Apex Mtn Gasping for Breath!

[glmtnapex]

I rode in Grand Lake, CO yesterday (1/7) for the first time with my new set-up, Excell under-tunnel exhaust and Boss Seat. I'm pleased with the set-up, but I had one problem at the high altitude (11,000ft) in the deep snow (1-2ft) when my hood got covered with snow, the engine started sputtering and loosing power which was especially scary when I was climbing Lower Gravel Mtn. I would have to stop and clear-off my hood to get her to run properly again. Is there some sort of fresh air kit that you reccomend or a screen kit to install on the hood/front end that can take care of this problem? I was out highmarking a 09 SkiDoo with no snow on my hood, but as soon as I got snow on the hood I was done.

Max

 

[roughrider99]

i haven;t heard of any fresh air kit. DO NOT put any sort of ram air of screen kit on the top that airbox as it will mess with the sensors. My dealer and i have talked about this for my phazer and we ran phazers and apex's on a gas analyzer. Take your airbox out and clean it up. might be some extra oil in the box or something is cutting off the intake.

 

[Thistledoo]

Is the a stock asperated sled? If it is my bet is your exhaust is getting plugged off when in the deep snow....I had the same set up on my apex and I built a small deflector in front of the exit to the muffler...worked good. Some other guys have ran the exit thru the side of the tunnel.

 

[Yamamauler]

Is the a stock asperated sled? If it is my bet is your exhaust is getting plugged off when in the deep snow....I had the same set up on my apex and I built a small deflector in front of the exit to the muffler...worked good. Some other guys have ran the exit thru the side of the tunnel.

Intreresting, last week is the first time I had my sled in deep snow (4') when I hit the throttle & the rear dug in it bogged often, I figured it was the the 18" of snow on the mesh hood cutting air flow off to the SC. I swiped the snow off the hood and all was good but bet it was because I was back on top of the snow.
I need to check out the deflector, thanks for the heads up.

Y

 

[Thistledoo]

Yup...the air has got to get out too....seen it first hand and many times on these forums.

 

[powdermuncher]

I have seen a guy run the exhaust right through the snow flap to get rid of the problem.

 

[glmtnapex]

Is the a stock asperated sled? If it is my bet is your exhaust is getting plugged off when in the deep snow....I had the same set up on my apex and I built a small deflector in front of the exit to the muffler...worked good. Some other guys have ran the exit thru the side of the tunnel.

It is naturally asparated (non-turbo) sled. I did not check to see if the exhaust outlet was clogged, however, when I came off the hill from climbing and my hood was covered with snow she sputtered and had trouble idling, as soon as I wiped the hood off she would wake up and run fine. I did this MULTIPLE times, so I'm pretty sure the snow on the hood is the problem. Whenever she did not have snow on the hood she ran like a champ even in the deep snow. I will check the exhaust outlet next time I have this problem, but I'm 90% sure it's a lack of fresh air that's causing the problem.

So there aren't any fresh air kits out there? I've seen the 'snorkels' on the turbo and supercharged sleds, but I don't think I want or need to go that far. Maybe drilling-out my airbox and lining it with that snow screen stuff would work?

Max

 

[roughrider99]

Maybe drilling-out my airbox and lining it with that snow screen stuff would work?

Max

highly reccomend not doing this as it messes with the sensor.

 

[Thistledoo]

I rode my bone stock apex many many times in deep wet snow...it never struggled for air ever....I couldnt believe it....it just kept going and going...as soon as I put on my excell exhaust I had trouble...JFI.

 

[baapex]

I went through this problem last year and it was really frustrating. The dealer that sold me the under tunnel exhaust insists that it is an intake issue, but it isn't. I did a complete set of vents on my sled and the problem still existed in deep snow. I ended up going to exhaust shop and having my exhaust turned out the sides of the tunnel, It works great now. I know of two others that have done this with great results also. Here is a pic good luck to ya!

 

[Bigrock33]

I went through this problem last year and it was really frustrating. The dealer that sold me the under tunnel exhaust insists that it is an intake issue, but it isn't. I did a complete set of vents on my sled and the problem still existed in deep snow. I ended up going to exhaust shop and having my exhaust turned out the sides of the tunnel, It works great now. I know of two others that have done this with great results also. Here is a pic good luck to ya!

What did it cost you to have the exhaust dump out the side?

 

[glmtnapex]

I rode my bone stock apex many many times in deep wet snow...it never struggled for air ever....I couldnt believe it....it just kept going and going...as soon as I put on my excell exhaust I had trouble...JFI.

So how did you fix the problem?

I'm not ruling-out that the exhaust is not the problem, I need to take a look at it next time I ride in some deep snow. But I'm wondering why there was no problem when my hood was clear, even though I was still climbing in deep snow.

And why would the sensors get messed up if you vent the air box? I only had this problem at 11,000ft where the air is pretty thin. Seems like getting more air to the box would help not hurt the situation.

Max

 

[Thistledoo]

I went through this problem last year and it was really frustrating. The dealer that sold me the under tunnel exhaust insists that it is an intake issue, but it isn't. I did a complete set of vents on my sled and the problem still existed in deep snow. I ended up going to exhaust shop and having my exhaust turned out the sides of the tunnel, It works great now. I know of two others that have done this with great results also. Here is a pic good luck to ya!

This is what you need to do....

 

[Bigrock33]

I went through this problem last year and it was really frustrating. The dealer that sold me the under tunnel exhaust insists that it is an intake issue, but it isn't. I did a complete set of vents on my sled and the problem still existed in deep snow. I ended up going to exhaust shop and having my exhaust turned out the sides of the tunnel, It works great now. I know of two others that have done this with great results also. Here is a pic good luck to ya!

sent you a PM

 

[Extreme-One]

I'm guessing that when you slow down enough to clear the snow the exhaust is unplugging. I've talked to a lot of very good tuners for Yamaha and they all say you can't run stock sleds with the tunnel dump exhaust. I have a non turbo sled running an after market exhaust out the stock holes, light weight everything and I can run it in the deepest snow possible with the throttle pinned as long as I want and it has never sputtered even once... it is flat out amazing sense I came off a Cat that would bog at the drop of a hat.

Listen to what everyone is saying and come up with some type of deflector.

 

[glmtnapex]

I'm getting ready to go ride today. I'm sure I'll be able to find some deep snow again and I'm going to keep a close eye on the rear end (of the sled!) to see if I'm loading up snow around the exhaust. And to also see where the best place to install a deflector or just come out the side of the tunnel like the pics above.

Max

 

[Zedeff]

I had the same thing happen with mine in deep snow. When the track is spinning it fires a ton of snow up the pipe end. Too much back pressure?

I cut the down turn off the exhaust pipe so its pointing almost straight back and then I mounted a plate ( the one yamaha used to stop the track from hitting the old exhaust bracket) below where the exhaust comes out so there is space to vent in to. It's mounted at the rear with spacers to keep the plate about 1 inch below the tunnel at the back. The exhaust can exit to the sides and out the back. I also drilled a bunch of small holes in the plate directly below the exhaust pipe just to make sure.

The posted pics are of the exhaust before I cut it off and the plate doesn't have the holes drilled in it yet. I had it out the other day in snow up to the windshield and it was fine. If the front vents get really plugged up it doesn't want idle right but with some throttle on it is OK. (I've got screens on the center to hood vents) The top of the tunnel gets pretty warm but it hasn't been a issue.

 

[glmtnapex]

Rode today

I rode some deep snow today but not much on my hood and the sled ran better. But I do think you guys are correct about snow clogging or restricting airflow out of the exhaust in deep snow. I think my problem is a combination of intake restriction (snow on the hood) and exhaust restriction (snow in the tunnel). I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the airbox yet, I'm a little scared I'll mess-up the sensors if I drill or screen it. However, I like what you've done with your exhaust Y_Rider (Thanks for the Pics!!) and will probably make the same or similar modifications. I really do not want to run the exhaust through the side of the tunnel because the sled's loud enough already and I'm sure I'd burn a few shoe laces off my boots. Thanks to all who contributed to this post!

Max

 

[baapex]

Sorry to check back so late, I can definately tell you it is not an intake issue, no amount of air will fix it, unless it's forced air, I was really mad last year when i could not get mine working, it's not so much that snow is plugging your exhaust, but that the exhaust gases cannot escape well and this fouls up the sled and makes it rich and the sled tries to compensate and adds more fuel and just keeps making the problem worse and worse. Mine would get so bad that my sled would actually stop or get stuck with wot. If i let it set and clear out and then restart i was off and running, untill it happened again, and again, I had several trips ruined. That is when I came up with turning it out the sides. I was nervous but desperate, It worked way better than i could have hoped for, and yes I was nervous about my boots and pants, but so far no issues, I dont even get close to that far back, and i've got 600 miles since i did it. eventually i will probally fab up some sort of foot rest or stop flush with the back of the seat, but It will mostly be for looks, like the new cat tunnels. I've run some deep snow with this set up and it works sweet, if you cut a big side hill it will flow out the other side and vice versa, i have yet to get a single bog. I was running with a 900 rmk earlier this year in bad deep snow that was plugging up everything, and I never missed a beat( I needed a snorkel) The rmk got all plugged up and got hot and his exhaust got hot enough to melt his chain case cover and then actually catch on fire!! Not good. We barely got it out. I love my set up. Yes it is a little louder but it sounds really good. And everyone can find me if you listen..