2004 RX1 play in steering, other RX1 owners please respond

[macgregor]

Hi guys;

just wondering if its normal to see some play in the steering from left to right not up and down, it seems to me there is more play than my 2002 vmax and was wondering if its normal, or should I investigate and is there somethings that I should specifically look for to tighten?

 

[04rxw10]

It could be nothing but I would check it out Yamaha dose use plactic for the bushings in the sled.
Im going to check mine this summer while I have the time to.

 

[low slung]

A bit in mine, own a arctic cat and the yamaha slop seems really tight .

 

[Yamadog]

yeah I have an 03 and 05 both have a good bit of slop, I swapped the 03's with 06 Apex blocks when I re-built it and it was a bit tighter but alot of it comes from the universal joints to make the direction changes in the shaft.

 

[macgregor]

Thanks for the reply, I will examine and check for anything thats suspect, but it sounds like its perfectly normal then to me, I just bought it and no snow on the ground, so I was unable to test ride it, probably once I get it on the snow I will see that its fine, I am just taking a good look at things now, I don;t want any delays when the snow flies ;-)...

cheers Greg.

yeah I have an 03 and 05 both have a good bit of slop, I swapped the 03's with 06 Apex blocks when I re-built it and it was a bit tighter but alot of it comes from the universal joints to make the direction changes in the shaft.

 

[scmurs]

Hey guys,

Here is a replacement product that we sell for the sloppy OEM plastic steering bushings:

It is a direct replacement for the Yamaha bushing and uses a permanently lubricated oilite bushing, so it is no maintenance.

Check out this thread for tkuss' review of the product, as well as, some more installation photos.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=74189

They can be ordered on our website at www.OFTRacing.com

Thanks,
scmurs

 

[macgregor]

NICE!!!, thanks for this info, I am heading off to read the thread.......will hang onto your info, after my finidngs if I need replacement I would be very interested in these parts, actually might replace them just the same and firm everything up

...cheers Greg.

Hey guys,

Here is a replacement product that we sell for the sloppy OEM plastic steering bushings:

It is a direct replacement for the Yamaha bushing and uses a permanently lubricated oilite bushing, so it is no maintenance.

Check out this thread for tkuss' review of the product, as well as, some more installation photos.

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=74189

They can be ordered on our website at www.OFTRacing.com

Thanks,
scmurs

 

[Len Todd]

From my personal experience, the steering slop is not coming from the steering post and steering column bushings. The slop comes from the tie rods and universal joints. If anything, the corrosion on the post and column, where they contact the bushings, contributes to the steering stiffness by making the that fit too tight. Consequently, I personally think the plastic bushings are better. At least they will give when the post and column corrodes. And, ... the post and column will corrode, unless you keep it lubricated. Think about it: How much slop can you get on the post and column, when they are that long and essentially mounted at two places?

 

[Him]

How much slop can you get on the post and column, when they are that long and essentially mounted at two places?

In my case with a RX that has little more than 17000km, alot. Dunno why.

It's a short radius between the bushing and the rods on both, each tiny millimeter in each of the bushing ends up in a big slop.

 

[apltx08]

ULMER racing was looking in to making these new style bushings and if I remember correctly he dropped the project cuz of excessive VIBRATION was being transfered threw the SOLID type/style set-up...

I'm going to take mine apart and grind BUSHINGS tighter and "ZERK" them all, the ones on the steering post I'll install brake lines and locate zerks in a reachable place. I'll post pics once I get her done sometime early fall, now is fishing and pool time!

 

[dicky2077]

steering slop

Yeah If you take the stock bushings and grind down the collars & the plastic bushings about a 1/16 of an inch then grease when you put it back together. then snug the nuts down not super tight & set the locks. this took alot of the slop out of mine also all the tie-rod ends are junk & there is 8 of them & you realy can't put grease zerks on them Hope this helps

 

[MotoPsycho]

ULMER racing...

...excessive VIBRATION was being transfered threw the SOLID type/style set-up...

That particular statement is actually a falicy, concockted from mis-information, differing circumstances, and a completely different set-up.

Mr. Ulmer himself has ordered our bushings to install on his customers sleds. There is no noticeable increase in vibration transfer with our bushings through testing, riding trials, and customer feedback.

As a matter of fact, our bushings are being used by a select few Team Thunderstruck riders with excellent feedback, and performance results...

The beauty of it is; you never have to lube our bushings, and if you have an underhood turbo, they will never melt!

But, alas... to each their own. I just thought I would set the record straight. Thanks for your time!

CHEERS!

-Moto

 

[apltx08]

ULMER racing...

...excessive VIBRATION was being transfered threw the SOLID type/style set-up...

That particular statement is actually a falicy, concockted from mis-information, differing circumstances, and a completely different set-up.

Mr. Ulmer himself has ordered our bushings to install on his customers sleds. There is no noticeable increase in vibration transfer with our bushings through testing, riding trials, and customer feedback.

As a matter of fact, our bushings are being used by a select few Team Thunderstruck riders with excellent feedback, and performance results...

The beauty of it is; you never have to lube our bushings, and if you have an underhood turbo, they will never melt!

But, alas... to each their own. I just thought I would set the record straight. Thanks for your time!

CHEERS!

-Moto

Here's the post I read,

Srxspec
VIP Member

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After doing a side by side of the stock blocks and billet aluminum blocks we will NOT be offering this in a billet aluminum configuration. This transfers far too much vibration into the steering posts which in turn makes the handle bars vibrate. We will be going the route of a plastic block with an oilite insert in the center of it so you will not get any vibration transfered to the handle bars. I will keep this updated as we go along.
_________________

 

[Sasquatch]

Someone was looking at using tie rod ends from a four wheeler or something like it. It seemed they where dimensionaly correct and greasable. To me this would be a better replacement for all the hiem joints as each one of mine has a tiny amount of play. Once you add it all up its a lot of slop.

Never heard no more about it.

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

Owning three of these sleds I can say this is normal. I had a Viper, V-max's and Phasers and they all do it. The RX has even more tie rods and off-set shafts then other models. Have never replaced a tie-rod yet on my sleds, has anyone else replaced any? Did replace a tie rod on my grandson's 85 Bravo for slop, did not make any difference in slop.