Are the M series spindle bolts is need of upgrade?

[Frostbite]

I saw the following procduct on Z Bros web site. Are the strength of the stock spindles on M series sleds in question?

Is this for all M series or just the 08 and older?

Heavy Duty Spindle Kit
[K39-0701-0] $40.00

Arctic cat M and F series lower spindle bolt spacer kit allows for a heavy duty 5/16 bolt to be installed in place of your wimpy 3/8 stock bolt. This point is well known for failing when glancing off a stump or rock. Race proven by the top RMSHA hill climbers like Tapio Racing, Zollinger Racing, and many more.

Kit includes Bolts, Washers, Nuts, and Hard anodized aluminum spacers. Simply bolt these parts on in place of the stock Items.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 14 July, 2008.

http://www.zbrozracing.com/store/pr...ucts_id=140&osCsid=oil72hf4afpbotaejct4631eg3

 

[backcountryislife]

My only problem with stiffening up the bolts, arms, etc is that you shift the fail point from the suspension products to the bulkhead. A bolt takes about 2 minutes and $1 to replace, a set of arms takes about 35 min & $150 or so to replace, a bulkhead is what? $800? & about 6 hours to replace.

Personally I'll got with the stock bolt.

 

[TheOnlyBFC]

Same as backcountry. I'd rather replace bolts instead of a arms.

 

[backcountryislife]

One thing I was thinking about, Keep in mind that in the hillclimb world, losing that bolt could cost you a race, a slight bend in a bulkhead or the arms would keep you going. I just think there's a bit of a disconnect between what the needs are in a race compared to what we would want.

I have seen that bolt break twice in 4 years around M sleds btw but one of them was a ti bolt.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

lower spindle bolt spacer kit allows for a heavy duty 5/16 bolt to be installed in place of your wimpy 3/8 stock bolt.
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seems to me that an upgrade should be a stronger 3/8 bolt rather then a stronger smaller diameter bolt...regardless i havent had trouble with the stock bolt...

 

[diggerdown]

The stock bolt is a 3/8" grade 5. Nothing wimpy about that! After market companies like to tell you about problems that do not exist, so they can exist!

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If anyone broke that bolt and was still on the sled they must have been tied on. I've hammered some stuff coming down hills out of control and never broke it. I highly doubt you would have this problem. Agree with backcountry

 

[Frostbite]

Great repsonses!

I tend to agree. The bolts were designed to be the sacrificial lamb in a crash to save the bulkhead.

Enough said!

Thanks