MNicefisher
Extreme
So after putting close to 100 hours and over $1k into restoring my VL I finally get to enjoy it, well I wish. I took It for my second ride today, same trail as yesterday about 12 miles in I started smelling something funny and the power didn't seem as strong but I though maybe I'm just getting use to it now. I pulled over and looked everything over and no lights every thing looked ok. I thought maybe the smell was coming from the grips because I put that upgrade kit in that run 12v and had it on high and they were very, very hot. At that point I turned around and the power seemed mostly on par. I even hit 78 on the same stretch I hit 79 on the day before.
I get it back to my moms lake lot and where I've been parking the sled and decided to knock of all the ice off the rear tunnel and couldn't believe what I saw. The hyfax bolt had snapped and the hyfax had slid back about 10" and curled up and was now facing the front of the sled. So wait, it gets better I drive home come back with the trailer and go to load it up and when I hit the trailer with the skis I get stopped dead, the skag got cough on the lip of the trailer ( even bent the aluminum lip pretty good) I go over the bars but luckily off to the side so I just miss the windshield with my face. I do manage to hold on tight enough not to go airborne. The impact was hard enough to push my sled sideways. I try again and get it loaded and when I get home and run it in the garage I notice the ski isn't pointing straight. Sure enough I bent the upper left a arm.
The a arm repair is self explanatory if that's the only thing bent. But how the hell I'm I going to get that hyfax off the rail with it being rapped around like that, with out removing the skid? What made that bolt shear off? I just removed the bolt and put new hyfax on it 35 miles ago. Didn't strip it or anything just used blue Loctite. Can you buy just one hyfax? I'm going to have to drill and tap a new hole in the rail because I don't think I can get the old one out. I'm thinking of drilling a hole from the side so I can put a bolt with a lock nut on it like arctic cat uses. I was planing on putting a new track on it next year so I don't want to take the skid out twice but I can't afford a track right now. Hopefully I didn't damage the rail from not having hyfax on it too, too much ice on it to tell right now. I just dropped 350.00 on a ski-doo modular helmet just an hour before all this happened too
I get it back to my moms lake lot and where I've been parking the sled and decided to knock of all the ice off the rear tunnel and couldn't believe what I saw. The hyfax bolt had snapped and the hyfax had slid back about 10" and curled up and was now facing the front of the sled. So wait, it gets better I drive home come back with the trailer and go to load it up and when I hit the trailer with the skis I get stopped dead, the skag got cough on the lip of the trailer ( even bent the aluminum lip pretty good) I go over the bars but luckily off to the side so I just miss the windshield with my face. I do manage to hold on tight enough not to go airborne. The impact was hard enough to push my sled sideways. I try again and get it loaded and when I get home and run it in the garage I notice the ski isn't pointing straight. Sure enough I bent the upper left a arm.
The a arm repair is self explanatory if that's the only thing bent. But how the hell I'm I going to get that hyfax off the rail with it being rapped around like that, with out removing the skid? What made that bolt shear off? I just removed the bolt and put new hyfax on it 35 miles ago. Didn't strip it or anything just used blue Loctite. Can you buy just one hyfax? I'm going to have to drill and tap a new hole in the rail because I don't think I can get the old one out. I'm thinking of drilling a hole from the side so I can put a bolt with a lock nut on it like arctic cat uses. I was planing on putting a new track on it next year so I don't want to take the skid out twice but I can't afford a track right now. Hopefully I didn't damage the rail from not having hyfax on it too, too much ice on it to tell right now. I just dropped 350.00 on a ski-doo modular helmet just an hour before all this happened too
MNicefisher
Extreme
After letting it melt the snow and ice overnight I can now see the hyfax slid back closer to 16" to 18".
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
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What a run of terribly bad luck. At least you're not hurt.
If you were running on bare ice a lot, what I think happened is that the hyfax melted and got stuck to the track when you stopped and it cooled. Then, when you took off again, it pulled the hyfax and sheared the bolt.
There was a great thread on how to fix/repair that bolt by drilling and adding a nut:
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=
But Rockerdan lost the photos and the host is gone. To get an idea of how it's supposed to look like, just find someone with a Ski Doo and look at their hyfax bolt setup. Basically you just want to copy it.
As for removing the wrapped hyfax, you might not have a choice in removing the skid. Maybe try cutting it up with a hacksaw. You might also have to replace the other hyfax if it also melted down.
