A arm bushing replacement

[mcullin1]

I am considering replacing the front bushings on my 06 APEX with oilite bushings. Looking for any info or links that would give me an idea how difficult the prohject would be.
Thank you,
Mike

 

[niko]

yep good idea. you need to remove the air box and battery to get to the a arm bolts. Not a hard job but will take a few hours to do.

 

[mcullin1]

Thank you!!

 

[APEX 06]

yep good idea. you need to remove the air box and battery to get to the a arm bolts. Not a hard job but will take a few hours to do.

X2

 

[LJ 452]

If you haven't changed your oil yet, I would do it at the same time. All the same stuff needs to come out anyway.

 

[kinger]

Its a little more time consuming then you think, plan for 8 hours or more not just a couple. Highly reccomended though and worth the time. My sled darted so bad with my slydog skis I didn't know what was wrong as I had the shim set correctly. Jacked up the front and was like WOW there was so much play it was ridicoulus. Ulmer rushed me a set and I installed them and bam no more darting.

Now I need to do the spindle as I still had some play in there.

BTW my sled had 2000 miles on it! Friggen yamaha stock bushing should at least get 5-8k but whateve I guess...

 

[Irv]

Any links with pics and step by step instructions showing how this is done?

I would like to do mine as well plus add some grease fittings in all the appropiate areas while I'm at it.

 

[Budweiser]

Not a hard job at all. I replaced mine at 10,000 miles. I will say they were not that bad. I do spray them with lube though and most of the ones I took our had some grease on them. It did tighten up the front end.

 

[Irv]

Not a hard job at all. I replaced mine at 10,000 miles. I will say they were not that bad. I do spray them with lube though and most of the ones I took our had some grease on them. It did tighten up the front end.

10,000 miles is pretty good isn't it?

I am/was thinking of doing my 08 Vector because I figured it was probably only a matter of time before they went?(2,100 miles)

Reading your post, I think I may wait a while yet but I will be sure to check and see how tight everything is first.
When checking, what exactly do I look for, (sloppyness obviously) but how much is ok and normal?
Do I just grab the ski's, a-arms etc and try and see if any play is evident?

Also, what kind of lube are you using? I usually spray mine up (old sled) with Rust Check or another good quality lube/penetrating oil.

EDIT: forgot to ask, is this problem more noticable on earlier year Yamaha's or does it matter?

 

[LJ 452]

10,000 miles is unbelievable! You are one in a very few I would say. The upper bushings are very thin and if they are worn through you will damage the front bulkhead. Not worth the cost of the bushings if you ask me. Get the oil-lites and be done with it. My OEM's lasted about 3,000 miles before I changed them, and I was glad I did, they were close to wearing through. I always sprayed some grease on them as well.

 

[Budweiser]

Mine did not even come close to wearing into the bulkhead. But, I'm not the most agressive of riders....I can admit it! When it gets bumpy, I slow down. A Attak is not a bump sled!!!!

I lifted the front of mine...with a jack! and wiggled the skis. It was tighter after I put the Ulmer kit in.

 

[Honk]

I to put the Ulmers oilight in. What a diff!! He says to install them from the inside, instead of outside. You will see what he means once ya look at it. This will take up a lot of slop! almost a quarter inch! Its pretty easy to do. I installed new greese fittings in the spindles, and a-arms too. should be good for a long time! Have fun, You will learn alot about your sled too!