick the back of the sled way up in the air (I use the steel beam in my garage with a chainfall and nylon strap off the back bumper) you can get away with only removing the back bolts and not pulling the entire skid. Loosen the rear bolts flat on the floor and then pick the sled way up until you can reach all the way in to access the forward brackets. I think it's a 12mm nut with an extension and I used loctite when reinstalling...even with the nylon lock nuts. I used a ratchet strap on each side to compress the skid before starting to pick it up and only needed to go one click tighter to line up the rear bolts when reinstalling - easy. I also added a small piece of 1/8-3/16" thick cut hyfax as an added pad on the very rear of the protector to contact the heat exchanger so it hangs a bit lower. I didn't need to shim the rear brackets away from the tunnel to do this. All total, probably took a couple hours. Studs are installed, ground is white and 6" more on the way for Saturday. All is good.
02ViperMody44
Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2009
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- 580
- Location
- Utica, NY
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- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2020 Sidewinder SRX
2013 Yamaha XTX
- LOCATION
- Old Forge, NY
- YAHOO
- ramody44@yahoo.com
Hauck Tunnel Protectors:
http://www.hauckpowersportsinc.com/page ... duct/60284
I also went to Lowes and bought solid rubber stoppers(get them in the bolt aisle in the misc drawers), and filed them till they just fit inbetween the Tunnel Protector "C" mount, and then siliconed them in with a piece of aluminum plate underneath screwed into them so they won't move. 3400 miles later and still in place and no scratches on my exhaust.
http://www.hauckpowersportsinc.com/page ... duct/60284
I also went to Lowes and bought solid rubber stoppers(get them in the bolt aisle in the misc drawers), and filed them till they just fit inbetween the Tunnel Protector "C" mount, and then siliconed them in with a piece of aluminum plate underneath screwed into them so they won't move. 3400 miles later and still in place and no scratches on my exhaust.
