• Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

Installation and Review: SKINZ Air Frame Running Boards

B

big_red1a

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2008
157
50
28
Interested in the 2 mounting points will it balloon the tunnel there over time?
Would the front mount trap a size 13 boot?
Will the small screw tear the bottom of pants and soles of boots?
Weight difference from stock?
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
When it's installed I will get you some nice closeup images.
But I suppose only time will tell on how it effects the tunnel...
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
This has become my all summer project.
Every time I have 15 minutes I work on this beast.

Got the last of the inverted rivets drilled out of the foot pockets at lunch today.

Next is to remove the read track brackets.

This would probably go much faster if I would just sit down and spend a couple hours on it ....:face-icon-small-hap But where's the fun in that
 

grizzly7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Jan 28, 2009
408
75
28
Wisconsin
HA, Just got notification that my boards are on there way do to be here on Tuesday, That sucks since I am in Menno South Dakota dropping my sled of at Ulmer Racing to have 210Hp turbo installed, guess the boards will have to wait a few weeks. I knew this would happen!!!
 

grizzly7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Jan 28, 2009
408
75
28
Wisconsin
Yes New turbo is winning since Im only an hour away from Allens shop, meeting him in the morning to drop off sled, boards will wait!! But I cant wait till all done.
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
That sounds like a sweet deal.
If all goes well, next summer I will step up to forced induction.

The Drop Brackets are OFF the tunnel.

All that is left to do now is CUT...
 

grizzly7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Jan 28, 2009
408
75
28
Wisconsin
cant wait to see your boards installed i will share some pics in Sept-Oct when mine are done and TURBOED!!
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
Next item for me is to buy some Air Tools now.
Need a cutter and a rivet gun.

And I was told to use the new Polaris "Glue" in addition to the rivets to make these boards more secure to the tunnel. Need to go get some of that and the special applicator it requires.

Also need to get some clamps to hold the boards in place during installation.
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
Got the adhesives ordered last night.
Found a guy on E-Bay with a SMOKING deal.

LORD 406/19 Modified Acrylic Adhesive With Glass Beads

406_19_300MLX75ML.jpg


So far as I know, this is what Polaris is now using on their new sleds to cut down on weight as a structural adhesive. And I was told that on the prototype Air Frame Boards, it made a substantial difference over just Riveting alone. And, should the time come that it needs to be removed, that a commercial heat gun will loosen it and allow it to come off.


This stuff also requires an applicator to control the mixing.
EA300M.jpg


And it needs a special mixing tube that should come with the adhesive tubes.

EDS_370-24R.jpg


The Glue cost me $15.
The Gun cost me $60.
The Tube cost me $0.

=========

Note.
If it wasn't for the fact that I got such a deal on E-Bay I would have bought the much smaller 50ml tube and dispenser and gone the cheapest route possible. But since the adhesive was so cheap in the 300ml size, I figured what the heck. Might as well have more and not less of this stuff to work with seeing as how I have never used it before.
 
Last edited:

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
COOL!

Now, everything is done in the PREP section that Skinz calls for BEFORE you begin the install.

I will go down this afternoon and shoot the next round of photos to get the before and after shots of the OEM boards being removed.

All I need now are the next round of tools.

Air Compressor.
Rivet Gun
Grinder
 

grizzly7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Jan 28, 2009
408
75
28
Wisconsin
cant wait to see yours there are some pics on TY of a Nytro with them on, and they look sweet!! Im having my boards sent to Allen at Ulmer racing since he has my sled now for the turbo install. I will have it back after Hay Days in MN I cant wait.
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
In preparation for installing the Skinz Air Frame boards you need to...


Remove the rivets at the base of the foot well.
These rivets are upside down in relation to all the other rivest.

picture.php



picture.php
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
The rear drop brackets that support the track also need to be removed, as well as the support structure that attaches to the underside of the OEM Boards.

Rivets have to be drilled out, and bolts have to be removed to get the brackets off.


picture.php


picture.php
 

christopher

Well-known member
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 1, 2008
81,508
27,371
113
Rigby, Idaho
Of course, once the drop brackets are gone, its a great time to remove the whole rear suspension and do any service that might be needed.

picture.php


picture.php



My next step will be to mandhandle the rear suspension OUT of the track, and then to experience the shear joy of removing the Anti-Ratchet drive that was THRASHED by my May 15th ride over Volcanic Ash in Island Park after the snow had melted.


This project just keeps growing....
 
Premium Features