Loose Steering Column

[TurboTime]

Any ideas on how to tighten the steering column. I have approx a couple of inches of play in my steering. Very loose!!

Would the problem be around the Holder/Steering Bearing or the Univeral Joint?

Trying to pin point the problem before I go in and operate.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[stoutner]

I have my engine out right now and have checked the same sloppy steering problem closely. I found that each of the U joints has a little slop and the bushings that hold that big steering rod down the right side of the frame are sloppy also.

Take your right side cover off and look at that big steering rod that is about 1" thick. Wiggle your handle bars and you will see each U joint and those bushings for that thick rod giving a little.

Good news is the ones down in the bulkhead seem to be pretty tight still. Bad news is the one under the gas tank is sloppy and needs changing.

For about $100 and about 8 hours labor, you can change all of them U joints and those bushings that I am talking about. It is a real PITA to get to them all.

Here is how much you have to take apart to get to them all...lol

 

[welterracer]

Plastic bushings in colume wear out pretty fast, i changed my first set at 2000 miles, and now at 7000 miles.. Greasing the crap out of them helps alot..

they are pretty cheap.

 

[jwifferdill]

Do you have a picture of the plastic bushings you are referring to?

 

[welterracer]

ya

They are number 18 on the microfitch

 

[hayastusa]

Mines been sloppy since new. Don't think replacing bushings is gonna fix.

 

[XDooMan]

I think the extra slack in the steering exagerates the darting.....

 

[stoutner]

I think the extra slack in the steering exagerates the darting.....

I agree with that.

On my sled, I would change both #18 bushings, #11 bushing, 27 U-Joint, and #31 Rod with U-joint. Those parts are all a little sloppy on mine and adding up to about 1" of slop in the handle bars. Check it out in your sled and I'll bet you find the same thing.

 

[TurboTime]

I think the extra slack in the steering exagerates the darting.....

I agree with that.

On my sled, I would change both #18 bushings, #11 bushing, 27 U-Joint, and #31 Rod with U-joint. Those parts are all a little sloppy on mine and adding up to about 1" of slop in the handle bars. Check it out in your sled and I'll bet you find the same thing.

Thanks Stoutner and Welterracer. I think I just pushed this project out to the spring and deal with it for the remaining part of this season.

 

[XDooMan]

Would these repairs be covered under warranty?

 

[welterracer]

That depends on your dealer.. my dealer gave me the parts for free..(i installed them) and my dealer got paid as if they had installed them..

Some dealers wont give you anything ever.. as they hate doing warrranty work..

 

[hayastusa]

Would these repairs be covered under warranty?

lol

 

[Sapling]

You can drill and tap a zurt fitting in the bushing on the chain case side. You have to drill a hole in the bushing where the zurt lines up. Keep this lubed and it will not wear out as fast.

Wildchild on Snowest sells a delrin/billet replacement for the stock bushings. There are two on the steering column and one on the front of the 1 inch shaft that runs to the front of the sled. Total of three needed. They have zurts in them and make keeping them greased very simple.