09 Lower Steering Mount Bent

[mkoon35]

First time poster, love the site. Tons of great info. I just bought an 09 Nytro that had been in an accident and am putting it back together. I realized in doing so when attempting to put the steering back together, that the plate where it connects near the nose is bent. The old steering shaft was bent pretty bad in the accident, so it make sense it's bent up, but now it's out of alignment. Here's my questions:

1) Is it possible to bend it back? If so, any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not sure I can get it back to normal as the steel is creased a little.
2) Is it advisable to take it in to have that bracket cut off and a new one welded on? To avoid removing the frame?
3) If I have to take the frame out, how hard is it? I've seen a ton of posts, it appears easy when reading online, but it looks like a lot of work when I look at it. I'm mechanically inclined, but I'm not super knowledgeable on tolerances, etc...when putting it back together. I just don't want to end up having to take it in and pay a bunch of money to have it adjusted properly, etc.... once I put it back together.
4) How do I know if that's the only issue with the frame? Are there any tips or measurements I can take to ensure it's otherwise fine? I've seen the thousands of posts about frame issues on this thing, but the only real thing I've read about telling if it's bent is looking at the lower gusset(with the circle), to see if it's wrinkled.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hooray!]

Welcome... You came to the right place. Grizz and others here are Nytro masters, Barn of Parts likely has parts and frame members you might need. I rebuilt my 2009 XTX, all the gory details archived in my 24 page Front End + thread for others to see my pain and suffering! If you are mechanically inclined, it is only a matter or nuts and bolts. In any front end encounter, confirm if the frame is bent, no sense building good on bad. Nytro front ends are tender, 2008s were worse, Grizz knows, he may have some geometry checks and BOP likely has a front end frame if required. Nytros are built like a GP motorcycle so there is zero room around anything, how Yamaha rolls... Enjoy the rebuild as they are music on the snow.

 

[1nc 2000]

Check the gap between the shock and the upper a arms aft side, they should be the same. In the pic it looks like that stem mount has a nice bow in it.

 

[mkoon35]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. 1nc 2000, "stem mount", are you referring to the lower steering mount plate? It does have basically a divot in it which you can see where the "line" is on it, which is actually a crease, So it's bowed in from top to bottom and pushed back, so I would need to raise/flatten it out and then pitch it down towards the nose.

I did measure from the spring to the back upper control arm and they were pretty close the same on both sides, maybe 1/8 diff.

I'm really after how do I know if this frame has other issues because I hate to fix that mount only to find out later it has further issues.

If I do end up buying a new front frame, where is the best place to get one?

 

[Mountaintech]

The subframe is actually not hard to remove from sled.

 

[Dr. FeeLGooD]

I would try bend it back. What do you have to lose? If you can bend it with pressure, rather than beating on it is how I would try. If you can fit a scissor jack or use a prybar. I have straightened a steering gate by tying a looped rope and twisting it to make it tight. But then again I am a self proclaimed backyard hack. And I agree, very easy to remove subframe if you have mechanical sense. There isnt much to line up on it. The bolts go where the holes are. (unless they are egged out, thats another story.) If Grizz has a subframe with his kit in it, that would be my first choice. It will be straight if it comes from him.