Round nose pole on square nose

[djyox]

Well, after some searching (I say some because I didn't do a WHOLE lot...) I figured maybe someone would like to have the info in the new SJ area of the forum.

So, how do I do it? Can I use my old bracket? Do I need to make a new one? does anyone sell one? What about a lowered bracket, or is that not needed because the square is already lower than the RN?


Thanks!

[Frosty]

when i did mine, i bought a conversion bracket from Pete Jacobs. It keeps the same footprint of the SN bracket but moved the pole mounts in for the narrower pole. you have to reposition your hood hooks though, as they are relocated outward like on a RN hood.

I've heard of others using an OEM RN bracket, and just glassing over the holes and drilling new ones for the new bracket. IMO if you do this you'll really want to reinforce under the pole mount area as the smaller bracket won't spread the load out as much as the larger SN bracket does.

[SXIPro]

when i did mine, i bought a conversion bracket from Pete Jacobs. It keeps the same footprint of the SN bracket but moved the pole mounts in for the narrower pole. you have to reposition your hood hooks though, as they are relocated outward like on a RN hood.

I've heard of others using an OEM RN bracket, and just glassing over the holes and drilling new ones for the new bracket. IMO if you do this you'll really want to reinforce under the pole mount area as the smaller bracket won't spread the load out as much as the larger SN bracket does.

I'd like to hear some opinions on this idea, as I was contemplating doing it to my square over the winter, I am just not a fan of the stock square pole at all.

[Frosty]

http://www.x-h2o.com/showthread.php?t=9516&highlight=conversion+bracket&page=2

try this out... i think there was some good stuff in there

[SXIPro]

Thanks!! :smile:

[sflsurfrider]

the mod i did, in the thread that frosty linked, worked very well. the only issues besides alotta grinding was manipulating the spring to work with it. it might even be a 550 spring.

[DaUpJetSkier]

i didnt look at the link above but definately search, its been covered a bunch then post the good links at the top to make things easier, actually should be in the faq how to forum. Yes you can use an oem SN bracket, yes you can use an oem RN bracket, custom and other makes work as well. I have the SN bracket with spacers and it works awesome, next choice would be aftermarket, then RN I dont like the RN bracket b/c its smaller than the base of the SN.

[WaterX117]

I used my SN bracket. I bought a couple 3/4 inch stainless nuts and put them to the grinder until I had a nice tight fit between the bracket and RN pole. Has worked very nice so far this entire year. Also went with the two bolt design rather than the single bolt.

[guiness92]

I have an xmetal bracket and pole on my square, and like said above, I would highly recommend re-inforcing the entire pole mount area. There is also a bump on the underside of the pole mount area that you will need to grind down for the backing plate to sit flush. Without re-inforcing the pole mount area, it will be very weak. when re-inforcing you may also want to make a wedge to make the pole mount area have less of an angle so you can extend the pole all the way up. I'll see if I can dig up pics of mine.

[accbr]

When I first did this I put 6 layers of cloth under there and filled in the sides with thickened epoxy. You don't realize how week that is until you look under there.

[oxnard111]

When I first did this I put 6 layers of cloth under there and filled in the sides with thickened epoxy. You don't realize how week that is until you look under there.

The whole area is weak, for sure. The whole front area flexes so bad in stock form.

I did my conversion on my chick's square. She hardly rides it, and it doesn't get thrashed at all. When I did my conversion recently, I used a stock round nose bracket.

1) I first ground off that hook thingy on bracket itself. I removed the rubber stopper on the bracket. I ground off all the corrosion I could, then painted it with some rattle can epoxy paint.

2) I then decided to just do a couple layers of reinforcing on the top and to use a large backing plate on the under side. As said earlier, when looking from the bottom there is a bump on the flat handle pole area, or when looking from above it looks like a divot/dip. I cut this area out, then used thick epoxy to fill the holes and the big gaping hole.

3) I then layed down two layers of 1708 with mat on the back and one layer of carbon on the top of the handle pole area. I let this dry and sanded kinda smooth, then painted over the whole area.

http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1236.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8242) http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1231%7E0.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8254)

4) I cut out a new hole for the cable to come through. I lined up the handlepole bracket and drilled new holes for it. And installed the bracket with backing plate.

5) Next I sat the hood on the ski and determined where the hood hooks needed to be on the hood. I re located them, then installed the hood hooks on the hull side in the appropriate location.

If the pads on the handle pole bracket are removed the pole moves up quite far enough to work in the engine compartment. If you use a limiting rope on the ski (which everybody should) there are no worries of the pole hyper extending.

http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1242.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8264) http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1243.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8263) http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1247.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8314) http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1244.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8318) http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10511/thumb_IMGP1245.JPG (http://www.x-h2o.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-8317)

[oxnard111]

Here is a link to my crappy build thread for the square.

Square Build (http://www.x-h2o.com/showthread.php?t=14227)