tunnel protectors

[IZZ]

Can someone help with tunnel protectors? Does anyone have a set for sale? Does anyone know where to get a set? Can I make a set? Ive never seen tunnel protectors before so I dont even know where to start. It seems like it would be a C channel type of thing that slides over the length of the coolers. But plastic or aluminum? I got a guy with a UHMW set on Ebay he "thinks" will fit but he says theyre U channel (I think I would need a C channel) and undrilled, come with instructions but I dont want to risk buying them and they dont work. Yamaha doesnt make them. Shadetree has a listing for a yamaha / polaris, sno stuff protector, but it really doesnt look like what I need either or maybe it is? I dont know couldnt I just buy some Aluminum square tube stock and, create & bend tabs on each end, run them over the length of the cooler and drill and rivet them right up into the tunnel itself with the tabs bent in such a way?
Any help or Input would be appreciated. Thanks IZZ

[Ken]

Izz,

There were special protectors that Yamaha made just for the Vmax-4, they fit on the heat exchangers. They are pretty tough to find.

Most only run the rear protectors. Just keep the studs away from the heat exchangers and watch that you don't have too much stud height over the track height and you should be fine.

Ken

[IZZ]

Ken, So they only fit the Vmax4? I have a guy with a set he said fits a 96 Vmax I would have to order them though. Have you ever seen a set? Im wondering if they slid down the length of the cooler on those 2 lips or fins that run down each side of the cooler? thats the only way I see of attaching them but it seems kinda weird to do that, like it would render the cooler pretty inefficient

[mark the shark]

I only have a couple of pictures of the tunnel protectors. They are the white UHMW strips that run the length of the coolers. I didn't put mine on, I had them installed when I had my track studded for the first time at a speed shop. It looks like they install similar to the way that hyfax is installed on the slide rail. In the picture that shows the rear heat exchanger you can see rivets that hold the back on, so I assume that they slide on some sort of track and the rivet keeps them from sliding off. I'll try to go out and look at mine tomorrow and see if that's the case.
Shark

[IZZ]

Mark, Excellent pictures man! Now I see! They just run along the outside edge of the coolers, keeping the studs from tearing up the sides of the cooler. I was thinking that they wouldve been taller and acted as a stop to limit how high the track could rise. I actualy just bought some 1" aluminum square tube stock yesterday that i was gonna run on top of the length of the coolers, in line with the rear protectors. But I cant help but think that I might have clearance issues with the track rubbing on them. My track should be here tommorow and Ill know more then. It has .9" lugs with 1.25" studs, probably similar in length to what you have there in your picture. Have you ever noticed any issues with that long of studs on your machine? I just wonder if like Ken says that I might be able to get away without them, though the guy Im buying the track from says I must run tunnel protectors or Ill tear my tunnel up???!!!!
Also - did you have to go to 8" drivers to get clearance for those studs? I measured my clearance yesterday between the top of the drivers and the closest point on the tunnel or bulkhead, whatever that parts called and its like 2" so with the width of the track added to the length of my studs thats 1/2" clearance! Worse yet, the previous owner mustve had a studded track at 1 point because in that area the tunnel or whatever its called is gouged up "BAD" at least half as deep as the aluminum is thick there or more! So anyway Im thinking 8" drivers. I was just wondering if you had to do that?
Thanks

[mark the shark]

No, I'm still using the stock drivers. I've got a 1" lug Camoplast track, a little worn down, with 1.187" studs. Never had a problem with rubbing. I always keep my track tightened within specs and it works good. I would recommend you run tunnel protectors. It's cheaper than tearing up your coolers or melting an engine.
Shark

[jminor]

I saw a listing for rear protectors and they listed 92-96 as one number and 97 as another. I have a 97 but am going to install a 92-96 suspension. What should I use??

[mark the shark]

That's a good question. This is only a guess, but maybe they changed the rear heat exchanger on the '97's. I kinda doubt that the suspension would be the difference, but I guess it could be. Where did you see the listing?
Shark

Just looked it up on the Yamaha site. The heat exchanger for the '97 is completely different than the other years. Go with the protectors for the '97.

