Bought the Alba A-Arms for the Raptor and went to put them on yesterday. I got the bike stripped down to just the stock A-Arms right now and the lowers come out fine. The problem I have is that the long bolt that holds the upper A-arms on won't come out. It will turn, the nut is off but I can't get it to pull out. There is a slight resistance when turning, you can't turn it with just your fingers. I hit the hell out of it with a hammer but there isn't a whole lot of room to get a good swing in. I also have air tools and tried to use an air hammer but the angle won't let it work well because the frame tube is in the way. I pulled the zerk off and got all the grease out that I could and sprayed WD-40 in there to loosen it up but still no luck. Anybody have any advice, short of just cutting thru the upper A-arm and cutting the bolt in half? I think tonight I'll try to weld a piece of rod on the end of the bolt and make a T-handle that I can pull the hell out of. What a pain, this should have been the easiest part of the freakin' install!

PS: Does it sound like my inner sleeve is mushroomed and I'll need to get new sleeves too? I just want to have them around if I need them. Thanks.

 

Bump. Any ideas? I think the bolt is seized to the collar in the A-arm. Ordered 2 sleeves and 2 bolts from Yamaha, just in case I have to cut the friggers off, with expedited shipping. $53.00. Ouch. Hope I don't need em.

 

Slappie-

I had the same problem, shot some penatrating oil in on the nut side and let it sit overnight. The next day I threded the nut partialy on and gave it a few good whacks with a nylon head hammer and the sucker finally came out. Your exactly right its stuck on the sleeve when I got mine out I sanded it smooth, lubed it and it slid right back in!

 

Had same problem,cutting it worked great.
Next time try greasing the bolt with marine grease before putting it in.
Sorry to hear you had the problem.

 

Finally got that sum beeotch out last night. Here's what I did: Tons of WD-40, took off the grease fitting, shoved a screwdriver in there against the sleeve, hit it with a 400lb/ft impact at full speed. Result? Nothing! Kept doing that a lot and it moved a tiny bit. There's Hope!!! I got a slide hammer and welded it to the end of a pair of vice grips (on the adjusting nut). Clamped the vice grips onto the bolt and whacked it a few good times. Lots of flying grease but no movement. Then got a 3/8 inch ratchet and banged on the end of the bolt with it and a hammer (the craftsman ratchet is just the right length to get on the bolt head and still have enough room to hit it with a hammer between the motor and the frame). Finally it started coming out and then it got harder again. Then, and this was the toughest part mentally, I drove it back in to the sleeve and hit it out again. Repeatedly. That loosened it up, put the slide hammer/vice grip tool back on the bolt and out it came. I was as happy as a pig in mud. The bolt is a little chewed up but it'll work. That new one will go right in. The sleeves were fine but since they are a special order item, I got to take them anyway. Anybody need an extra top a-arm sleeve or two for cheap!?! Now I can finally get everything on and go riding!!! Whew.

PS: My wife always asks why a 10 minute job takes me 2 hours. This is why!!!!