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Heim Joint Failures on SKINZ Concept A-Arms
- Thread starter christopher
- Start date
So to be clear, your Eye bolt, the one that attaches from the end of the lower A-Arm to the spindle broke off just like mine? As seen in this picture...
To clarify, my A-Arm is 100% unharmed. I haven't fixed it yet but I have a replacement eye bolt and I'm hoping it won't be too big of a pain to get it out without messing the threads up.
To clarify, my A-Arm is 100% unharmed. I haven't fixed it yet but I have a replacement eye bolt and I'm hoping it won't be too big of a pain to get it out without messing the threads up.
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Factory uses a ball joint built into the a arm.
Timbersled uses a set up similiar to this....what is skinz saying about weak parts?? We also think the gen 3 simmons seem to put extra pressure on the front end also....
I have one day on my new skinz front end and never hit anything...really like the way it handles. Havent rode since because we need snow and I dont like bangin off stuff
Timbersled uses a set up similiar to this....what is skinz saying about weak parts?? We also think the gen 3 simmons seem to put extra pressure on the front end also....
I have one day on my new skinz front end and never hit anything...really like the way it handles. Havent rode since because we need snow and I dont like bangin off stuff
When my eye bolt broke I was crusing down the trail doing about 10-15 mph. I'm not sure what I hit but I felt it snag. After the collision my sled went 90* and my ski was sitting on top of my hood still attached by the upper a-arm and steering tie rod.
When I went back to take a look at what I hit I was expecting to find something big and obvious. What I found instead was a sage brush poking out of the snow. I have no idea if that is indeed what I hit but like I said that's all I could see. It's hard for me to believe that a 1/4" sage brush could sheer off a chromoly eye bolt in that fashion! Especially when every other sled in the group casually rolled over the top of it.
I've been thinking this may have contributed to the problem as well but I'm sure it can't take all of the credit.
When I went back to take a look at what I hit I was expecting to find something big and obvious. What I found instead was a sage brush poking out of the snow. I have no idea if that is indeed what I hit but like I said that's all I could see. It's hard for me to believe that a 1/4" sage brush could sheer off a chromoly eye bolt in that fashion! Especially when every other sled in the group casually rolled over the top of it.
I've been thinking this may have contributed to the problem as well but I'm sure it can't take all of the credit.
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So the Eye Bolt was just a clean BREAK.
No associated damage to the Spindle or A-Arm??
To the best of my knowledge yes. I was seeing red when I first looked at it and I haven't fixed it yet so I'll have more information on it tomorrow.
S
Sledsniper
Well-known member
Could you just order a new rod end from McMaster Carr?
Not saying they shoudnt replace it.
You could carry spares then.
Not saying they shoudnt replace it.
You could carry spares then.
T
TRUEBLUEMAX
Well-known member
So when you are saying eye bolt do you actually mean the rod end on the lower a arm? I hope that this does not end up being an issue. I wonder if Skinz is using the same ones that they used on the prototype units or different ends.
I have had several conversations with Jeff Hawksworth from SKINZ tonight.
He asked me to share the following information.
They have had 4 reported failures of the Heim joint.
3 impact related, 1 non-impact spontaneous failure.
They have contacted the company that has manufactured the heim joints and asked for a metallurgical analysis to be done on the batch they bought. Thus far all the failures "Appear" to be in the screw in Heim Joint only and not in the A-Arms.
As of today, they are stocking an upgraded even stronger joint from a different company while the analysis takes place.
ANYONE WHO HAS A SET OF CONCEPT A-ARMS is welcome to send back the two lower arm Chrome Molly Heim Joints for free replacement with the new ones.
There have been no reported failures of the upper joints, which are not the same as the lowers.
Once they have the results of the metallurgical analysis done, then they will make a determination about what to do with all existing heim joins now in use by their customers.
He asked me to share the following information.
They have had 4 reported failures of the Heim joint.
3 impact related, 1 non-impact spontaneous failure.
They have contacted the company that has manufactured the heim joints and asked for a metallurgical analysis to be done on the batch they bought. Thus far all the failures "Appear" to be in the screw in Heim Joint only and not in the A-Arms.
As of today, they are stocking an upgraded even stronger joint from a different company while the analysis takes place.
ANYONE WHO HAS A SET OF CONCEPT A-ARMS is welcome to send back the two lower arm Chrome Molly Heim Joints for free replacement with the new ones.
There have been no reported failures of the upper joints, which are not the same as the lowers.
Once they have the results of the metallurgical analysis done, then they will make a determination about what to do with all existing heim joins now in use by their customers.
Jeff told me they are using the same as were run on the demo sleds all last winter.
T
TRUEBLUEMAX
Well-known member
Sounds like it was a problem with the batch, but how long till they find out what is going on. This doesn't sound like a fun thing to have happen in the back country. I wonder if you put a deposit down on the new ones if they will just send them out and wait for the old ones to get there and refund the deposit.
If there is any doubt in your mind, I would just contact SKINZ directly and discuss it with them.
[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]The best way to contact SKINZ is at:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]info@skinzprotectivegear.com[/FONT]
If you need to phone them its
320-243-8771
[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]The best way to contact SKINZ is at:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]info@skinzprotectivegear.com[/FONT]
If you need to phone them its
320-243-8771
Here's what I found when I was building front ends for the Delta chassis. There are 2 problems. If you use a basic rod end ie: mild steel and you set the end all the way into the a-arm then tighten up the the jam nut the jam nut almost acts as a knife, it'll just cut the rod end off at the base and thats even using a 5/8" rod end. The second point is the rod ends need to be high deflection models meaning they need to rotate at least 19 degrees. We snapped a few before we figured it out. The rod ends need to be made out of Cro Mo as they are over twice as strong as well as being twice as expensive. Skins should have figured this out before going to market with this. They are lucky they haven't killed someone yet. Check out Aurora for top quality rod ends. I've seen cro mo rod ends at Summit racing as well but I don't have any experience with them, they may be offshore items.
M5
M5
