Had the unfortunate incident of flipping the 650. Resulted in a cracked steering column.
Replaced the column shaft but have about an 1/8" (maybe less) slack from side to side when holding the handle bars. Before I bring it to the dealer for inspection are there any suggestions of what I might re-check or do. It appears all bolts are tight and rides perfect but the liitle slack is driving me nuts... Thanks very much for any suggestion

 

Had the same deal a while back with getting the rubber side up. The only thing I can think of offhand would be the flat washers that go into the recess at the lower part of the stem where the tie rods attach. If one or both were left off the taper in the tie rod would not pull up completely tight resulting in a small amount of play. Aside from that the usual. Loose nut at bottom of shaft, loose lower mt., loose upper bushing? Did happen to notice the tie rods wouldn't pull up tight without the washers on mine.

P.S. Wasn't that thing fun to change?

 

Hey there wolfpack,

Courious in what something like that set you back $$? I flipped mine also, and was curious if you had to replace the plastic around the bars and the bars?

 

I havent checked the tie rods but at this point I'll check anything and everything. I think I'm gonna go through the whole lower assmelby and check my work. Can't thank you enough for the new idea. Still trying to lick the wound since it only had 3 hours on it. Hell of a machine.

 

It cost about 150 bucks. But let me warn you the pain in the A!@# to get at it and finally replace it .
When i Finally got to it the machine looked like the luv buggy in the cartoons . Had to strip the plastic off .Anytime I thought I had a clear line of sight... another piece of plastic got in the way. Iwould estimate 2.5 hrs disassembly, 1 hour replacement and fastening of new column. and about 3-4 hours re-assembly of all parts.
Go slow. wiht all the fatners and plastic covers. it was easy to get overwelemd at least from my perspective

 

the only plastic I should replace is the air filter cover whihc was compressed at the end near the handle bars. Other than that she looks pretty good and is definitly "Broken in"

 

Courious in what something like that set you back $$? I flipped mine also, and was curious if you had to replace the plastic around the bars and the bars?[/i] >>





The shaft was about $140. The bars were about$40. The separated shoulder cost the insurance about $3800. Didn't loose any plastic.

They are a lot of fun to change. Have to field strip the bike like an old M16, all the way down.

 

Only thing that happened to Ole green was a tweeked bar and the plastic around the bar ripped a bit, believe I'm gonna leave the ripped plastic just to let it be known she's MEAN.

So how did yall roll it over?

I did mine in Reverse on flat ground. The ole 650 looked like an acrobat! My reverse light comes on half the time, this half wasnt it resulting in full throtle with no overide to protect her! Man this machine has some power! Vines got hung around the throttle and pinned it wide open and thats all she wrote! Flipped completely and still running waiting for more. She's mean....