Tell me I'm Just Paranoid....

[northerndoc]

This sunday went for a ride which involved a good mix of trails, ditchbanging and some jumps. Nothin' huge- not tryin to make movies here or anything, just havin' fun. One of the group on a rev hit a frozen dirt clod and hooked an A-arm while in the ditches and screwed his machine up bad. I never hit anything except a few jumps, one was big enough to bottom the front suspension (first time I've pulled that off). Anyways, after the ride, I was a little freaked by what happened to him so I start looking my XTX over. Didn't notice any change in handling, the a-arms are both the same distance from the plastic covers on each side, but.... on one side, the spring on the shock is closer to the back of the a-arm by a 1/4" or so vs. the other side. The shock shafts are both centered in the a-arms side to side, but the one spring looks like its "curved" a little bit. Is it possible some of those big hits just shifted the spring in it's mount, or is there possibly something really wrong here? Hopefully i'm just being paranoid.

 

[2008 Nytro RTX]

Looking at the sled from the front,You are saying one shock is more to the left which is closer to the A-arm then that other is? If this is correct I have the same thing and I think its normal. If not then we are in the same boat.

 

[stopdropanroll]

This sunday went for a ride which involved a good mix of trails, ditchbanging and some jumps. Nothin' huge- not tryin to make movies here or anything, just havin' fun. One of the group on a rev hit a frozen dirt clod and hooked an A-arm while in the ditches and screwed his machine up bad. I never hit anything except a few jumps, one was big enough to bottom the front suspension (first time I've pulled that off). Anyways, after the ride, I was a little freaked by what happened to him so I start looking my XTX over. Didn't notice any change in handling, the a-arms are both the same distance from the plastic covers on each side, but.... on one side, the spring on the shock is closer to the back of the a-arm by a 1/4" or so vs. the other side. The shock shafts are both centered in the a-arms side to side, but the one spring looks like its "curved" a little bit. Is it possible some of those big hits just shifted the spring in it's mount, or is there possibly something really wrong here? Hopefully i'm just being paranoid.

Mine is not 100% even either, but........I never messured it from new so it might be the tolerance due to mass production.

 

[arteeex]

Okay. Hope this helps. You're just paranoid.

From your description it sounds as if the spring is unseated. But if you post a picture this will soon turn into a 10 page string of opinion and conjecture.

However, this ability to share information and seek out answers is a prime example of why I invented the internet, so go ahead and drop in a photo at no extra charge.

 

[Blue 4's Rule]

I think you're just being paranoid!! If you actually went as far as to measure your A-arms and they're fine just ride it!! Every new vehicle is manufactured to within a certain tolerance level, basically exactly what stopdropanroll said!!!

 

[LeeKo]

I am paranoid too

I am paranoid too. I tweaked my first subframe on a tree stump under the snow and had to replace. Next trip I hit a rock under the snow in the middle of the trail. The sled starts handling a little off, I check the wear bar and it is bent. I am thinking I can't believe this just happened again. At the next gas station I borrowed a hammer, took the wear bar off and pounded it straight, the sled handled fine then on. I am taking the sled off the trailer at my own house, I forget about the rock in my front yard under the snow, hit it, man do I feel like a dumb #*$&@. Visually spring looked closer to the back of the a-arm, I twisted spring and it improved. I actually them took measurements on both sides and even used an angle finder. Mine is 1/8 inch back on the lower a-arm which translated to about 1.7 degrees spindle angle difference. I don't know if my impact caused this but my dealer said this is still within factory tolerance.

I also have been bottoming my front-end more than I would like, even with the springs preloaded to the max. I just ordered triple rate springs from Hygear.

 

[jwifferdill]

However, this ability to share information and seek out answers is a prime example of why I invented the internet, so go ahead and drop in a photo at no extra charge.

arteeex,

You're a piece of work. I find it entertaining to read threads in which you are a part of.

northerndoc,

I too think you may just be paranoid. Ride safe!

 

[Blue 4's Rule]

However, this ability to share information and seek out answers is a prime example of why I invented the internet, so go ahead and drop in a photo at no extra charge.

arteeex,

You're a piece of work. I find it entertaining to read threads in which you are a part of.

northerndoc,

I too think you may just be paranoid. Ride safe!

LOL! I agree, very witty!
northerndoc, this could very well have been like this right from day one. If you never checked anything before hand but only after how are you to know! Just ride and let that Yammi 4 stroker scream!! I agree with arteeex, we don't need another big thread over stuff like this!!

 

[Arnold08]

Ill promise you ur just paranoid because after my bump into the tree ever since i got it back every time i ri,every time i hit a bump i have to get off and check ur just paranoid these thinks certainly are not r not gonna setr and example for perfect geometry

 

[GP292]

I noticed the left front spring around the shock was way off center and the angle of the spindle on the left side is almost straight up and down. I measured from the ski bolt to the bolt in the first bogey wheel and the left side distance is almost 2 inches shorter than the right. I cannot see that anything in the a-arm is bent. Does this mean the sub-frame is the culprit?

 

[LeeKo]

likely yes

 

[northerndoc]

sorry to start a paranoia thread guys.... but I do appreciate everyone's input. I think it may have just shifted in the seat on that side. After I finish getting my REV back running today, I'll pull the XTX in the garage and take a picture. I think I was just a little freaked from the other dudes experience, so I imagine I just had "snowmobile hypochondria".... (I think I'll trademark that phrase.... ). Anyways, if I get it in tonight, I'll post a pic and any results if I pull the spring off the shock. Thanks for all the input though, guys!

 

[LazyBastard]

Its quite common for springs to be uneven like that. Its the effect of a combination of being under tension and minor manufacturing variations. If you just twist the spring 180 degrees on the shock it will probably look different. Don't EVER look at the spring to check if things are aligned. Only look at the shock body and shaft.

 

[Crewchief47]

I noticed the left front spring around the shock was way off center and the angle of the spindle on the left side is almost straight up and down. I measured from the ski bolt to the bolt in the first bogey wheel and the left side distance is almost 2 inches shorter than the right. I cannot see that anything in the a-arm is bent. Does this mean the sub-frame is the culprit?

More than likely. You can meassure from the back or front of the lower control in the ball joint area to the same wheel to eliminate any variation due to ski alignment.

 

[GP292]

Its quite common for springs to be uneven like that. Its the effect of a combination of being under tension and minor manufacturing variations. If you just twist the spring 180 degrees on the shock it will probably look different. Don't EVER look at the spring to check if things are aligned. Only look at the shock body and shaft.

I turned the spring and it makes no difference. The angle of the spindle is definitely different on the left side (straighter up and down).