TO Stud OR NOT TO STUD

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gogebictodd

New member
Just purchased a 08 Nytro with studs down the middle, but at one time the entire track was studded. Took it to a dealer to have it checked out after the purchase and before the 1st ride(no snow in da UP can;t ride yet). They informed me the heat exchanger was punctured when a stud came loose, and clearly welded and not replaced. No leaks, but concerned 1) is this a common event with studs? 2)Should I be concerned about the performance of a welded Heat exchanger? Dealer stated the cost for a new exchanger is
$600 plus at least that in labor OUCH........................Remove the studs?
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
I would be more worried that the engine overheated!! Studs are part of riding style but I never ride without studs. Noticed new 2012 MXZ comes with the option for standard iceripper track which I would take over studs everytime.
 
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gogebictodd

New member
Studs

Thanks Whitedust!

Dealer stated they checked the motor out and all seems fine. So, you think
ok with welded Heat Ex?

Seems to run fine, of course I just ran going up the driveway, and putting her in the garage. Never heard of the track you referred to. Sure will consider when I have to replace the current one.

I fear I was taken on the USED purchase, now having near $6500 into it(08 with 2900 miles on it). dealer quote, "that sled was ridden hard" I did have them install the yamiheater grips, and they replaced the ball joints, at yami's cost since was a bulletin. Otherwise, oil and crank case changed, check adjusted, exhaust donuts and gaskets installed to get the exhaust quieter. The prior owner had a after market exhaust on it and slapped it back together when reinstalling the orginal. I was very disappointed when the dealer told me about the above issues. Live and Learn I guess.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
I have had exchangers welded for my self and sleds that I have worked on it will last 4 ever.
 
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catalac

Active member
Yea, that weld will last forever with no probs. I've had studs on all my sleds and love em. Helps in stopn' and gettn' out of the hole!
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
The weld if done right is a fine fix & should hold well. Yep not surprised your used Nytro was rode hard & put up wet. That is the market the Nytro was made for bangers & abusers.lol :)
 
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tundra ron

New member
studs

I helped changed a heat exchanger on a vmax had to be removed and welded this is the worst job on a yamaha engine has to be removed to remove exchanger very ugly job
 
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polarisman_98

Member
Studs - depends who you ask. If indy500 sees this thread he will say no studs - I think he had a heat exchanger problem too. I say yes, but not too many. You don't need a crazy amount and do not put them outside of the rails. I bought an 05 Fusion in 2006 that had like 196 or something crazy like that. I've since sold it. 96 in the middle is fine. Just make sure you check them each year to make sure none are loose or anything. I've had studs on every sled I've owned and while I have had some break off, I've never had one go through a heat exchanger.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
If you think you have to have studs then go by the stud charts that recomend how many to use by type of riding and sleds HP. to little of studs and you will get stud pull thru and wreck your track. I wouls stud only a sled used for "Ricky Racer" types. sure if you say, "I need for braking" simply means your going to fast anyways. Done it both ways. Studs are nice for holding to the trail (track) when trying to lose your buds behind you. I do not like what they do to my garage floor or trailer or the added rolling weight eating away HP. With off trail you do not want studs. I believe if your sled was to really need studs than the manufacturers would sell them that way. my two cents.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
polarisman_98 said:
Studs - depends who you ask. If indy500 sees this thread he will say no studs - I think he had a heat exchanger problem too. I say yes, but not too many. You don't need a crazy amount and do not put them outside of the rails. I bought an 05 Fusion in 2006 that had like 196 or something crazy like that. I've since sold it. 96 in the middle is fine. Just make sure you check them each year to make sure none are loose or anything. I've had studs on every sled I've owned and while I have had some break off, I've never had one go through a heat exchanger.
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Yes, I put studs thru the heat exchanger on 2 diff sleds last year with same amount of miles and same model sled. I will say right now, pull them out, if one let loose, another is bound to. I wouldn't be worried about the performance of the welded heat exchanger, it just can't leak. If you want more grip, go with a bigger lug, studs imo are not the way to go. TONS of added weight and the track don't last as long. But, you may prefer to ride lakes, and need some studs. Then, i'd go with the pre-studded tracks with the little nobby studs on the end of each lug.
 
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russholio

Well-known member
I would say, as others have, it depends on what type of riding you want to do. I would also say that being a "Ricky Racer" or "Professional Trail Racer" type has little to do with it -- I'm neither one of those and I wouldn't consider riding without studs. Trails (at least in many parts of Michigan) often get quite icy. Last Saturday the wife and I were riding very hilly and icy terrain (at low to moderate speeds) in the UP and I don't know if we'd have made some of those hills without studs. If you plan on riding strictly off-trail, then no -- studs are not necessary.

