Yamaha Apex
Tools Required
- Drill 3/16 bit or #11 bit
- Metal cutting saw or plasma
- Clamps
- Marking pen
- Small disc sander or grinder
- Always wear eye and ear protection
Instructions
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Place Better Board on the existing running board as a cutting template. There is an obvious fitment position from the front footwell accessory to the rear bracket. Clamp and trace with marking pen your cut path around the front cleat positions (cut out one large hole). Trace another cut path round the rear cleat section (see cut out photo). Remove Better Board for cutting and future install.
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Remove Better Board for cutting and future install. Drill out all rivets associated to the running board cooler on the foot bed. Remove any suspension bolts or rivets from the running board at the rear suspension bracket. Drill out outer extrusion support rivets. Keep the tabs in place as that is your guide hole for all installation and rivets.
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You have two choices here. One is to precisely cut along your marked path with a narrow cutting wheel. This method requires extreme precision as the coolers are immediately under the running board and can be damaged easily if cut through. We found that if you scored the running board aluminum along your cut path on the cooling areas that you could bend and work that metal until it breaks off clean and does not damage the cooling system and doesn’t require complete removal of the coolers. (it is also preferable to separate the foot bed metal from the cooler with a screw driver or pick to insure that the cutting tool only scores the foot bed metal and does not cut into the cooler) The preferred method is to drill out the rivets and completely remove each cooler prior to cutting. Follow the same procedure for the rear cut out space.
(CUT OUT A SLIGHTLY LARGER THEN THE WINDOW PATTERN OF THE BETTER BOARD SO THAT METAL DOES NOT SHOW THROUGH THE WINDOWS UPON INSTALLATION. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN UP WITH THE COOLERS IN PLACE SO A MINIMUM OF 1/8” LARGER CUT OUT IS PREFERRED)
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Re-install the coolers if they have been removed for the cutting phase.
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You will notice that there are a couple cooler tabs that show through the windows of the Better Boards. Mark and carefully remove those tabs. Keep the others in place for riveting the coolers to the Better Boards. Hammer down each star cleat to flat and create as flat of a working surface as possible.
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Position your Better Board and clamp into place. Drill back up through each tab both outer extrusion and cooling from the bottom up into the Boards. Place and set a rivet as you go. It is recommended to drill and install one rivet at a time so that no metal bunching or shifting occurs. Remember that there is a larger plastic panel attachment screw for the outer front connection that requires a larger drill hole and some aftermarket tunnels have additional fasteners to deal with. Once you have completed the rivet process along the foot making certain to connect all remaining cooler tabs to the Better Boards you can drill and rivet the raised L support to the tunnel. It helps to have an assistant lift the outer edge of the running board to tighten against the tunnel when setting your rivets.
