thunder66
New member
I am trying to remove the forward end of the steering rod that passes under the engine from the steering plate(?) and I am unable to pop the stud with the heim on it out of the plate. It looks as if in the parts list illustration that it should pop straight up out, Is it pressed in tight or am I suffering corrosion and just need to be patient and use some PB Blaster?
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
the right tool for the right job I always say.You can go crazy on it with a hammer and such..but as I learned the hard way..there is a tool for such a job.Pick up a tie rod separator..cats meow..works awesome..
I don't know exactly what you are working on, but if you can get away with leaving the hiem joint on you can always loosen the lock nut beside the heim joint, unscrew the steering rod and pull it out.
thunder66
New member
Thanks for the responses!
bluemonster1... so the arm will pop off with enough force correct? (and I will be either buying or borrowing the correct tool) How do I re-attach? Do I just tap it back on?
sasksrx... my sled's steering mechanism had evidently all been apart in the past and when it was put back together the handlebar to ski relationship was off and whoever worked on it addressed the alignment issue by pulling the left side outboard arm bracket at the ski spindle off and rotating it one tooth along with letting the rod adjustment way out... so I am attempting to get everything back to proper alignment and I need to be able to turn the adjustment on the end of the center steering rod in order to get the bars back to center while the skis are centered also
also I now realize that the joint I am talking about is technically a ball joint
bluemonster1... so the arm will pop off with enough force correct? (and I will be either buying or borrowing the correct tool) How do I re-attach? Do I just tap it back on?
sasksrx... my sled's steering mechanism had evidently all been apart in the past and when it was put back together the handlebar to ski relationship was off and whoever worked on it addressed the alignment issue by pulling the left side outboard arm bracket at the ski spindle off and rotating it one tooth along with letting the rod adjustment way out... so I am attempting to get everything back to proper alignment and I need to be able to turn the adjustment on the end of the center steering rod in order to get the bars back to center while the skis are centered also
also I now realize that the joint I am talking about is technically a ball joint
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thunder66 said:Thanks for the responses!
bluemonster1... so the arm will pop off with enough force correct? (and I will be either buying or borrowing the correct tool) How do I re-attach? Do I just tap it back on?
sasksrx... my sled's steering mechanism had evidently all been apart in the past and when it was put back together the handlebar to ski relationship was off and whoever worked on it addressed the alignment issue by pulling the left side outboard arm bracket at the ski spindle off and rotating it one tooth along with letting the rod adjustment way out... so I am attempting to get everything back to proper alignment and I need to be able to turn the adjustment on the end of the center steering rod in order to get the bars back to center while the skis are centered also
also I now realize that the joint I am talking about is technically a ball joint
My recollection is a bit foggy but if you're refering to the tie-rod end (ball and socket/hiem) it's a tappered fit which the pickle fork Blue mentioned will work.
I personally have never had a need to use one. Most tapered fit parts will pop apart with the rap of a hammer on the part with the hole.
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
when putting it back on..push it into the hole and tap a couple times.Then put the nut on and it will tighten itself right back to where it was.
thunder66
New member
bluemonster1 said:
Guys, thanks so much for the advice/help! I was able to solve my little dilemma by unbolting the plate from the chassis with the tie rods removed and then I was able to just spin the plate and the ball joint in the center steering rod until I got it back to where it needed to be. Now I have skis centered, handlebars centered with everything nice and symmetrical from side to side. I am digging into my sled further and doing things I said I was going to do last year and never got around to. I am cleaning the engine compartment up, painted the pipes, manifolds and my aftermarket muffler a nice hi temp satin black. Fooling with my clutch weights a little to try to bring my revs down a little along with a bunch of other little details. Was going to get a new sled this winter but decided to hold off and so now I am giving some love to my good old 2001 SRX!
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
did you take straight edges against the track and along side the ski's to check how the ski's were pointing.You then adjust your ski's parallel to straight edges..then check to see if handle bar is centered.Then adjust your toe out by turning steering arm ends in or out.Ski's should be approx 1/8 to max.. 1/2 inch wider in front.I thought I got my ski's on both sleds perfect and centered the handlebars..but when I bought 2- 8 foot straight bars and checked..my ski's were way off..couldn't believe I rode that way.Takes time to really get the ski's accurately aligned properly.
thunder66
New member
bluemonster1 said:
No I haven't gone to that much trouble but I have time and maybe I will. It is funny how far off the old "eyeballs" can be some times!