Hygear Slicast A-arm Issue

[grizztracks]

I installed the Slicast a-arms on a 2008 Nytro and according to the directions for a 08 installation the stock camber can be achieved by placing 6 shim washers on the ball joint side of the arms. After doing this it looks like my skis have to much camber compared to the stock a-arms. I did a rough measurement and it appears that with the Slicast arms shimmed for stock settings the arms are at least 1/4" (6.35 mm) shorter than stock. From what I remember, removing 2.5 mm off the shoulder of the ball joints would give the same camber as a 09+ Nytro. With what I'm looking at there is no way to set the camber to the 08 or the 09+ stock geometry. I know that the 09+ lower a-arms are a little shorter than the 08's and I'm assuming the uppers are also a little shorter to match so I'm wondering if Hygear makes two different lengths for the Nytro.

Can someone with a 2008 front end and Slicast arms installed take a measurement from the small portion of the bushing tube to the outside of the aluminum cam?

 

[herndonp]

Give Ross a call at Hygear. I bet he can help you with that.

Pete

 

[grizztracks]

I will be calling them to get more information but so far I'm not liking these arms. I bought them more for the caster adjustment and I could careless about the camber adjustment because I can adjust that by taking material off of the ball joint. 1/4" shorter than stock means I'm stuck with several degrees of negative camber that I really didn't want. I also contacted them two weeks ago because the grease fitting positioning makes them difficult to grease and I already have loose bushing with less than 100 miles. They said they know about the fitting and they'd send out new bushings but I'm still waiting on the bushings.



Stock a-arm measurement


Slicast a-arm measurement

 

[herndonp]

I see what you mean. It looks like a 5/16" difference even with the 6 spacers.

Pete

 

[birdmayon]

Interesting, I ordered a set of these arms when they first came out ( for a 2008), and I only got 8 spacers. Makes me think my setup must be WAY off .

 

[rrxx-1]

Very interesting Grizz, keep us updated with any info you get from Hygear.

 

[grizztracks]

I removed the Slicast a-arms, measured all the bushings and found one larger than the others. After talking to Hygear about the grease fitting location, loose bushing and the fact that they are to short for a 2008 Nytro they want me to ship them back. I'm not positive but I think they are trying to make the 09+ a-arms work on the 2008 models without having to produce a specific set for one year. Hygear agreed to refund my money if I desired. Because I've had to reinstalled my OEM arms again I'm going to abandon the Slicast arms this season. I hope they can correct these problems and offer an a-arm that will work on a 2008.

 

[1975FA]

Hygear told me they used an 09 for the pattern to set up the upper A arms. When I got mine they sent the wrong bushings because the 09 uses a larger shaft.

 

[grizztracks]

Hygear told me they used an 09 for the pattern to set up the upper A arms. When I got mine they sent the wrong bushings because the 09 uses a larger shaft.

Did you have to place 6 shim washers on the ball joint side of the a-arm? Can someone measure from the small portion of the bushing tube of the slicast arm out to the spindle bolt?

 

[birdmayon]

Grizz, I cant measure for you cause my sled is a few states away. I called hygear two days ago since i didn't receive 14 washers with my 08 arms. They had extra washers in the mail the yesterday morning. I will add one or two more washers to the outside of the arms, I was running 4 on the outside last year cause that's all I had. The sled took some effort to turn but stuck like glue through the turns. I'd never ridden it with the stock arms so I didn't have anything to compare against. Should be a bit easier to flick around once I add a few washers.

 

[grizztracks]

Even with the extra washers to reduce the amount of negative camber you still will be short 1/4" from the stock settings. When I installed the Slicast arms with "stock settings" the toe went from 1/2" out to 1/2" in which made me question them from the start. With the wider Curve skis you can really see the difference from stock settings. I also don't believe what they are calling the stock caster settings (zero index on the cam adjuster) are actually correct for a 2008 Nytro's geometry. I wouldn't recommend these for the 08 models but I'm sure they are fine on the newer geometry. It's to bad because the 08's actually might benefit more with the ability to make adjustments.

They offer the Slicast arms for the MTX sleds. Don't they run shorter a-arms than the other versions? Is it possible that I got the MTX arms?

 

[1975FA]

Hygear told me they used an 09 for the pattern to set up the upper A arms. When I got mine they sent the wrong bushings because the 09 uses a larger shaft.

Did you have to place 6 shim washers on the ball joint side of the a-arm? Can someone measure from the small portion of the bushing tube of the slicast arm out to the spindle bolt?

I now have the stack of 6 washers on it. Last year I shimmed it out with the washers they sent. It rode hard on the inside of the ski's. It did turn well and didn't dart. The cam ajustment is at 2. I just laid a measuring stick on the upper ball joint as it now sets. From the face of the cam to the outer edge of the spindle bolt head is 2 11/32 inch.When I was having shock work done at hygear this fall they hit me with did you get the update kit for your A-arms? They gave to me and told me what to do. I thought way to follow up on your supposed to fit parts. I do think it handles as well as any sled I've owned.

 

[birdmayon]

1975, what was in the "update kit" other than extra washers?

 

[birdmayon]

1975, what was in the "update kit" other than extra washers?

 

[grizztracks]

I was not unhappy with the 08 geometry. I purchased the Slicast arms more out of curiosity rather than a possibly fix to a problem. I've rode the newer Nytro's and by far mine out performs any I've rod so far.

I checked the caster angle with the cam set at index #2 and compared it to the other side with the stock a-arm installed and there was no measurable difference. With the 6 shims you are running an additional 3 degrees of negative camber which can't be adjusted out and I feel is to much. So the biggest issue I have with these a-arms is that I purchased them under the assumption that would add more adjustability. From my discussions with Hygear so far I believe they are genuinely interested in my concerns and insured me they would keep me informed on their findings.