[IZZ]

Yeah, where did you see the listing jminor? Im working hard to find these things! Oh I just realized that your refering to the rear aluminum protectors, I think anyway. I found those too at a couple different places. Let me know if you found the tunnel protectors somewhere. Thanks

[vmax4rules]

I have tunnel protectors an my 92 (got them from Reichards Performance)
and none on my 96, no issues with either sled. Unless you get your studs
to close to the track windows there is nothing to worry about, as for the
bulkhead being gouged - too loose of a track and or too long of a stud with
a high horsepower sled causing the track to stretch forward as it is being pulled over the drive cogs.
I have a .920 studded on my 96 and a 1.00 studded on my 92 with no issues,
don't get me wrong there is some minor scratching of the bulkhead but nothing major.

[Skinner]

Hey guy's, here is the deal,

I have been looking for these things for over a year, even had it posted here for quite some time with no response. I looked in my reciepts and found the dealer in Minnesota that I purchased the original set in 02 when I started drag racing my Max. I called him in August (brainstorm) to see if he had another set. According to the computer there were two sets somewhere. A month later he called and said he found two sets. To make a long story short, whatever they cost, ship-em. I paid about $100.00 per set. We will be installing one set this Thurs eve in the Max-4 stocker. THEY ARE A SPECIFIC EXTRUDED PROFILE!!! They are longer than they need to be, if you guys give me an address I will send you a piece of the cutoff. You can find someone with a mill that could machine you a set out of UHMW material. When I ran my max on the trails I did'nt have them, but I only ran .975 studs in the stock track. I would NOT recommend setting up the sled for racing without them. The profiles from shadetree are a U shape, I think they are like Polaris (GOD FORBID) and will not work without major mods. I don't know if I really need the second set as the other max-4's have the heat exhangers out of the tunnel. The other problem is if you keep the stock exchangers you cannot use hooker plates. Let me know if you would like me to send you a sample piece.

Skinner

[Skinner]

Info for all,

The tunnel protectors were genuine Yamaha parts.
Part # SHPTUNL2PROT
I pulled out the installation sheet which says nothing about Vmax-4
It says: V-Max 500 / 600 or Exiter and Exiter II tunnel protector installation kit. May have been asking the dealers for the wrong stuff. Makes sense because I "think" the heat exchangers were the same.
IZZ: I am sending you a piece of the profile and a copy of the assembly instructions out via mail today. Let me know if theres anything else I can do for ya

Skinner

:xmas-smil GIV'ER

[WildMax]

97 heat exchanger is the same as the 95-96. I've had all three laying side by side.

[mark the shark]

Then something must be fishy. Here are pictures of the '95 and '97 rear heat exchangers from Ronnie's Yamaha microfiche. The Yamaha site shows the same thing. The part numbers are different, also. Top picture is the '95, bottom is the '97. It also shows the protectors as being different. It looks like the tunnel heat exchangers are the same, just different water tubes in the back.
Shark
http://tinypic.com/f2qwsz.gif
http://tinypic.com/f2qwxv.gif

[vmax4rules]

The bottom pic of the rear exchangers look just like the one in the Vmax600XT chassis I have,
it is sucked up higher in the tunnel and takes a different rear protector than the 1992-96 V4's that I have sitting next to it.

[WildMax]

Shark, The drawings are correct - I thought he wanted to know about the long coolers for those plastic protectors. Those looked the same except for the top outlets on the rear. The rear coolers are way different. The 97's set up on top of the tunnel, mounting about an inch or so higher than the earlier ones. The tunnel is cut different, too. Also, the seat is a different shape in the back.

[jminor]

I saw a listing for rear protectors and they listed 92-96 as one number and 97 as another. I have a 97 but am going to install a 92-96 suspension. What should I use??

I saw the listing in the sled pro catalog here in Canada.

[mark the shark]

WildMax - Not a problem. This thread went from asking about tunnel protectors to rear heat exchangers. I just wanted to make sure we are all on the same page.
Shark

[IZZ]

Well guys Ive looked high & low for these tunnel protectors with no luck. Skinners sending me a chunk he cut off his for a profile model. Im gonna attempt to make a few sets or have a few sets made. Anyone who might be interested in a set let me know.