13 pro holding less snow,this is what i did

[blackie205]

well before the weekend i was looking at my bros 12 with skins boards thinking why do mine hold more snow and then bam, that dam little triangle behind the boards was the only real diff,so out came the saw and gone,then i decided to try some lithium grease on the brackets as well and after 2 days of 3 feet plus pow riding with 2 others without this mod i found it was the key it held half as much snow and was easier to kick off at the end of the day and the brackets had 0 snow with the grease sprayed on here is a little vid no bc pow but still awesome http://youtu.be/FgdgPha6Xvs

 

[tdbaugha]

Structural

I would be careful now. That triangular piece is a structural component of the tunnel. Just sayin

 

[lorne1176]

I would be careful now. That triangular piece is a structural component of the tunnel. Just sayin

Nope...install of airframes requires it gone, and serves no purpose other then being a snow catcher.

 

[blackie205]

Nope...install of airframes requires it gone, and serves no purpose other then being a snow catcher.

yep for sure it would not do anything to help structure at all my brother has over 2000 turbo miles on his pro wheeling for miles 0 problems with it gone just hold way less snow and now mine does too

 

[tdbaugha]

Ahh yes it does. I don't want to sound like a d-bag but yes it does. I helped install Airframes on a buddies sled and knew right away that was creating a weak area by cutting that off... 200 miles later he folded the tunnel RIGHT there while out in McCall. There's a huge stress concentration at the transition from the running board angle to the back half of the tunnel angle. Grab the bumper on a stock sled and twist it as hard as you can and look right at that area. Now do it on yours. You'll see what I mean.

Do you honestly think Polaris spent millions of dollars on the over 100 changes on the 13's to drop every ounce they can and decided to leave a piece of aluminum there "that does nothing"?

 

[cateye5312]

I just coated my 2012 running boards with the ice-free coating from Between the Lines Designs. Once I get my powdercoated parts back and get the thing put back together (Polaris ship my rivets please, now, not next winter) I will post up and let people know if it works or not. We are supposed to be getting some snow this weekend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

For those of you cutting that triangle out - that's fine as long as you understand that you are weakening your tunnel and you don't whine later when your tunnel creases right there.

 

[jakey-boy]

Yep as mentioned above that is a critical component in preventing a bent tunnel. However, the above reasoning is incorrect. It is actually that snow and ice buildup in that area which reinforces the tunnel all around the bracket which makes it stronger not just the flimsy little metal. haha

In all seriousness though that piece is important I wouldnt recommend removing it without some sort of tunnel reinforcement in its place. Id much rather deal with snow build up then a bent tunnel.

 

[lorne1176]

Not trying to make an assumption here but, where did your buddy have his jerry can full of fuel mounted when he clasped the tunnel....on the very back I take it?

 

[tdbaugha]

The only thing he had on his tunnel was an accessory bag with MAYBE 5lbs in it. And that was as close to the seat as possible.

Not trying to make an assumption here but, where did your buddy have his jerry can full of fuel mounted when he clasped the tunnel....on the very back I take it?

 

[blackie205]

i really dont think it does much at all but hold snow or every person with airframes would have had a issues, like i said my brother jumps everything in site has busted 3 bumpers off and still his tunnel is fine go figure

 

[skibreeze]

I put on airframes, but would never cut that bracket.

 

[blackie205]

o well to each his own but i love the fact mine does not hold near the snow and if it bends it would have either way as the only way i can c that bending is with u huge impact and if that happens i will have more issues then just tunnel but thats why i carry insurance,but thanx for pointing it out to others that it could cause a issue in the future