I just found the Raptor's weak point.... literally
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No wonder these A-arms fail... look at this picture of Yamaha's arm next to a Raptor race arm. http://www.atvconnection.com/atvconn...ercompare1.jpg
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Yes, as has been mentioned, these upper A-arms shouldn't have to be very strong. To illustrate my point, I took a piece of 1" aluminum angle and cut about a 4.5" section of it. I then drilled 2 holes through it and through my bad A-arm after straightening it back out (it is only holding on one side, the other side is gapped open where it bent), I then fastened it to my bent/broke a arm as a splint of sorts.
I didn't do any jumping or anything like that, but it held up just fine for moderate riding. My A-arm and the one that broke mentioned in a previous thread must have had some critical flaw in it that made it extremely week. I'd say that it would have to be so weak, that if you have one and it has the problem, it will break within the first few hours of riding. If it doesn't manifest itself early, you will probably be fine without ever having any problems.
I didn't do any jumping or anything like that, but it held up just fine for moderate riding. My A-arm and the one that broke mentioned in a previous thread must have had some critical flaw in it that made it extremely week. I'd say that it would have to be so weak, that if you have one and it has the problem, it will break within the first few hours of riding. If it doesn't manifest itself early, you will probably be fine without ever having any problems.