I am going to put a 3" riser on my 02 RMK 800 and i heard somthing about having to reinforce the steering column. Is this true and is there anything else i should do?
2002 RMK 800 Handlebar riser
- Thread starter IA ditch banger
- Start date
I didn't do anything to the post when I raised my bars about 2.5"... If I remember correctly your stock brake line and throttle cable will be stretched a little with a 3" riser.
I know we measered and it would barely work. im wondering how my sled will perform in the mountain deep snow. have you taken yours in the deep snow?
It may not happen to you but many guys have broke the thin (1/8") plate off the top of the steering post. Happened to me from using the bars to leverage the sled into a pow turn. I made a duplicate of the thin plate out of 3/8" plate and had a guy weld it in place right on top of the remnants of the old plate for me, then rode 2 1/2 seasons with no issues.
3" seems like a very short rise over stock...but without knowing your height, guess it's up to you to decide the proper height.
If you're not going with a pivot adapter, your rise might not be a good angle either. On my edge chassis sleds I've used both pivot adapter + riser setups and Mountain Cat bars on stock post. Overall I prefer the Mountain Cat bar setup.
If you're worried about strength, you can pound a solid rod down the middle of your stock post as well as the extra plate method mentioned above. I've never had a stocker break, but others have. Up to you to decide what your comfort level is.
If you're not going with a pivot adapter, your rise might not be a good angle either. On my edge chassis sleds I've used both pivot adapter + riser setups and Mountain Cat bars on stock post. Overall I prefer the Mountain Cat bar setup.
If you're worried about strength, you can pound a solid rod down the middle of your stock post as well as the extra plate method mentioned above. I've never had a stocker break, but others have. Up to you to decide what your comfort level is.
I have had a 3" riser on my 02' for 5 years now never had a problem with it but i did have to put a longer brake line on or it would pull on the line too hard when turning the bars. The throttle cable reaches but it too pulls a little when turning but not enough to cause problems.
V
volcano buster
Well-known member
I had an '05 with a 3" riser. Busted the flat plate and rewelded it up myself. Then I ended up busting the column down by the upper mount. I ended up getting a chromoly post from WildChild.
I read a lot on the application of a tube/rod inside the stock post. The weld used to mate the top plate onto the post protrudes into the hole. This would need to be ground out so that a matched diameter rod could fill the ID all the way down to the first bend.
I didn't want the liability of my welds being a problem when I sold off the sled, so I cut my losses and got the WildChild post. That thing was factory nice with no issues after that.
Pics of the replacement post:
I read a lot on the application of a tube/rod inside the stock post. The weld used to mate the top plate onto the post protrudes into the hole. This would need to be ground out so that a matched diameter rod could fill the ID all the way down to the first bend.
I didn't want the liability of my welds being a problem when I sold off the sled, so I cut my losses and got the WildChild post. That thing was factory nice with no issues after that.
Pics of the replacement post:
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The 02 steering columns are like butter.
I stuffed a rag down into the bottom of the steering column, then injected a good amount of simpson epoxy so that is comes out the top when I then stuffed a 3/8" diameter all thread as far down in as I could get it. Let it set up for an hour and saw off the extra all thread. This really stiffens it up and saves you from getting hosed on an after market steering column.
I stuffed a rag down into the bottom of the steering column, then injected a good amount of simpson epoxy so that is comes out the top when I then stuffed a 3/8" diameter all thread as far down in as I could get it. Let it set up for an hour and saw off the extra all thread. This really stiffens it up and saves you from getting hosed on an after market steering column.
I ran with a 5 inch rise on stock post for years no problems. put it on and ride.
