PMT steering relocate

[terez]

Just received my PMT Nytro steering relocate kit.
Didn't come with instructions??

Anyone install this kit?

Itspretty obvious however it isn't clear which way the top and or bottom brackets mount as they can be mounted in a couple different configs??

Up top does the PMT machining face the rider? would expect so?
And on the bottom bracket....there are dots machined into the two halves of the blocks which I assume are to ID the blocks going together but which way do the blocks go? Dots on the right side or left side?

Annoyed that there were no instructions included....throw me a freakin bone here!
Of course installin on the weekend so nobody avail at PMT.

Thanks

 

[swan60]

Yes pmt faces you. Indents are for alignment of halves on lower block and I believe face up. It only works one way on bottom because angle of steering post

 

[terez]

Yes pmt faces you. Indents are for alignment of halves on lower block and I believe face up. It only works one way on bottom because angle of steering post

Thanks for that.

PMT actually called me back when I left a VM on their tech line...on the weekend! Pretty good service!

I got everything installed.
The steering is VERY stiff....seems like the bottom brasket is too tight? PMT said it will be tight at first and break in quickly.Will need to as its so tight right now I think it will be problematic riding it??

Was yours relly tight when new? Break in quickly??

 

[swan60]

Yes pmt faces you. Indents are for alignment of halves on lower block and I believe face up. It only works one way on bottom because angle of steering post

Thanks for that.

PMT actually called me back when I left a VM on their tech line...on the weekend! Pretty good service!

I got everything installed.
The steering is VERY stiff....seems like the bottom brasket is too tight? PMT said it will be tight at first and break in quickly.Will need to as its so tight right now I think it will be problematic riding it??

Was yours relly tight when new? Break in quickly??

Yes felt stiff. So I greased top and bottom bracket on inner halves then re installed. Much better that way. Steering relocate is sweet. You'll love it.

 

[NH_Nytro]

I have one as well, greased it when putting it on, am thinking about drilling for a zerk fitting so I can hit it with grease now and then,nice and smooth with grease in it.

 

[terez]

I have one as well, greased it when putting it on, am thinking about drilling for a zerk fitting so I can hit it with grease now and then,nice and smooth with grease in it.

I was thinking the same...wondering why they don't do that when they build them?....I am leary about weakening the blocks tho...not a lot of meat whee he zerk would have to go??

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

It's because oilite is a self lubericating metal and fits so tight that all grease will do is leave a film to attract dirt and metal shavings that scratch score and gouge the bushing.

I used a good Emory cloth to clean up the steering post and sorta polish it up so it's clean. Also idk if the pmt is like oft relocate where the bolts need to be bent on lower mount or not. If so and bolts are not bent right it may bind the post. I would crack bolts loose one at a time and figure out where the bind is coming from and start to diagnose it from there. My oft has 0 grease all bolts are super tight and it's smooth as can be.

 

[terez]

It's because oilite is a self lubericating metal and fits so tight that all grease will do is leave a film to attract dirt and metal shavings that scratch score and gouge the bushing.

I used a good Emory cloth to clean up the steering post and sorta polish it up so it's clean. Also idk if the pmt is like oft relocate where the bolts need to be bent on lower mount or not. If so and bolts are not bent right it may bind the post. I would crack bolts loose one at a time and figure out where the bind is coming from and start to diagnose it from there. My oft has 0 grease all bolts are super tight and it's smooth as can be.

The PMT relocate doesnt use oilite bushings. It is simply machined billet aluminum with a shallow grease groove machined into the surfaces that interface with the steering post.
And no the bolts dont't need to be bent....the blocks have the correct angle machined into them so the bolts dont have to be fawked with....was one of the reasons I went with PMT over the OFT version.

Spoke to PMT today. Going to emory the steering post to shine it up some and remove a skosh of material. He mentioned that the oem steering post is zinc plated and as such the variance in thickness is significant and they see aprox 1 in 7 or so sleds that are a lil tight.
He suggested emorying the steering shaft until a good fit and leave the blocks alone as they are anodized which is a hard/smooth/thin coating that should be lef tin place.

Gonna try it and post results.

 

[bmazbnytro]

I did Grizz's relocate today. Can't wait to ride with it to see the difference. Grizz sent me his plans for free, got the steel from the scrap at work and I have a relocate for free! I would rather build it myself anyway, thanks Grizz!

 

[greenmachine93]

i added grease zerks to mine. so i dont have to take it apart to grease it. i used sand paper to smooth out the steering shaft. works great

 

[terez]

Well....

1st off PMT have been very responsive and helpful with tech support. I was initially installing on the weekend evening and called the tech line (not expecting any help but gave it a whirl). No one there unsurprisingly but a VM option was available and after leaving a message I was called back at home at their LD expense by a knowledgable tech....thumbs way up for customer service!!
After troubleshooting and confirming my install and other possible things that could have been the issue other than the PMT part, the tech helped isolate the issue and offered reasonable approaches to addressing it. He didn't immediately defend his product, accuse my wrenching skills or my clapped out sled...VERY refreshing and professional.

1st off I was assuming the bottom relocate blocks were binding when it was mostly the upper relocate blocks that were. He acknowledged that they do see issues where some sleds steering post's are of varying spec in the shaft itself but more likely the thickness of the oem zinc plating and it's finish quality.
This is actually primarily why Yamaha uses plastic blocks in production..aside from cost despite being an expensive sled.
He explained that they spec their blocks on the tight side of tolerance so that they aren't sloppy for the majority which they verified during prototyping prior to manufacturing.

He also advised smoothing/tolerancing the steering shaft area vs the blocks as the blocks are anodized so not disturbing that hard finish is wise.
Instead advising to emory or otherwise tolerance and smooth the steering shaft area until a good fit is achieved.
There is also a pinch bolt built into the PMT upper relocator blocks that allows both initial adjsutment and future adjustment.

I took this approach and now have acceptable operation that will very likely break in to perfect with the first period of use.

I'll re post further into the season how the PMT relocator works out for me....but initial problems are solved.