front inside wheel removal on a XTX?

[Groomer08]

not to sound totally stupid, but i removed both 14mm bolts through the rail and it wont move. (the front wheel axle)
I see the front shock is all coupled in with that axle and whatnot.
do i have to remove preload from that shock or unbolt it?
i see some allen set screws, like theres spacers on the wheel axle, but loosening that wont let me slide the wheel off, its still between the rails.

 

[sledsearcher]

Loosen the set screws a bit more. The wheels should come right off allowing you to remove the bottom bol holding the shock.

Stupid design I know! Don't feel stupid, I asked the exhaust same question 2 months ago.

 

[mach9]

When pulling out the front shock.
I've taken the top shock bolt out before while the bottom shaft is still mounted.
You need to compress the shock a little, but easier to do when you fully loosen the coil spring.
Unfortunately... the bottom shaft needs to come out and wheels removed before you can get the linkage bolts and bottom shock bolt out.
Someone said drill a big enough hole in one of the wheels to slide the lower shock bolt through.
But that is for a next time around adventure.
The set screws really only keep the alum shaft from moving.
And I can't imagine that shaft would go anywhere with or without set screws.

 

[Groomer08]

oh what fun

i did it. what a freakin PITA!
all that for 2 wheels? c'mon!
totally rediculous.
mods, feel free to delete.

 

[radianguy]

so did you have to remove the shock to remove the wheels?

 

[SSX600]

what's your lower shock mount and eyelet look like? Mine was worn bad.

 

[sherlock29]

07-09 apex RTX's are the same design... it is a pain... i usually remove entire skid to get in there. and those wheels take a 6005 bearing.... replaced mine with the yammy spoked wheel.

 

[Eagle1]

Re: oh what fun

i did it. what a freakin PITA!
all that for 2 wheels? c'mon!
totally rediculous.

Great, really looking forward to replacing mine now.

 

[Turtle]

One trick is to remove the upper shock bolt. Then remove the bolts holding the shaft for the wheels. Then grab the upper portion of the shock and rotate backwards towards the back of the skid. When you do that the bottom of the shock, along with the wheel assembly, will rotate forward and up out of the rails. You can then service the wheels, and put things back in the reverse order. With this method you don't have to remove the lower shock mount at all. It's a bit easier.

 

[Eagle1]

Great info. Thanks dude.
Plan on pulling skid next week.

 

[radianguy]

I just removed the skid to replace these two inside wheels, now the front shock mount will not line up to bolt up to the front arm. Do I need to compress the shock to reinstall? The front arm will not fully extend, what keeps the tension on this?

 

[Supa Dexta]

I usually use a ratchet strap to tweak things back into position with the skid, If that will work in your case. Shouldnt take much.

 

[Groomer08]

im not sure exaclty what you mean, but when i reinstalled mine the shock didnt seam right.
as it turns out that stupid little overcenter linkage was overcenter the WRONG way...making it out of geometry. had to remove spring preload, remove shock bolt, flip lingage, and reinstall everything.
I.E. take a picture so i goes back the same. note the angle of that short little piece that connects to shock lower mount.