STORM-CHASER
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I got to tell you my tunnel is not bent and I have backed over my flap so hard that is sucked the flap off the rivets, I still think it might be something else doing this.
twomorestrokes
TY 4 Stroke God
All of these scenarios could cause tunnel damage. However, I am certain that my damage was not caused by the flap getting caught but I could see how that could do it. I don't believe that it was caused by tying the back down but I could see how that could cause it also. I am certain that the damage on my sled was caused by either that very hard bump that I hit at high speed, or when I was trying to knock the ice out of the skid before loading it up. It shouldn't have happened regardless. Fact is, this is a very weak spot on these tunnels. The main means of support is the radiused corner of the running board where it meets the tunnel side, but there is a portion of the radius that is absent right at this area. Take a look. I am surprised that there are not a lot more reports of buckling in this area. If it's going to bend, this is the weak spot.
Yamaha obviously knows about this weakness, having added the first set of reinforcements to this spot on the '06 Apex. That apparently was not enough, as they came back in '07 and added a second set (four brackets total) on the GT series. These should have been there in the beginning.
Yamaha obviously knows about this weakness, having added the first set of reinforcements to this spot on the '06 Apex. That apparently was not enough, as they came back in '07 and added a second set (four brackets total) on the GT series. These should have been there in the beginning.
06vectorgt
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
The tunnel is bent in the wrong direction to do this from riding hard, something has pulled the tunnel downward from the back end.
I can understand how it could happen trailering with the back end tied down and shock loading when hitting bumps or even over stressing tunnel with ratcheting tie downs, or running over the flap especially while unloading from a tilt trailer (while sitting on machine).
Of course this is just my .02
I can understand how it could happen trailering with the back end tied down and shock loading when hitting bumps or even over stressing tunnel with ratcheting tie downs, or running over the flap especially while unloading from a tilt trailer (while sitting on machine).
Of course this is just my .02
twomorestrokes
TY 4 Stroke God
You are probably right, but it has been suggested before that it may be the weight of the muffler on hard landings.
At this point I would guess that my damage may be from when I was picking the rear of the sled up and slamming it back down on the ground to knock the ice out of the skid. Only the right side is bent, maybe I was off to the right side of the rear bumper?
At this point I would guess that my damage may be from when I was picking the rear of the sled up and slamming it back down on the ground to knock the ice out of the skid. Only the right side is bent, maybe I was off to the right side of the rear bumper?
dusty
Veteran
Bending inward is exactly what happens after a big hit. I know the exact moment and the exact spot when mine bent. It was from a massive hit that completely bottomed the skid. The trip west on the trail was smooth as silk the trip east was a disaster. For some reason a stream changed course and cut a two foot deep by four wide trench right across the trail. Totally invisible, no warning, going too fast to react, going too slow to get anything but the skis across to the other side. The sled will live the rest of its life with polished aluminum external braces along the sides.
Dusty
Dusty
number1kyster
TY 4 Stroke God
Mine was buckled from a real bad landing.
06vectorgt
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Sounds like a damn good reason to purchase a lighter high performance exhaust! 
Tfin
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
06vectorgt said:Sounds like a damn good reason to purchase a lighter high performance exhaust!
Dam straight! Now I can justify it to my wife....."honey, I have to get that new exhaust, other wise my tunnel is going to bend.....you don't want that to happen do you?".
twomorestrokes
TY 4 Stroke God
Tfin said:06vectorgt said:Sounds like a damn good reason to purchase a lighter high performance exhaust!
Dam straight! Now I can justify it to my wife....."honey, I have to get that new exhaust, other wise my tunnel is going to bend.....you don't want that to happen do you?".
Sure! While you're at it, can you let my wife know that it will be a required part of my repair to make certain it won't happen again? LOL
STORM-CHASER
TY 4 Stroke Guru
how can it be the weight of the muffler when you have some ridders at 150lbs and some at 300lbs, if that was the cause you would think the big boys would all have the problem. does Yamaha have a coment on this?
twomorestrokes
TY 4 Stroke God
The weak area is where the rear coolant pipe passes through the tunnel. The rider's weight is forward of this weak spot so it would not affect this area unless you were sitting on the trunk area. The muffler weight is clear to the rear, past the weak point so it would make the weak area the pivot point on hard landings and bottom outs. That is still my first guess, as that was one herendous bump I hit on that trip...
06vectorgt
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
twomorestrokes said:Tfin said:06vectorgt said:Sounds like a damn good reason to purchase a lighter high performance exhaust!
Dam straight! Now I can justify it to my wife....."honey, I have to get that new exhaust, other wise my tunnel is going to bend.....you don't want that to happen do you?".
Sure! While you're at it, can you let my wife know that it will be a required part of my repair to make certain it won't happen again? LOL
lol - Thats what I'm talking about!
STORM-CHASER
TY 4 Stroke Guru
twomorestrokes said:
I guess that makes sense, I did put my wife back there once when she hit a tree with here sled, But I went slow.
Similar threads
