I just got my steering stem for the '89 Lt500 guess what{probably already know} they aren't
all the same SHI*!!!! It's off of a '87 but the '89{quad}* frame* has the ears welded to it, the '87 stem
has the ears welded to it, ya got the 1 on each side and the one on the front{tab}.
They seem
pretty heavy duty welded. Do I try and remove the ears on the stem???What should I do???

 

CRAP OLA !!!! yep they changed some stuff people didnt even realize . i got a lonestar +2 stem on mine and they told me up front that 88-90 wouldnt fit . did you get if off ebay ?
i dont really see the prob with grinding it but what about the ears on it . do they angle or go straight ? look at the flange on both and if one has a bend or is shaped different i wouldnt use it .

my .02 if it helps

 

Correction..... the stem I just recieved was off an '88!!
I did compare the 2 bases, and other than the ears on the one{new} they are identicle, no curves,
or different shapes in the bases at all just those dam ears.
Who'd a thunk something like that would be different! Wonder why they changed something like that within a year model? Well this will be a lesson to us all, including myself. Yeah I got it off ebay,
it's pretty clean, as in no bangs and scratches all over it.
So I guess it's not gonna hurt to have those ears on the stem taken off and grinded down some.
I still can't belive it.
Thanks for your input though I apprectiate it!!

 

Duhh, [to me]
Yeah , the ears on the stem go straight and no angles. The frame on the other hand has the stoppers L/R at angles going from the cross bar to the outer frame.

 

LOL i have done plenty of that stuff . i was going to say my 87 frame has the stops on the frame not the stem . you should be good then to grind it . look at it this way ... YOU GET TO USE A POWER TOOL THAT MAKES SPARKS !!!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOO AAAAHHHHHH LMAO

 

o i just remembered ... they changed the stering geometry 88-90 . i think the 88-90 tabs are a little longer . cuz i remember people using a 1 inch extender on the 87 for turning radius improvement . might look in to that also .

 

I went through the same crap with my stem. I got it from lonestar and it came with the ears on it, But I was lucky enough to be able to just knock them off with a hammer and then file the area smooth. The most f#%#^ part was that it was a chrome stem and even after filing it, it has never rusted or anything in the area where I broke the ears off. Must be good chemicals over there at lonestar!!

 

Well guys after talkin with Donzilla I went back out to the barn and before makin any
bull headed moves, took my time to absolutley make sure that there was no other difference
between the 2 stems guess what???
Uhhh yeah...... Donzilla just mentioned here about geometry....well the '89 stem, the base is
longer by about a 1/2" and where the tie rod ends bolt the rounded curves are alittle more
bolder than the '88 stem plus on the '88 stem other than the ears, it also has a cross member
type of V - shaped steel piece welded between the 2 ears. So I guess I'm still waitin on gettin
the right stem. The guy said he'd with no problem accept the return, he didn't realize that there
was a difference between the model years, as well as I. So I'm sendin it back today DAM!!!!

 

I can't belive this!!!!!......I re -read Donzilla's mention about the '87 frame having the
tabs and all attached to the frame..... guys your not gonna belive this{well maybe you will}
as I was re - reading.. IT HIT ME......the guy I got the machine from SWAPPED out the '89
CHASSIS {because he twisted it all up} for I BET YOU A '87 ONE!!!!!!! As I mentioned in my first
reply mine has the the turning radious tabs ATTACHED TO THE FRAME!!! Oh man do I FEEL LIKE
AN ASSH@LE!!!!! Hey Donzilla where am I to find the serial#'s for the frame on the Zilla????
I gotta get this straight with myself. Hey Donzilla also could you PLEASE THROW A ROOST IN
MY ASZ FOR THIS F@CKUP!!!! LOL!

 

DANG !!!! you are have one of my typical days !!! LMAO !!!! as far as the #s there is a plate on the left side lower frame tube (sitting on quad) as far as where to look them up i think the dealer can do that . . a positive way to tell is the front a arms . does the top arm have 1 long bolt or does it split in to 2 seperate mounting points ? if it is a solid top and 1 bolt it is for sure an 87 frame .