"Tuner" Skis

DUAL KEEL SKIS, you've got to be kidding me!!!

These skis prove Yamaha's engineers are diabolical, money hungry masochists or
not that bright!!!

From 2001 the 8EX, 8FE, 8EN, 8FX and 8AC ski have reportedly preformed unsatisfactory. That being said, the 2011 Apex and 2012 Trail ski are functionally inferior to the previous Yamaha skis.

Yamaha unveils new ski

Are they confirming their 2011 Apex and 2012 Trail ski do not cut darting – keep a relatively light steering effort have it be predictable, handle precisely and maintain control? Ergo, Yamaha must already realize both the 2011 and 2012 missed the mark again.

Multirods
Steel ski designs
Reasons dual
Woody's temporary fix

Don't waste a dime on "Tuner" skis or their wear rods!!! The 2001 8EX ski is also a better design than the 8HG, 8HV skis.

Center keel skis let you corner better at speed and with less effort!!! Simmons and Precision skis have proven this.

I talked to a Yamaha rep at the Milwaukee Snow Show. I was told they had been working on the "Tuner" ski over the last 4 years. He said they had put some of what they had learned, developing the "Tuner" ski, into the 2012 Trail ski. He mentioned the spindle bolt location came from the "Tuner" ski research (I didn't question this until I placed their 2", 4" and 6" carbides on the "Tuner ski". Snowmibilers deserve better than these poorly designed carbides.). After failing to develop a good ski for 2011 and a questionable 2012 Trail ski I hold little hope for the "Tuner" ski. The idea that Snowmobilers should buy, up to 4 combinations of wear rods to fine tune the skis is ridiculous.

For those not familiar with dual runner skis or rods, the inside carbide of the outside ski does all the work when turning. There is no advantage to using more than 4" of carbide on the outside keel. Also, the longest carbide Yamaha offers is 6". Their power-steering will help some but I will not give the Tuner Ski the benefit of the doubt!

2013 Yamaha Catalog - Tuner Ski

SnowGoer Magazine, 2013 Spring, page 42

Install Tuner Skis on Pre-2013 Yamaha, FX Nytro Modles

To significantly improve the handling characteristics of Pre-2013 Yamaha FX Nytro models, ditch the stock skis and install a set of Yamaha Tuner skis that are standard on 2013 modles. Tuner skis are a nice improvement that "Normalizes" FX Nytro snowmobiles and turns them into much better trail sleds than what came out of the crate. The new dual-keel skis virtually eliminate darting while drastically improving traction and the overall "feel" of the sled so that coasting, accelerating, steady speeds and cornering are smother and more enjoyable. Except to pay about $275.00 for a set of Tuner skis with carbides.

American Snowmobiler, Spring 2013, page 42

Early negative ride impressions

... Our Yamaha has been bulletproof so far. Unfortunately the tendency to overcorrect in the corners with the Nytro is still prevalent. We are working with some more carbide combinations with dual-keel Tuner ski in hopes of correcting this more, but to date we are still doing a fair amount of sled wrestling in the corners.

SnowTech Jan/Feb 2012, page 26

Yamaha OEM Carbide Runners

Yamaha engineers and calibration technicians go to great lengths to give each of their models they offer specific handling characteristics. Part of this model-specific calibration comes from the exact set of carbide runners used on each sled. Not only is it a matter of stud pattern and amount of carbide insert, but also one of host bar size. Just as more carbide length makes for a more aggressive runner, so does the host bar diameter, or size.

Just by installing a different set of runners you can greatly change the way your sled handles out on the trail. If you want lighter steering effort and less ski lift, try a runner with less carbide and/or a smaller host bar size. If you want less pushing and better bite through the corners, go to more carbide length and runners with a larger host bar size.

Yamaha offers several different runners in both the 11mm and 9mm host bar sizes. Runners for mountain skis have a taller shoulder on the studs, where trail sled runners have shorter stud shoulders. Point is, there are many "stock" carbide runners available from Yamaha, and the exact one you use will make a real and noticeable difference in how the sled handles. Pay attention to the exact part number of carbide runner for your exact model.

Most Yamaha dealers will be able to offer suggestions as to exactly what runners will work on which sleds for the desired effect. And of course, there are many aftermarket runners to choose from that can accomplish the same end results.

Now for 2012 Yamaha also offers their new "Tuner Ski" that is a dual-runner ski with four different carbide runners, so riders can custom-tune their skis and handling of their sleds to their specific conditions and preferences.