Bent Rails ???

[soapy]

Hello all, I have been hanging around for a while reading and rereading alll the information that is provided here on this 900!. I have an 05 900 166 anniversary sled that I got after it took a header off a small mountain. My 900 education began when I put it back together and started riding it. However at the time I did not know about this site and no one I ride with has one. Well last night I took the suspension out to replace the drivers and front track spring and it sure looks like the rails are bent or are they! Are the rails supposed to be 100% straight from front to back. Sorry no pics at the moment as looking at it last night was giving me a headache!!!!

It looks like one rail was tweeked in the middle when it rolled down the mountain. I stripped the rails completely down and layed them beside each other. Looking at them from the back the right hand side look like it has been bent in right in the middle of the rail. Can this be bent back closer to straight and if so where should a person check these with a straight edge to see how bad it is.

All input from anyone is appreciated. This sled has been an ongoing education, however with all the information on this site it has gotten alot easier.

Thanks

 

[polhiker]

I know alot of guys running the 166 use stiffiners and they bolt right in the middel,i would say they are bent,dont know if you can bend them back or not,but i would put in some stiffiners that is alot of rail.

 

[BIGGDAWG]

pictures are worth a 1000 words. post a pic and we will tell ya.

you can try to straighten but you will want to put something on it to strengthen it or it will just bend again.

iceage makes some really nice rails

 

[NewfieBullet1973]

Hey - I'm on my third set of rails and I only have a 144" - really depends on how badly they are bent with regard to trying to straighten them - my experience is that once anything is bent it loses it's strength/dexterity and ends up breaking/bending again and doing more damage!! I just received my new rails from Ice Age and looks like a great product also picked up rail brace and stiffeners. No snow to try though!!!!

 

[Z-Man]

Is this where they are bent?

 

[guidoxpress]

all great inputs above...

yes please post pics when you can. or if you dont know how to post them, email them to me and i will post them for you

guidoxpress@hotmail.com

i use the HOLZ rail braces on ALL my sleds...2 of them are 166, and 1 is a 159. Great product and it really works.

i had the braces on for 2 seasons, no issues, sold all the stock rails and bought Ice Age rails and still use the braces.

you can find the rails every now and then on ebay and in the swapmeet, i sold mine for cheap, used that money and almost paid for the Ice Age rails

 

[Z-Man]

Do you have a link for the Holz rail braces? I can't find them on their website.

 

[guidoxpress]

Do you have a link for the Holz rail braces? I can't find them on their website.

yeh they are up on there sometimes and then they pull them again.

i am not 100% sure if they are selling them right now.

they were on sale for $55 last year...worth giving them a call to see at least. they are ALL BLACK, which is nice..

but the Polaris ones are exactly the same, just RAW finish...this guy on ebay selles them for $50, and he is great to deal with...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-POLARIS-IQ-...wmobile_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3eff522cab

 

[HUNDO]

To the OP: You asked if they are supposed to be completely straight from front to back. The answer is no, they should be tipped up at the back for easier steering. That said, they should be tipped identically...if one is different from the other, then you obviously have a bent rail. If the rail is bent out instead of up, the suspension components, cross shafts, and axle will bring it back in straight in most cases...you should have seen how bad my 166 rails were when I unbolted everything to swap out to IceAge, and it looked perfect bolted together!

 

[94fordguy]

To the OP: You asked if they are supposed to be completely straight from front to back. The answer is no, they should be tipped up at the back for easier steering. That said, they should be tipped identically...if one is different from the other, then you obviously have a bent rail. If the rail is bent out instead of up, the suspension components, cross shafts, and axle will bring it back in straight in most cases...you should have seen how bad my 166 rails were when I unbolted everything to swap out to IceAge, and it looked perfect bolted together!

Good post...


The rails should be tipped up about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch or so from the point where the rear bogies are mounted (about 18" from the back axle) to the back.

 

[soapy]

Thanks

Well thank you to everyone!!!! I was pretty sure that the rails where bent some and needed some TLC ---- Same for the whole sled!!!!

Z-man your picture is exactly where the major bend took place and that bar you have in there looks like something that will be on mine soon!!!!

Guido -- THanks you for the info and I will get with you when I can on the pictures!!!! On a side note I believe you and I should ride together some time as My sled seems to find the only tree on the hillside. I live in Meeteetse, Wy and ride Cooke quite a bit.

Thanks again for the responses and I will post up some pics as soon as I can as there are a few other "suprises"! Once again this is an awsome forum and wish I would have found it three years ago!!

Soapy

 

[guidoxpress]

Guido -- THanks you for the info and I will get with you when I can on the pictures!!!! On a side note I believe you and I should ride together some time as My sled seems to find the only tree on the hillside. I live in Meeteetse, Wy and ride Cooke quite a bit.

LOL...what makes you think i wreck? cause your right on track, lol...its just my trademark i guess, lol..

you better get on the 900 group ride to cooke this year...check it out..!!

 

[soapy]

LOL...what makes you think i wreck? cause your right on track, lol...its just my trademark i guess, lol..

you better get on the 900 group ride to cooke this year...check it out..!!

I have been watching that one really close and I am going to try and make it! The family and I got to Tog on Presidents day weekend so may have to miss work one day to come up! I am mostly allowed to ride allong with my bubbies as comic relief!!!!!