Anyone breaking front pivot arms?

[ReX]

It looks like I screwed up a little.

I spoke to my dealer today and they were quite reasonable about looking into the rails. It turns out I must have missed the -10 in the 06 Apex rail part number. The 05 sled calls for a 8FU-W4741-00-00, while the 06 calls for 8FU-W4741-10-00.

It looks like I do have the correct "updated" 05 rails (the update might only be the rail reinforcement kit). Unfortunately for me they aren't as strong as the 06 rails. As you can see above the 05 rails have next to no material above the bolt, while the 06 rails have more material in many areas.

So for you Apex owners you should be happy to know you have stronger rails than us updated 05 owners...

I believe the pivot arms are identical though.

Does anyone know if the 05 and 06 rails have the same geometry? Can the 06 rails be used on an 05 sled (with the different tunnel mounting locations for the skid)?

 

[BigDog05]

ReX: I'm not sure about any change in geometry between the 05 and 06, but I do know that the pivot arms are somewhat different.

Had my 05 RX1 suspension out and next to my wifes 06 Vector Gt suspension and they are different. The gussets (spelling) that hook the inner and outer rails together are in a different location. Don't know if it has anything to do with stress or whatever.

I had mine apart to put zerks in at the time.

 

[ReX]

Just an FYI, I carefully measured the 05 and 06 rails and all of the mounting points and critical dimensions are identical.

The only differences I could find are the 06 rails have quite a bit more material on them (stronger) and they come pre-drilled for the reinforcement brackets that are standard on the 06.

BigDog05, which gussets do you mean?

Also both my sled's and the Apex's pivot arms have been repaired and substantially reinforced. I forgot to take pictures before assembling everything though...

If I change the rails I will be using the stronger 06 ones. The cracks in mine look very old and don't seem to growing. They break through the thin wall to the bolt hole and stop.

 

[06rsvectorer]

i think that is why they put the proactive sus back on is becuase of that problem, what it is they can not handle the abuse and they are breaking (all the pressure from one shock verses 2) if you dont believe me that the put proactive back in check yamahas web site

 

[BigDog05]

ReX: If you put the front pivot arm assembly from the 05 next to the 06 it looks different. Wish I would have taken a picture when they were both out of the sleds.

If you look at the pivot assembly,there are 2 outer tubes that go up to the front tunnel mounting bolts and two innner tubes. The gussets that are welded between the tubes are different. I did not pay that much attention to them at the time, I just remember that they are reinforced differently.

 

[ReX]

Oh - I didn't notice you were talking about the pivot arms. Yes the 06 front pivot arm is beefed up compared to the original 05 arm.

The 05 arm has been superseeded by the beefed up 06 arm and that is what I have on my sled (and cracked).

The rails were what I was wondering about. The 06 rails are considerably stronger, but the 05 part number still exists and is not superseded by the 06 part. All of my measurements show that the 06 rails are a 100% bolt in replacement for the weaker 05 rails.

Last season I was told I would be getting the stronger 06 rails, but ended up with the old 05 rails.

 

[4Fighter]

I just pulled the skid @ just under 2400 miles, last night ('07 Attak GT). I found 2 perpendicular cracks on the top cross bar of the front pivot arm. I didn't see any cracks on the rear arm. I also found a bogie wheel frozen on the rear upper cross shaft (the one that isn't part of the skid) and wear on the EC reservoir

I am taking the arm and idler shaft asm. to my dealer - maybe I should just bring the whole skid instead???