I have a new LT80 for my boy but if you apply upward lift on the handlebar it moves upward about 5mm and makes a clanking noise. My 2 other Lt80's do not do this and I thought it would be as simple as tightening the lower nut on the steering shaft (which does seem to have play) but this has not solved the problem. Is there an easy answer before I trailer it back to the supplying dealer tomorrow. I am happy to sort it myself if I can.

Any comemnts would be appreciated asap.

 

Sounds like bushing wear to me. I'm not familuar with the LT-80 steering details. But if you tightend the bottom nut and it didn't help, it's probably a bushing wear problem. Or, the nut ran out of threads. Try installing a thick flat washer under the nut, then retighten the nut. That might help. If steering isn't your specialty, then perhaps your dealer should look at it. Ensure he shows you what he fixed, so you can apply this same solution to your other LT80s in the future (if it happen to them as well).

Hope this helps...

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Spike is correct. The bushing is shot. It's not that hard to replace, and the part is less than $10

 

Where is this bush, this is a BRAND NEW bike. It has riden about 15 minutes!

 

Sure wish I had a manual of the LT80 to show you.

On a polaris 90 unit, there is a plastic sleeve at the top and a spacer at the bottom. Both are often called steering column bushings. For a visual on the Polaris unit, see #19 and #14 within - Press Here -

Since your unit is to new, it sounds like someone forgot to install the bottom spacer (if the LT80 brand has one).

Hope this online picture helps...

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If its a NEW LT then its under Warrenty, so take it back and make the Dealer Fix it!

 

RickA has a valid point. If it's new and still under warranty, then the dealer "could" fix it free of charge. "Take it back to the dealer or fix it yourself?" is a judgement call that only RickA can make.


Kinda reminds me of my adult size quad. Within its warranty period, a wire connector going down its steering column came apart. I could see it but couldn't reach it with my hands - to plug it back together. Take it back to the dealer or fix it myself? decision as well. So, I pulled out my wrenchs, rolled up my sleeves and dug-in. 3 hours later, I got that wire connector re-connected, with plastic glue as well. Yes, my dealer could have fixed it. But by the time I loaded onto my trailer, drove it to my dealer, waited 3-5 days for him to fix it, go get it, etc. etc., I had it fixed within the same afternoon. And, I learned so much about my quad. If I didn't know where the problem was or didn't know how to fix it, then I would have taken it back to my dealer. One of those judgement, against skills, against time things as well...


Nicks3: Please let us know what the source of the problem is and what was done to fix it. I'm always looking for new things to learn on the minis. Especially when the same problem could happen to my kids' mini as well...


thanks.

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The only bushing is right below the handlebars where it connects to the frame. A lil rubber/plastic piece similiar to the 250-R's and I presume most other quads. This bushing has nothing to do with up/down movement.
I have a bare frame on the bench right now. I'll take the stem off tonight and see what exactly is on the bottom. Most machines have a bearing.
The shaft should not move up and down. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I actually have two steering stems laying on the floor one is from a 1986 and the other 2001. One of them has a rubber thing on the bottom of it and the other does not but i guess at one time it may have had one also.

 

The stem does not go thru a bearing like I thought. it does go thru a nylon type of bushing.
When I took the nut off here's what I had:::
nut/small washer/big thick washer/small washer/o-ring