I was cruising a marked trail today that is on top of an old RR bed. It was a beautiful day and trail was freshly groomed. Apparently there was a RR spike just underneath the snow that caught the front of my left carbide and lodged between the carbide and ski bringing me to a stop instantly and bending my A-arms, spindle, ski, and probably a few other things. Fortunately I was only a mile from a road so i was able to limp it to the street and get picked up. Looking it over at home tonight I think the bulkhead is fine - but man does this blow.
Attachments
flyingpig
Expert
Bummer but at least your ok!
bashley
Expert
I tweaked my Attak's to the same degree last year. Got off easier then I thought. I was able to reuse the spindle and didn't tweak anything else. Sway bars, steering rods, bulkhead, were all fine.
I did discover it was much easier to take the steering arm boot off to get into the mounting bolts than to pull the rivets and belly pan. It was a tight fit but worth it. Good luck.
I did discover it was much easier to take the steering arm boot off to get into the mounting bolts than to pull the rivets and belly pan. It was a tight fit but worth it. Good luck.
sandy8657
Pro
I had the left lower A-arm bend back where the spring on the shock rubbed against the upper A-arm. But I never hit anything! We noticed the spindle more upright than slanted back like the right one. The dealer inspected it and could not find any sign of any type of impact. Yamaha agreed to pay for the materials, but I had to eat the 3 hours of labor. Maybe for 2009, Yamaha should reinforce the A-arms on the Apexes because they obviously flex and bend too easily. Check the bolts too, because I still believe the original dealer who set up my sled out of the crate, never tightened them properly!
stealth800
Extreme
The good thing is that the arms bent and it probobly did no damage to the bulkhead. If the front arms are too strong and you hit something the damage to the bulkhead would make an a-arm replacement look like nothing. It still sucks though. I had a Viper that I ran over RR tracks at a trail crossing going less than 5MPH, The carbide on one ski caught, ripped tha bars out of my hands, and bent the trailing arm, spindle and broke the carbide.
SnowBandit
Expert
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2004
- Messages
- 496
- Location
- Maine
- Website
- www.slednewengland.com
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2009 Nytro xtx
Been there done that twice!
niko
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
i think you might be in luck on e bay getting new a arms.
niko.
niko.
Yamforlife
Veteran
Just did the same thing on Friday night - looking back to see if buddies coming 5- 10 mph look forward - i hit a trail sign. Over the bars in slow motion - (thinking in the air -this going to suck). bent both A arms. Ahhhh Crap.
niko
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
If you ask me those yamaha a arms & spindles suck! way too heavy im going to make my own using chromolly i'll go down the timberland route i like those ones they make but not the price.
niko.
niko.
Attacker
Extreme
I went through one on each side last year. The first time I bought a oem replacement. I did have to tweak the bottom a-arm to get the new bolts in. I did this with a pipe wrench and a cloth for protection. The last time I bought crome moly from mountian preformance. No problems yet.