My 550SX Turf Job With Lifter Wedges

Mr Bojangles · 03-05-2010, 07:16 PM

Well it was requested that I post this, so I am. Basically I decided to install my own lifter wedges, rather than make foot holds, why? Because I didnt want to dig into the ski anymore than I had too. Here is how it started........

I first striped everything down, including the rubber mats, but I left the plastic tray on, and filled the holes with silicone, and ground down anything high with a grinder.

Next I took some B-stock, and made them 6 layers thick, they are 2 X 8 inches.....

I stood on the ski, and put a layer of the foam mat, and turf down, along with my shoes to get the right hight, and I taped them in, but in the pic I just did it for reference.

Next I took the wedges after they dried, and took them to my belt sander, but a dremel or something like that would work as well, just to smooth them since I was going to turf over them.

Then I measured them a bunch to make sure they were the same, and then I pre drilled everything, and used 2 stainless screws, and some contact cement on the wedges. I also roughed up the areas I was going to stick to on the plastic tray, and used sealant on the screws where they went into the hull a bit......

After that I just fought the turf for awhile with a heat gun, and made sure I had extra, and I managed to get it all covered in one piece, it looks and feels good to me.....

jetskitokey · 03-05-2010, 07:21 PM

looking good! definatley going to use this idea when I returf my 550sx. How hard was it to form the turf around the lifters? i'm assuming that you used a heat gun....

Mr Bojangles · 03-05-2010, 07:33 PM

I used a heat gun, and it was time consuming, Before I put the glue down, I did glue the top of the rail first, then used the heat gun and formed it around the wedge, then applied the contact cement, and while it dried, I put sticks to keep it from touching, and it worked like a champ. I did make sure I had excess around the tray area and just trimmed it off and anything that was short was hidden by the tray turf.

nick matthews13 · 03-05-2010, 07:51 PM

nice job!! and when u put the hydro turf bumpers on did u tuck the extra turf under the bumper or did u cut it off
do u kno what i mean?

Mr Bojangles · 03-05-2010, 08:05 PM

I cut it off. I bonded extra on, and then I took a razor blade and heated it up and cut it on a 45 degree angle. I heard that cuting it on the angle will help keep the turf from pealing up on the rails and it looks cool too

nick matthews13 · 03-05-2010, 08:14 PM

so just put the turf on then cut it off with a razor once its all on? thanx

Mr Bojangles · 03-05-2010, 08:33 PM

Just make sure it's sharp and hot so you get a nice clean cut other wise you will get a nasty jaged cut and it will look bad.

nick matthews13 · 03-05-2010, 08:44 PM

ok thanx man
heat up the blade and turf or just blade?

Mr Bojangles · 03-05-2010, 11:39 PM

You heat the turf only to help form it to the curves and shapes, once it hits the contact cement, it's stuck. So for the rails that are 90 degrees, I coated everything with the glue and put the top on first, then with the heat gun, heated it and let it bend to the shape, and then it stuck on the angle. Once it was stuck, then I heated up the razor blade, and cut the leftover turf off. The turf cuts better with a hot blade rather than a cold one. But a brand new one will just just as good as long as it's new and sharp one

Liquid-6 · 03-05-2010, 11:44 PM

It looks great, Wish I had done something like that.