This also why I always recommend replacing the wheels with 135mm ones (Excell or Ski Doo) to prevent this from happening.
For the upper A-arm, Phazer arms may interchange with the VL's but it's not a certainty. If you know someone around that has a Phazer, you could compare the two. The VL's upper arm is 8GK-23540-01-P3 and the Phazer's is 8GK-23540-00-P2. Close but the numbering might be just for model differentiation.
Again, sorry to hear about this. I can feel for you as I had a bad start last year too.
If you were running on bare ice a lot, what I think happened is that the hyfax melted and got stuck to the track when you stopped and it cooled. Then, when you took off again, it pulled the hyfax and sheared the bolt.
There was a great thread on how to fix/repair that bolt by drilling and adding a nut:
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=
But Rockerdan lost the photos and the host is gone. To get an idea of how it's supposed to look like, just find someone with a Ski Doo and look at their hyfax bolt setup. Basically you just want to copy it.
As for removing the wrapped hyfax, you might not have a choice in removing the skid. Maybe try cutting it up with a hacksaw. You might also have to replace the other hyfax if it also melted down.
This also why I always recommend replacing the wheels with 135mm ones (Excell or Ski Doo) to prevent this from happening.
For the upper A-arm, Phazer arms may interchange with the VL's but it's not a certainty. If you know someone around that has a Phazer, you could compare the two. The VL's upper arm is 8GK-23540-01-P3 and the Phazer's is 8GK-23540-00-P2. Close but the numbering might be just for model differentiation.
Again, sorry to hear about this. I can feel for you as I had a bad start last year too.
Try lifting the skid off the ground putting the end of the hyfax in a hole in the track. Put sled in reverse and it should take it off for you. Go slow of course and like Mooseman has already said I would check the other side and buy two new screws and maybe some ice scratchers.
MNicefisher
Extreme
The trail only had a few sleds down it and most the time I was riding in untouched snow so I don't think over heating the hyfax was the issue, but I don't know what else could have done it.
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
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- Greely, Ontario
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'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
Yes, very strange. Most of the time the bolt just backs out and lets the hyfax slide.
Found a pic of what I meant for fitting a nut and bolt. Just drill a hole sideways just big enough to fit the nut's hex. You should file the hole flat on the bottom for the bottom of the nut to sit on.
Found a pic of what I meant for fitting a nut and bolt. Just drill a hole sideways just big enough to fit the nut's hex. You should file the hole flat on the bottom for the bottom of the nut to sit on.
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MNicefisher
Extreme
That's what I did but that's a much cleaner job of it. I pulled the a arm back with parking the 4 wheeler behind the sled and putting a block of wood between the two and then pulling with the winch. It actually looks like it never happened. I had a ride planed for tomorrow that I didn't think I would make but looks like I'm going after all.
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
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- 3,963
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
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- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
That's from a Doo. My old Safari was like that. It just makes sense.
Could you take a pic of your repair just as a reference?
Could you take a pic of your repair just as a reference?
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
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- 3,963
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
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- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
So, got it all fixed up? Ever find out what happened? How was the other hyfax?
MNicefisher
Extreme
Go it fixed. I think the problem was an an issue with getting the bolt installed when I replaced the hyfax. It was tight but not countersunk like it should have been. Needed to buy a new hyfax because the old one was warped. Sled Dog your tip on getting the hyfax off worked awesome!!! Pulled the arm straight with the atv winch but on my last ride the right rear wheel bearing went out and basically welded the inner bearing race to the axle. I ended up buying a complete rear axle setup used for 50.00 shipped. I just hope the wheel bearings are all good. I'm in love this sled but man I'm having some bad luck! Just bought a set of used 8" Simmons for it today too!
Not my best craftsmen ship on the rail mod but it works.
Not my best craftsmen ship on the rail mod but it works.
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MNicefisher
Extreme
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
- Messages
- 3,963
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
That's why I liberally coat all bolts and surfaces with anti-seize. I'm trying out a marine grade anti-seize but the regular silver stuff has worked well for me.
And the other repair, it worked, that's what important.
Sounds like my truck when I bought it 3 years ago. It was abused and the engine knocked. Nursed it back to health and enjoying it now. The same will happen to you.
And the other repair, it worked, that's what important.
Sounds like my truck when I bought it 3 years ago. It was abused and the engine knocked. Nursed it back to health and enjoying it now. The same will happen to you.
Glad things worked out for you and that the hyfax came off good for you. You need to fill out your location as its a site rule.
