Issues with Axys aluminum a-arms

[sledheader]

By the look of the design, it is doing exactly what Polaris wants it to do.

I agree. If you look at the bend with no support right where all these are bending, you can see exactly what they were trying to achieve. I reached down and felt mine and in that same area, there is a small bit of material that is shaved right where the arm makes the bend, just to ensure that that is the bend point.

 

[sledheader]

Anyone bend a stock upper? They seem to be built much better.

Not built better, it's just inherent in the design that the lower is meant to take all the force. Imagine a force applied to the bottom of the spindle. The upper arm is connected on a ball joint on the very top of the spindle vs the lower arm which is connected in the middle of the spindle. If you imagine the arms allowing rotation, the top of the arm would actually move forward when the bottom moves back, and all the force from the hit is taken in the lower arm.

At least that's what they taught me in Engineering School

It would take a very weird hit to be able to bend an upper arm, just looking at the design.

 

[turboless terry]

People are buying take off kits and it is just the lowers that you need. If you bend the upper, also, you had a serious hit.

 

[steepndeep800]

AK

To stretch the hole that was a pretty good hit wasnt it?

 

[XP Summit]

Had a buddy and another one of his riding partners bend there 16 A Arms last weekend up at Togwotee. They bent in the exact same U on the back side. In both situations the guys mentioned that there old pro's would have easily held up to the hits and that they barely hit anything. Both guys are pissed.... they were aware of a weak spot, but not this weak. My buddy did try to heat one up and bend it back in a vise, but it just broke into two. I have a feeling as the season goes on this is going to be a developing issue with Polaris beyond "early" season riding.

Cheers
Shawn

 

[AKFULLTHROTTLE]

AK

To stretch the hole that was a pretty good hit wasnt it?

I sure would think so, have never done that one before now. It was a 5-10 mph steep side hill, just ones stepping her through the trees when I missed judge where the bottom of the tree actually was. It stopped the sled but nothing crazy, I was able to lean the sled to the right and ride on.

But the ski did drop out in the tree hole which made the ski go straight up. it obviously was a hard enough hit but seams way less than any other hit I did with the Pro chassis with no damage. The key is how the impact occurred.

 

[CO Powder]

By the look of the design, it is doing exactly what Polaris wants it to do.

I have been saying this for a while now. Of course geo had to scold me with his wisdom blaming it on early riding and all.


My buddy was right behind me on the road when my ski clicked over a rock down in the road, barely a bump. He told me today there is no way that looked hard enough to damage anything. He is surprised I can get it off and on the trailer without damage LOL.


Both of my bent arms happened on ROADS covered in snow. I have been riding with weak front ended Ski Doos that are making the Polaris look positively fragile.


What I know is that I have been riding the same terrain, in the same conditions for years. The last sled I bought an a-arm for was an M7 about 6 years ago, after it went into a tree hard. I still finished riding it that day too.


My two Pros took WAY more abuse than this sled. None of the other sleds I ride with have had any damage this season.


I was able to heat and bend that first arm. Used a vise and Oxy/Ac torch to heat it. When you get it hot enough it bends really fast and easy. I quenched it because that was the best guess for this material. I got another good ride in on it and bent it in a creek bottom the next ride. Couldn't get a second heat and bend. It has a pretty good crack in it now.

 

[geo]

Awhhh, I'm sorry COP. It's just your such a whiny guy I jumped. Glad I don't have to hope for a ride with you or else eh!

So any one want to sell there arms or whole sled cheap yet?
Better yet, anyone want to trade for a much stronger Pro?
Your gonna toast the front end soon!

 

[Devilmanak]

Every broken spindle I've seen photos of, is powder coated. Coincidence? Probably not, IMO. I've never been a fan of powder coating any aluminum, especially the high strength heat treated alloys; as the temperature and duration of the bake cycle can be detrimental to it's properties.

Anyone roach a raw aluminum spindle, yet?

Safety wise it would be far preferable for the spindle to bend rather than break.

Even a badly bent spindle should keep the ski attached and prevent that corner of the sled from digging in and launching the rider over the bars before pile driving him / her with the tunnel.

The spindle at the shop that is exploded into multiple pieces is raw.

 

[AKFULLTHROTTLE]

Every broken spindle I've seen photos of, is powder coated. Coincidence? Probably not, IMO. I've never been a fan of powder coating any aluminum, especially the high strength heat treated alloys; as the temperature and duration of the bake cycle can be detrimental to it's properties.

Anyone roach a raw aluminum spindle, yet?

Safety wise it would be far preferable for the spindle to bend rather than break.

Even a badly bent spindle should keep the ski attached and prevent that corner of the sled from digging in and launching the rider over the bars before pile driving him / her with the tunnel.

I think by now every one knows your stance on powder coating....

I would say these spindles are painted, not coated. It is super thin and is already wearing off. I have never had a coated spindle loose it paint/coat.

 

[LoudHandle]

The spindle at the shop that is exploded into multiple pieces is raw.

If you or other could grab some good picks of the breaks, we could do a rough metallurgical assessment.

My hunch is a substandard aluminum alloy was sourced prior to being extruded, regardless of where they are produced.

 

[Devilmanak]

I will grab a pic next time I am up there. There is an Axys wall of shame going on, lol.

 

[2005 1m]

Well, I promised myself I wasn't going to be quick to judge these a-arms, but now I can confirm that they are very soft. I was sidehilling yesterday and lightly tapped off a tree with the outside of my ski. It tweaked my lower a arm putting a bend (to the rear) in about halfway between the spindle and bulkhead. It was a light tap. I'm not sending this all pissed-off, in fact I'm still riding the tweaked a arm without plans of changing it (although I do have alt-impact already as backup) - just trying to give a little honest feedback. Take it for what it's worth, doesn't bother me in any way, but they are soft. Very happy with the sled on all other accounts. I have pictures if anyone would like to see. Just don't know how to post or have the time to figure it out right now.

 

[2005 1m]

figure it out actually. here you go.

 

[ZRP Engineering]

Check these out!

Taking pre-orders now, shipping in 1-2 weeks depending on color.

 

[Sage Crusher]

I really don't know whats up with the bent- I have 4 in my stable and one with 500+ miles
Rocky start to the year- we have been careful and gave tagged some solid obsticales but the last 2 weeks in the bottomless all are 100% and we have hit some weird stuff to even bend some skegs- but the arms have been good so far - X the fingers - headed out again tomorrow- -
Not looking for to test the arms / but always caution after reading several reports..

Old age vs Young Age ???

S/C

 

[CO Powder]

Well, I promised myself I wasn't going to be quick to judge these a-arms, but now I can confirm that they are very soft. I was sidehilling yesterday and lightly tapped off a tree with the outside of my ski. It tweaked my lower a arm putting a bend (to the rear) in about halfway between the spindle and bulkhead. It was a light tap. I'm not sending this all pissed-off, in fact I'm still riding the tweaked a arm without plans of changing it (although I do have alt-impact already as backup) - just trying to give a little honest feedback. Take it for what it's worth, doesn't bother me in any way, but they are soft. Very happy with the sled on all other accounts. I have pictures if anyone would like to see. Just don't know how to post or have the time to figure it out right now.

It doesn't bother you to buy a $13,000 toy and find out the manufacturer hasn't made the front end strong enough to ride? