Better Boards Install on XP

[SledsWest]

Does anybody have any advice or suggestions on installing better boards on the XP? I am planning on just cutting out the entire outline of the board but I'm afraid of cutting the supports on the outside of the stock board. Can I just drill out the rivets on the outside and install the better board from underneath so it matches the style of the stock boards? HELP!!!

 

[tudizzle]

didn't they come with installation instructions?

 

[DenverR1]

I cut out individual squares on the stock running board just to maintain as much strength as possible. It probably didn't do much but I weigh a lot and always end up bending my boards. It's pretty easy to do. Just lay your BB on the stock rail and use as a template. Then take a marker and start outlining. Then cut out the squares. Good luck!

 

[SledsWest]

didn't they come with installation instructions?

Nope, no instructions. I checked the website and they just have the general installation instructions...nothing detailed. F-bomb told me at the Denver snow show to just cut the entire rectangle out, but if I do that, there are a bunch of rivets on the outside rail and down by the front where my toes are. I ended up grinding those down from the underside so I could take that outer rail off and then cut but I noticed those rivets aren't really rivets. They are cast as part of the entire part of that outer rail, so now I gotta drill holes through those to make room for a new rivet. I have been taking pics so I can show you guys what I'm talking about....I'm not sure I'm doing it right though.

 

[tudizzle]

so what happened?

 

[SledsWest]

uh, you don't wanna know

I'm just really really happy that WRP makes wide boards or else I'd be trying to figure out how to rig the tunnel with a 2x6 with holes drilled in it to get the snow out.


Watch this install video: this is what I did when I made the cut, but with the intention of using the better boards (I know, I'm retarded. Usually my common sense kicks in and I figure it out when I'm in uncharted territory. This time, my stupidity won....and I was sober too)

 

[tudizzle]

does that mean you got a set of betterboards for sale....cheap!



BB's use the stock outside rail right?


Thats why Skibreeze does all my stuff for me...I always make those simple little mistakes that fug everything up. LOL

The wider boards are better anyway....win win.

 

[Tec]

oops, looks better then a 2x6 tho! Is that your sled Paul? you rocking the smurf this winter

 

[PJ-Hunter]

does that mean you got a set of betterboards for sale....cheap!



BB's use the stock outside rail right?


Thats why Skibreeze does all my stuff for me...I always make those simple little mistakes that fug everything up. LOL

The wider boards are better anyway....win win.

If he doesn't, I do. I was gonna try and sell em at the show but I couldn't make it. Mine are black and gently used.

Installation is cake. lay the board down and mark the INSIDE of the holes in the BB. Then complete the line and cut. Makes for a very clean and sturdy install. I like the BB better than the WRP because the sides go higher up on the tunnel for support, whereas the WRP boards, while they have a cool mountain shape are a tad low for my liking. Again, this is all personal preference.

 

[SledsWest]

does that mean you got a set of betterboards for sale....cheap!



BB's use the stock outside rail right?


Thats why Skibreeze does all my stuff for me...I always make those simple little mistakes that fug everything up. LOL

The wider boards are better anyway....win win.

Yessir, I've got a set of BB's for sell, brand new for $190 + shipping from Denver.

No thats not my sled, mine is black and grey. Thats just the demo from the WRP website. I'll post some pics of mine. My wide boards should be here today, gonna install em this weekend. Here are some pics of my sled showing what I actually did.....this is how far I got when I realized that I had just cut way more off than I should have......

 

[SledsWest]

Installation is cake. lay the board down and mark the INSIDE of the holes in the BB. Then complete the line and cut.

Yeah, I figured that one out the hard way. Somebody should do a write up with pics or do a video on how install the better boards, it woulda saved me from almost offing myself

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Yessir, I've got a set of BB's for sell, brand new for $190 + shipping from Denver.

No thats not my sled, mine is black and grey. Thats just the demo from the WRP website. I'll post some pics of mine. My wide boards should be here today, gonna install em this weekend. Here are some pics of my sled showing what I actually did.....this is how far I got when I realized that I had just cut way more off than I should have......

OMFG!! That does not look good. You may wanna try and get some Van Amburg boards/rails. Since you already wiped your stock rail. He makes a set that replaces the stock rails. Better Boards are just meant to stiffenthe existing rail and make snow removal better with more traction for the boot.

And ya, I'm asking $80 for my used 1 year boards. Plus postage.

 

[tudizzle]

WRP wides also replace the stock rail...so it can be WIDER



Doesn't look like much of the inside lip is left either...hope you still got enough to rivet the new boards too.

 

[tudizzle]

Let us know how they are after the install....like the wider option but but for 400 you could get those new airframes from SKinz

 

[SledsWest]

WRP wides also replace the stock rail...so it can be WIDER



Doesn't look like much of the inside lip is left either...hope you still got enough to rivet the new boards too.

I'll be OK, I already sent these pics to the WRP guys and they are pretty confident that their boards will work. I'm praying to the Gods of fixing snowmobiles that it works. Otherwise I've got a $2K tunnel swap out coming my way.

 

[tudizzle]

your "currently" fits too well right now

 

[SledsWest]

your "currently" fits too well right now

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I'll be OK, I already sent these pics to the WRP guys and they are pretty confident that their boards will work. I'm praying to the Gods of fixing snowmobiles that it works. Otherwise I've got a $2K tunnel swap out coming my way.

Good. My first BetterBoards install ended up with an ER visit. My friend was using the air nibbler and slipped, ended up gashing his hand pretty good. Tore a couple stitches the next day riding too.

When I put on the updated set and my wife's sled's set, I used a aluminum cutting wheel and finished off the cuts with a pneumatic hack saw. That worked swell.

 

[SledsWest]

Got my WRP wideboards today from rockymountainsnowmobile.com Ordered them monday and they got here wednesday!! awesome. I dry fit them to my disaster of a stock board removal and thanks be to Zeus, they fit and will work great!!!

Here are some pics that I took of the WRP and the BB's side by side for a comparison. I also took a pic of the two boards on top of each other (yep, this thread now includes some board on board action!!) to illustrate PJ's point that the BB's do go up the tunnel a little more, but only by a couple inches and they also go all the way into the foot well, while the WRP's don't.

 

[tudizzle]

how much wider are they....about?

Is it a noticable difference.