Spindle tweaked

[markowinnipeg]

Went for a rip on weekend and smucked a culvert, the shock on right side actually dented the top A-Arm and now it seems that the spindle sits up staighter that on clutch side? Put it up on a jack and noticed the bolt at end of upper a arm was loose (this is the piece that ball joint connects to), question is could a bent a-arm cause this a change in the spindle position? Not sure but the one ski might sit slightly further back but could be from the changed spindle position? Also was just going to leave it cause I am sure I will hit something again this winter, could this create problems down the road?
What is crazy is I was only going not even 10mph and hit was a thud but not an over the bars one, are these front ends weak?

 

[nplathe]

Sounds like you bent the bulk head. What year is your sled? It's happened to others only going that speed too. Pictures would be great.

 

[nplathe]

I would tear down the front end and see what's up. It's going to be extremely hard on your ball joints and bushings if you just leave it. Not to mention that shock if its rubbing and the ride quality is going to be poor aslo. The best thing to do is just get it fixed. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear.

 

[nplathe]

The 08's had a weak bulkhead and I think there was an update or something and I know other guys have added extra protection in this area to strenghen this piece. The 09 bulkheads were different from the 08's.

 

[markowinnipeg]

Thanks it is an 08 and I will take a few pics and post. The shock is not rubbing the a-arm, this dented it but still has about 3/4 clearance. I have had a 700 Dragon as well as many M series cats and cannot believe that a hit that hard would bend a bulkhead, if it is so weak you would think Yamaha has a fix. Anyways thanks again and get some pics up

 

[Grimm]

I bet you one ski is further forward than the other and that your ski alignment is out of wack too. Check the toe out measurement, 0-1/2 inch is acceptable.

Try a search on "bent subframe" in the Nytro section and read up on everyone's issues with the design/strength of the subframes and what to look for and how to replace and strengthen them.

Good luck.

 

[northerndoc]

As others have said- get out your measuring tape and check side to side to compare. More than likely the subframe is tweaked. These sleds are heavy and the subframes aren't all that strong, especially on the 08's. The 09's aren't much better. There are a ton of guys on here that have gone through this. You might get lucky and just have to replace a-arms, but based on the description of your impact, I would guess it's worse than that. It's quite a process to replace it- I know a lot of guys just turn it in to the insurance company. You're sled will probably be in the shop for a while though, if you go this route. Sorry to hear about it- especially early in the season...

 

[grizztracks]

if it's newer than an 08 or you have an 08 with a newer frame look at the center gusset to see if it buckled diagonally. If it did the subframe bent. Many people are buying new frames when this happens but I think in most cases the frame can be straightened relatively easy and gussets welded in to prevent it from happening again. The new frames still have this problem so installing a new one without doing something to reinforce it will eventually put you back in the same position. go to my photobucket link for pictures showing a bent frame gusset, re-centering the shocks in the a-arms and a realty simple fix to these frames.

http://s589.photobucket.com/albums/ss33 ... %20gusset/

 

[ericms86]

I had the same trouble with my spindle angle. I hit a big dip going slow last year and didn't think anything of it. I didn't notice the difference until I put my new ski's on this summer. Got to looking around and could see that my lower a-arm was deffinately bent back causing the spindle to be veritcle, which also moved the ski back compared to the other side. I pulled the nose cone off the sled and checked out the subframe as well. It was also tweaked, not bad but there was a little ripple in the circle cutout on the base of it. I bought a set of lower a-arms off of 2008FxNytro and replaced the bent one (clutch side). After I replaced it my spindle was no longer verticle. It also moved the ski forward, back to the position it should have been in. I think it would be definately worth fixing if you can because like nplathe stated it is going to put added stress on your balljoints and bushings and the other componets attached to the a-arm setup.

 

[markowinnipeg]

Thanks Grizz for the great pics, I will check out frame tonight. Will not be very impressed if it is bent on a little wack like that, might just sell a sled that I have only put 50km on.
I have hit rocks highmarking on my M8 and tweaked an a-arm, same with D7. Am I wrong but should that weakest link not be the a-arm and not the frame? Makes no sense, I know guys who change out the cat a-arms with after market such as timbersled which are much stronger have ended up twisting the bulkhead.
Any idea on a cost to fix? Freak 2 rides and I am going to claim insurance, there goes any discount and if this keeps happening there goes insurance period. Is this a job I could tackle in garage, seems pretty extensive and to reinforce I would have to send out to a welder.

 

[stopdropanroll]

Its not a bad job, inventory all the parts and label them in a ziplock, take your time and loctite everything on the re-assembly. I agree with Grizz though, reinforce the subframe before you put it in. It all boils down to the angle you hit something, I have rode my sled pretty hard in 5500 miles and it never bent (except when I landed on a big rock 100% my fault) I also have a buddy with a 08 and he rides like a complete a-hole and its still straight, but my other buddy dropped a ski in a culvert (driving away from it) and it tweeked the a-arm not the subframe.....

 

[Crewchief47]

I've seen some 10mph railroad crossings do a TON of damage. It's all in the angle of impact and direction of travel.

 

[markowinnipeg]

Checked subframe and luckily cannot see any bending in the nose area. I actually must have been smokin something that day cause when I pulled a tape on both sides of sled and measurements from ski tips, tie rod ends, a-arm ends and measurements to back of sled are same. A-Arm had a slight tweak which I was able to fix
So I am now thinking that I should strengthen the subframe, it is worth doing (as I do not want to take sled apart) by welding in a piece of metal over the lower portion that has a hole? From looking at it I should be able to do this without taking sled apart. Thanks