studding

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triplexxx

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Sep 11, 2003
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I just studded my V-max 600 with 96 studs and was wondering if I need heat exchanger protectors?:?
 

yes you should run the protectors. My friend has a vmax 600 and he just studded it with protectors, and there are still a couple marks in the rear heat exchanger from bottoming out, but not enough to go through it. Without the protectors it would be trashed
 
When in doubt, put the protectors on it...not something I'd want to experiment with...-20 and your on the side of the trail looking at flourecent green stretch down the trail as far as you can see. It's your ride experience. Why only 96 studs? a 600 should have 120-144, careful, if you start bending and breaking them off, chances are you don't have enough. Check frequently, if they come out all together put more in before your ruin your track.
 
O.K. I'm new to sledding. Just bought a 97 VMax 600 XTC with no studs. I plan on studding it soon... what are protectors, where do I get them, how much do they cost, and can I put them on myself? I'm a pretty good backyard mechanic... work on all my own stuff (I have a 24 Baja I maintain myself, a Glastron ski/fish boat, various lawn equipment, etc...) and I have good tools, a garage, heat, etc... Can I do this in my garage in an afternoon???

'Foul
 
You can use your old sliders as tunnel protectors. They work great The best part about them is that they are free. They are easy to install. Easiest if you remove the suspension and the seat then just bolt them up.
 
tunnel protectors are bars (alum or plastic) that rivot to the tunnel. at the track clip location, they keep the track the proper clearance away from the tunnel (or heat exchanger) when you have full suspension jounce so the studs don't carve a nice path.....


old hyfax, good idea...... too bad foul, i just threw mine away...... 2 sets even.......


soemone post a pic for him????
 
I just looked under this sled, it's a 97 by the way. Both heat exchangers are under the running boards, not under the seat... unless there is one way up front that I could not see. Seems to me after looking, that there would be no need for protectors. Anyone???? You can see the exchanger under the running board in the top of this picture.

'Foul
 

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You definitely will need tunnel protectors. They are called tunnel protectors, not heat exchanger protectors. They will protect the aluminum under your seat. If you don't install them, when you go over a sucker bump, the studs will tear right through the aluminum. When installing them, pre drill holes through the old slider. You can put the bolt head side into the grooved side of the slider so you don’t have to counter bore. Attach with a nut. There is a heat exchanger up front on your sled. These don't protect them.
 
Someone here mentioned he damaged his front exchanger. The post is in the tech forum I think. Anyway If you damage it plan on taking the entire sled apart to replace it. It is directly in front of the 10" drivers (The 4 black front rollers that the drive shaft goes thru) on your XTC. It is ribbed and you can feel it with your hands easier than seeing it unless you have a lift. Better safe than sorry.
 
not to mention you have to drain all of the anti freeze in the whole sled! YOu must take out the rear suspension, hold it up (easy with lift) and correct me if I am wrong but it is in by rivets right? either way, it shouldn't take terribly long. It is not like removing the engine or anything. It should take around 2 hours to get it all back together with a new one.
 
O.K.... I'm going to get a set of old sliders (anyone wanna donate????) and bolt them in the tunnel. But, about the front heat exchanger... how do you go about protecting that?? Do you run your tunnel protectors up to it and count on them to help out or do you need to do something more??

AND, why on EARTH doesn't the factory install these when the sleds are new?????
 
It was me that had the studs wreck my front exchanger. The outside part of the track blew and when it did, it put a hole in my exchanger. I still had lots of track left, and didn't notice that there was a hole in my exchanger. Decided to carry on. I was about a mile from home. A little while longer, my temp light came on, and right away, the engine seized. Needed new pistons, rings, heat exchanger, track. Also took the head cover to a paint shop to make it bright red again. It was wrecked to.

I'm not sure, but I dont think heat exchanger protector would have prevented this. I wouldn't bother with them. If your track is farly new, just go ahead and stud it with the tunnel protectors.

Next year your going to want a new RX-2 ER.
 
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