Painted tunnels

[live2beel]

How are the painted tunnels holding up? Does one brand hold up better than others? I know it's hard to properly bond paint to aluminum. Thanks

 

[SRXSRULE]

Not near as well as they did back in the late 90's and early 00's. The stuff they used back then was tough stuff and held up very well. I stripped the tunnels on a few yamahas and it took some NASTY aircraft stripper to get that stuff off. The sleds now will chip/scratch if you look at them wrong. Eric

 

[Vern]

Have to agree, my '14 cat definitely has some flaking goin on.

 

[Motodrew]

I just use an self etching primer (flat black) on my tunnel. I usually touch it up each summer...

 

[Mafesto]

I get a kick out of this topic.
In '98 SkiDoo brought out the first Summit X w/bare tunnel celebrating the weight lost by this move. LOL




Now we are told you have to have a painted tunnel to shed snow. OK
I would bet none of us could feel the advantage or disadvantage either way, yet we follow like a bunch of stupid damned sheep!

 

[SRXSRULE]

I get a kick out of this topic.
In '98 SkiDoo brought out the first Summit X w/bare tunnel celebrating the weight lost by this move. LOL

Its funny you mention that. Both the sleds I stripped the paint from the chassis were race sleds. If I recall it removed 5-7 lbs.

I had a friend that raced Sprint cars and never painted anything on his chassis. It was all bare steel (cr-moly) and was just rubbed down with WD-40.
Just think how much a gal of paint weighs Its free weight removal. Eric