I've had three sleds (four if you count the wife's) and 15,000 - 20,000 miles with studs, never had one pull or tear out, and bent only a small handful. I have 9,000 miles on my current sled and not had a single engine problem and it's never been opened. But, and maybe this is a big factor (or maybe not, I don't know) I'm not hard on it and I'm not concerned about getting every last bit of horsepower out of it that I can. If having the studs means a few less HP, so be it -- I'd rather have piece of mind. Yeah, they are not kind to the garage floor (my sleds are rarely in the garage anyhow since I have to trailer everywhere I go) or the trailer deck, but there are ways around that.

As for track life, well....I don't know if studs decrease it or not, but I've gotten 5+ years out of all my studded tracks. Some of them I've even restudded.

Not disputing or poo-pooing any other opinions, just stating my experience.
 
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snow_monkey

New member
russholio said:
I would say, as others have, it depends on what type of riding you want to do. I would also say that being a "Ricky Racer" or "Professional Trail Racer" type has little to do with it -- I'm neither one of those and I wouldn't consider riding without studs. Trails (at least in many parts of Michigan) often get quite icy. Last Saturday the wife and I were riding very hilly and icy terrain (at low to moderate speeds) in the UP and I don't know if we'd have made some of those hills without studs. If you plan on riding strictly off-trail, then no -- studs are not necessary.

I've had three sleds (four if you count the wife's) and 15,000 - 20,000 miles with studs, never had one pull or tear out, and bent only a small handful. I have 9,000 miles on my current sled and not had a single engine problem and it's never been opened. But, and maybe this is a big factor (or maybe not, I don't know) I'm not hard on it and I'm not concerned about getting every last bit of horsepower out of it that I can. If having the studs means a few less HP, so be it -- I'd rather have piece of mind. Yeah, they are not kind to the garage floor (my sleds are rarely in the garage anyhow since I have to trailer everywhere I go) or the trailer deck, but there are ways around that.

As for track life, well....I don't know if studs decrease it or not, but I've gotten 5+ years out of all my studded tracks. Some of them I've even restudded.

Not disputing or poo-pooing any other opinions, just stating my experience.
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It is just common sense. If you gun it on hard surfaces or even sharp rough ice you can beat up a track. If you gun it in low snow conditions you will dig down to rocks and rocks are hard. Most bad bad stuff happens on concrete and loading and unloading on to trailers and sewer grates!!!
 
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tpayner19

New member
I too had one go through the front heat exchanger and when I bought my next sled (2002 Viper) I did not put them on. Then I hit an icy turn at about 20 MPH (not very fast) and still slowing. I had no grip on the ice with a bare track and slid into the berm came off my sled and broke my back on a tree. I was torn after that. Studs or no studs. I decided on an Ice Claw and it was exactly what I was looking for. Transfered that one to my wifes sled and put an Ice Ripper on my Apex.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
tpayner19 said:
I too had one go through the front heat exchanger and when I bought my next sled (2002 Viper) I did not put them on. Then I hit an icy turn at about 20 MPH (not very fast) and still slowing. I had no grip on the ice with a bare track and slid into the berm came off my sled and broke my back on a tree. I was torn after that. Studs or no studs. I decided on an Ice Claw and it was exactly what I was looking for. Transfered that one to my wifes sled and put an Ice Ripper on my Apex.
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X2 I agree iceripper best of both worlds.
 
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mjkaliszak

New member
whitedust said:
The weld if done right is a fine fix & should hold well. Yep not surprised your used Nytro was rode hard & put up wet. That is the market the Nytro was made for bangers & abusers.lol :)
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I have 2 sleds with Ice rippers, 1 that used to have studs in it but I removed them ( it was too hooked up " and the other ( different sled ) I'm going to put studs in. I believe in studs, have been running them since the early 90's when my buds " left me behind " on an icy road. I must have installed thousands since then ( went thru 288 3 times ) in my T-cat alone . I never had 1 come loose and puncture the heat exchanger. I'm on sled 10 since 1994 not counting the small cc kids sleds. That puncturing a HT exchanger seems to happen more to the " SEA & SNOW " haters than the average joe..... ( LOL INDY )

I wouldn't worry so much about the rode hard, rode hard to me is those guy's that do the 60 & 80 ft jumps at 50 - 60 mph. We have 2 guy's that we ride with that have a rtx & xtx, and those seem to take a beating. Like whitedust said above ! They have had some problems with panel fasteners and a few small things and swapped out the gas tanks for the AM BIG size ones but other than that... they took the same abuse my sleds do. Just go thru it, replace what is needed and keep up on the maintenence. Hope you enjoy your machine,
 
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