Front end question

[birkebeiner]

I'm doing maintenance on my front end but is struggling a bit. To remove the cross shaft bolts on the A-arms on the chassis side, how do you get to the nuts to remove the bolts?

Also, anyone had difficulties removing the lower A-arm bolt on the spindle side? I even have difficulties turning the bolt...

Please heeeelp!!

 

[spike337]

Just did the A-arms on mine yesterday, BUT, mine is a Phazer and a little bit different.

 

[birkebeiner]

Yeah, looks a bit different Do you remove the whole front section??

I can't do that on my Vector :-(

 

[spike337]

I usually don't get to worked up or worried about a non-rotating greasable part, but these were pretty much dry, (like the steering head of my WR). You spend a lot of money and expect Yamaha quality, sure wish they'd take more pride and jamb ten cents more grease in there. That would go a long ways!
I pulled the front, or split the sled, on purpose, just to try it, and it made it easier to get at some things that needed attention.

 

[LJ 452]

The nuts for the shafts are buried in the bulkhead. I think I had to remove the battery and tray to get to them. Once you've cleared the way it way fairly easy with std. open end wrenches. As for the bolt that won't spin, I can't remember if mine were that way, it may be bent and just binding, or it's just seized in there.

 

[jamesc]

you do have to pull the battery and tray assembly to access the nuts, only takes a few minutes

 

[Jona$]

for sure the bolt that has taken a beating and got bent.. just replaced the bushings in the spindlehouse,a-arms,bulkhead and the rest in the steeringcolum and only one i had problem with was the lower at the spindle at the left side..

It was bent, and the collar offcourse.

 

[birkebeiner]

Thanks guys. I'll check it out!

 

[birkebeiner]

Thanks guys! Removing the battery did the trick! Saved me a lot of time!! My new Barkbuster front-end is now in
Pics will come shortly in the 4-stroke Garage section.

 

[yam177]

We welded the nuts on the race sleds. That way changing the bent a-arms was faster

 

[birkebeiner]

Yeah, agree. It's the way it should been from the factory!!

 

[LJ 452]

On the FX chasis both Phazer and Nytro, the A-arm nuts are easy to get to on the 08' subframe, 09' and up, not so much. The gusset plates get in the way. The nuts can be welded on either of the FX sleds. The Apex however, the front bulkhead or frame, is CF. aluminum. So welding the steel nuts to the Apex is not really an option. But if you time your repairs correctly i.e. oil change you would be fine. I noticed when I had my Apex that most work was best done while doing the filter change. It always seemed like the same parts always had to come out anyway.

 

[04JRB]

I just went through this on my Apex. As said by others, I wish those nuts were welded from the factory too. Then I wouldnt have had to take half the damn sled apart. Well, it was about the same as an oil change, lol.