Alright, well I will try cranking them to 89 ft/lbs tomorrow and see if that helps, but if they are not loose enough to tell by hand, I don't see them allowing the stem to move like this. We shall see...

 

JMann

Thats 10Nm (89lbf.in) as per manual

let me know how you get a torque wrench in there too!!

Dave

 

I too on both my '03 Bombs have had the same "pop" when turning side to side .... I thought it was inherent to the "Bomb".

So you all are saying it's probably the tie rod "inners" at the steering stem? Cuz I tell ya, my stem is tight and always has been. Let alone the two bolts that hold the stem in place up by the inst. cluster. I know it's not Bar or Bar Mount related as both quads have done this, and with different bar sets.

I'll have to check it out too.... But now I'm loaded and ready to head out! I'll check it in Glamis, when I'm sittin there doing nothing but swiggin on a cold one. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Gawd I can't wait!! All next week off work... and.... ahh, never mind. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Just wanted to clarify Davids post, be sure you have an inch lb torqe wrench not a foot lb wrench. You will break them off. You probably understood it I just wanted to make sure.

 

Thanks for clarifying, I was gonna ask to make sure. What is that around 8 ft/lbs? I do not have an in/lbs.

I don't see how with such a light torque rating they can not be loose to the touch but loose enough to cause the slop, but we will know for sure in a couple of hours when I get home. If this isn't it, could it be slop in the bearing at the bottom?

If I can't figure it out before I leave, still safe to ride for 3 days?

Thanks for all the help guys.
-Josh

 

Im not sure of the conversion. You can get an inch pound wrench for about 40 bucks at alot of auto parts stores. You really should have one. There alot smaller than an inch pounder and if you ever have to do the clutch, cams, cases, starter, ect there almost all inch pound torqe specs. Might be the bearing but I would definitley check the torqe. I would probably still ride it, but thats just me. The front end isnt on the ground much anyway[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Check your tie rod ends, if they are bad you will have some slop in the steering. Also check to make sure that the jam nuts against the tie rod ends are tight if they are not you may have slop again.

 

How do you check to see if you tie-rods are bad?

 

The tie rod ends will have some play in them/it when you move your bars if they are bad. Grab one of your tie rods and try to move your wheel. It should be solid, no play. If there is any movement in the end itself, other than the normal swivel, it is bad. A OEM tie rod with ends is about $90. You cannot buy the ends or the tie rod seperatly BRP only sells it as a whole unit, tie rod and two ends. I could find no aftermarket replacement tie rods for the DS.

 

I would ride it. My polaris has a little play in the sterring ends by the sterring stem, I will ride it like that until I feel it's time to repair. By the way where is little sahara? I am in nw ohio, if your going through this area stop by I am about 21 miles south of US30 on US127 and SR29 wich is what US33 turns into when it forks off. Anyway it would be cool to meet ya and talk about riding together next year. Well if we can't meet up this time maybe in the future. Have a safe fun trip. RUSS