2010 M8 Bulkhead Bent

[MillermanSD]

Hope this pic loads, went to replace the bent a arm on my sons sled today and noticed the rear bolt has bent the bulkhead rearward. There is a 3/16 or so plate welded here for reinforcement but it bent where AC decided not to weld it. Any ideas to fix? Can I smack the crap out of it and get it bent back into place or is this thing completely wacked?

More Pics here...http://web.me.com/wiesenburgerfamil...s/Daynes_Carnage_From_Valentines_Weekend.html

 

[PhantomCat]

Can't see much from the pics...is the bulkhead cracked around the plate or at the edges where it is bent?

If it is not cracked I would try to gently smack it out! The aluminum is now work hardened..aluminum is soft so if you go to beat it out fast and hard you might crack it if it was not. If there is a crack you might be able to have someone weld it. But if it is cracked and you bump it out and then weld it you might be ok...hard to tell from pics.

Did the damage travel...or is it just in that area of the bulkhead?

Glenn

 

[MillermanSD]

No cracks, just bent. I was thinking about putting a porta power in between the bulkhead and the round tube that goes from side to side and seeing if I could get it pressed out. If AC would have welded on the inside (towards center of sled) I don't think this would have bent. Both sides are like this (no welds). Ya the pics suck, kinda hard to see. The rearward bolt that holds the a arm is facing the opposite side of the sled. Really tweaked to the left.

 

[PhantomCat]

I think if you can work it out with the porta power and it does not stress crack on ya..I think you should be fine..might want to weld up the center part and the other side also! I just know that aluminum does not like to bend back without getting weak...you sound pretty mechanically capable to asses your situation and fix it. You could heat it up alittle befor you start..would not put alot of heat to it though!!! Just enough to get some molicules to relax!

 

[aksnopro]

ouchy! always beat on aluminum with a weight on the backside!!! pushing from the other side might bend it too (might not just be careful!) i dont see any reason why you cant bend that back worst comes to worst it cracks weld it and be ready to rip!
-Aksnopro

 

[MillermanSD]

Does anyone have the link to that aftermarket stiffener brace to put into the bulkhead, saw one on a post a while back and can't seem to find it.....

 

[Ski-Laxn]

Here is the part #4606-402 Just look on a 05 M to find it.

 

[M.M. 700]

Take the bushing out of the bulkhead, where the lower a-arm bolt goes threw.

Get a grade 8 bolt and cut 2 chunks of 1/2 steel. Place a small sqaure on the inside of the bulkhead with some large washers between the bolt and the metal (will have to drop the belly pan) The chunch of steel I cut was about 1 1/2 x 1 1/12 maybe 2x2 inchs
And put a large (oversize the metal over the bolt hole) chunck of the 1/2 inch steel on the other side along with large washers (where the a-arm would meet the bulkhead)The chunk of steel I used was around 3x6 inchs

Get yourself a long cheater bar and tighten the bolt up. Loosen and retighten the bolt while rotating the metal chunks to pull it out straight.

It will come out!

 

[M.M. 700]

Does anyone have the link to that aftermarket stiffener brace to put into the bulkhead, saw one on a post a while back and can't seem to find it.....

Those braces are for the front lower a -arm bolts.
I Just ordered a set last week. Something like $5....

 

[hatchers]

take a rubber hammer to it

 

[WyoBoy1000]

The tube is where one of the motor mounts attaches to, I wouldn't beat or push on any of the motor mount points. If you are going to push on something, build something to go against it to get more surface area to push off of. It is real easy to twist the hole thing and then you will never get the clutching aligned right. Just think before you get a bigger hammer.

When done, check the clutch distance and parallelism, and that both are level vertically.

 

[ezra]

on a side note when you say working on your sons sled a 2010 m8 I hope you are referring to a grown man who bought his own sled and not a 15yr old kid you dropped that kind of cash on so he could go jump driveways and run stump fields like a mogul skier in the olympics.that is what powder specials are for

 

[WyoBoy1000]

on a side note when you say working on your sons sled a 2010 m8 I hope you are referring to a grown man who bought his own sled and not a 15yr old kid you dropped that kind of cash on so he could go jump driveways and run stump fields like a mogul skier in the olympics.that is what powder specials are for

If I ever have a kid and the money, he or she will have to earn everything, except a sled. Its in the blood and theres no holding back.

 

[MillermanSD]

Attention M.M.700!!!

Great Idea, it worked just as you said. Here are pics of the homemade press and shots of the finished product http://web.me.com/wiesenburgerfamil...from_Valentines_Weekend_At_Cooke_City.html#12

I went a little too far with the last attempt and poked a small hole in the corner of the bulkhead, no big deal, tapped with a hammer and all's well. A little paint and I will be back to running.

Attention Ezra -
hahaha you were off by 1 year, he turned 14 today!!! I was hoping to buy new so I wouldn't have to work on the da@# things!!! My sled is right beside his with bent rails. LOL Scroll 3/4 of the way down this page and you will see some action shots of Dayne, he carves up the powder better than I do, it's a real pleasure watching him learn new things every time we are out there..... http://web.me.com/wiesenburgerfamil.../Pages/Cooke_City_Feb_13th_14th_and_15th.html
Bill from Cooke City Antlers lodge took us out on the 15th and had all the kids in the group stuck at one time (5 of them) on a little bunny hill, that was a hoot. They where all following each other a little too close and after the first one went down it was like dominoes. We had a great day and watched Bill do some stellar riding!!!

 

[ezra]

looks like a great trip .BTW I am up for adoption even if I am 41 will make a good son wont complain too much about taking out the trash or shoveling. my sled of choice would be the RTR800. I will fax the paper work over this week and you can start converting the basement for my room I will bring a new trailer for the family trips but could also use a new excursion DAD.

 

[MillermanSD]

HAHAHAHA LOL thats funny sh@t right there EZRA!!!

I got tears coming outta my eyes right now from laughing cuz my brother in law want's me to adopt him as well!!! I hear it every trip to Cooke!!!

LOL

 

[M.M. 700]

Attention M.M.700!!!

Great Idea, it worked just as you said. Here are pics of the homemade press and shots of the finished product http://web.me.com/wiesenburgerfamil...from_Valentines_Weekend_At_Cooke_City.html#12

I went a little too far with the last attempt and poked a small hole in the corner of the bulkhead, no big deal, tapped with a hammer and all's well. A little paint and I will be back to running.

Attention Ezra -
hahaha you were off by 1 year, he turned 14 today!!! I was hoping to buy new so I wouldn't have to work on the da@# things!!! My sled is right beside his with bent rails. LOL Scroll 3/4 of the way down this page and you will see some action shots of Dayne, he carves up the powder better than I do, it's a real pleasure watching him learn new things every time we are out there..... http://web.me.com/wiesenburgerfamil.../Pages/Cooke_City_Feb_13th_14th_and_15th.html
Bill from Cooke City Antlers lodge took us out on the 15th and had all the kids in the group stuck at one time (5 of them) on a little bunny hill, that was a hoot. They where all following each other a little too close and after the first one went down it was like dominoes. We had a great day and watched Bill do some stellar riding!!!

Glad you got it fixed!! You can also grind off the sharp edges to keep the metal from scaring the bulkhead.