Bars are crooked..... HELP

[aftica24]

Thanks folks, this is a great help. I have the seat and tank out. Am planning on performing a ski alignment check with the straight edge prior to adjusting the bars through the linkages.

If toe alignment measurements are equal on both sides against the straight edge I assume the alignment is then correct..... and then I will adjust the bars (if necessary).

Thanks again.

 

[Soldier'spapa]

Equal toe measurement does not necessarily mean its correct. Depending on which ski you are running you will be looking for about 1/8" toe out. (This applies to most ski applications). Remember to lay your straight edge along an already aligned track with your weight sitting on the sled (maybe have a partner help out) and measure from there. You want the front of each ski to measure about 1/16" farther away from the straight edge than it does at the rear. This gives a total toe out of 1/8". Much beyond that measurement and instability comes into play.

Since the tank is out exposing the linkage, You might want to clean and lube the shaft bushings. White lithium should do nicely.

Good luck!

 

[aftica24]

soliers papa. Thanks for the information. Could you give me some more info on what I should be cleaning and lubing. Thanks again.

 

[THKSNOW]

soliers papa. Thanks for the information. Could you give me some more info on what I should be cleaning and lubing. Thanks again.

There are 2 large black bushings that the steering shaft runs through (below the bars). The is another on the right side in front of the oil tank. With 13,000 miles I just replaced all three sets and lubed--compared to last season it's like having power steering now!

 

[Soldier'spapa]

soliers papa. Thanks for the information. Could you give me some more info on what I should be cleaning and lubing. Thanks again.

There are 2 large black bushings that the steering shaft runs through (below the bars). The is another on the right side in front of the oil tank. With 13,000 miles I just replaced all three sets and lubed--compared to last season it's like having power steering now!

Exactly what THKSNOW said!

When I did my 07 last fall it too felt like I added P/S when completed.

 

[Irv]

Here are some pics of them.

 

[Soldier'spapa]

Way to go Irv!

Those are the ones!

 

[aftica24]

Again, thanks for this folks. Alot of help on here!

 

[StreetnSnow]

Reviving an old thread here, but I have a question about ski alignment and off throttle oversteer.

Looking at a service manual, it appears toe out on an '09 Apex LTX GT should be between .0" & .59". I see Soldierspapa's suggestion above of 1/8th" total and have heard that suggestion before.

Does anyone know how far out of spec this needs to be before it will cause an oversteer condition at speed, when off throttle or when on the brakes?

 

[ranger1]

If you are talking toe out, then yes, it should be between an 1/8" to 1/4" toe out.

 

[Soldier'spapa]

There are a lot of variables: Ski, carbide, dual runner, studs ride height....etc.

All these things can come into play, so I don't believe there is not an absolute answer to your question.

 

[StreetnSnow]

That makes sense. I might just have to experiment a little. This may seem odd, but I'm trying to replicate a symptom from a sled I sold last yr. I had an Attak, that in the last year I owned it, developed slight oversteer off throttle which made the sled substantially more eager to turn. Especially when hot on corner entry. It was also not so bad that it caused any other ill handling side effects that I noticed.

Now I've got an Apex LTX GT, & setup on both is/was very similar. Stock track, no studs, stock skis w/ 8" Bergstrom Triple Points & shims + ski savers. Suspension settings on both are also similar. Pre-load out front near minimum. Near max recommended pre-load in the rear, with transfer rod set a few threads short of max.

This is just an educated guess on my end, but I'm thinking that I can get there with ski-alignment changes. Either by increasing toe out slightly, or even with slight toe-in. Was hoping others had similar experience so I don't create more problems than I solve.

 

[actionjack]

Skis should be 0" to 0.59" ToeOUT. I set all mine to 1/2" TOE OUT. Use ratchet straps to secure handlebars in position with equal measurement from bar end to middle of rear taillight. Start from there. In aligning the skis you may very well find something tweaked in the front suspension. If you cant get the skis aligned with the ball ends on the spindles then dig in to the linkage.

 

[yamadoo]

I wonder if you are missing the compression braking of your old sled, your new sleds set up may be for less compression braking.
Otherwise I agree slight toe out with slack taken out of steering by a light tension of bungee cord.