04 edge skid question

[stomper]

I picked up an edge skid similar to the one in the picture below but there was a few bolts that were loose and they ovaled some holes in the rails and I was just wondering if I could use the holes just be hind them. In the picture below the bolt hole that is circled in red, where the bottom cross shaft is secured, are the ovaled holes on both rails. Can I just mount it in the holes circled in blue. If so will I have to adjust the upper torque arm bolt from the black hole to the green hole. And will I have to do anything with the rear torque arm. Can this be done or will this screw with the geometry of the suspension. Hope this makes sence. By only moving from the red hole to the blue hole, it looks like it would only raise the front of the skid slightly, which would give an slightly better approach angle. Can this be done???

 

[550iq]

Anything can be done, however moving one mounting point may require something else be moved and so on. Everything in the skid frame is dependent on everything else in the skid frame. Better to replace the rails with new rails without oval-ed out mounting holes. This skid is still being used so rails are available. Don't cut corners here. My thoughts anyway. 550iq.

 

[stomper]

Good point. I will weld them up and redrill them. Its only one hole per rail and its cheaper than buying rails. Thanks

 

[sled_guy]

Good idea, that's what I did, just welded them up. Make sure once you do weld them that they have the washers backing them on the inside to keep them from wearing.

As to your direct question. If you move the red circled bolt you change the lever on the shock, causing its dampening to be applied different. If you move the black circled one to the green you change the position of the rails with relation to the drivers.

sled_guy

 

[stomper]

Thanks good to know. I had them welded but just for some extra info, if I was to change position of one of them do I need to change the other ones also.

 

[sled_guy]

If you change the upper one you are going to pull the rail tips forward. On an Edge RMK anyway that would not be good as the tips almost hit the cross shaft already. Moving the bottom one will affect the shock action, not the rail position so I believe you can move the independent of each other.

sled_guy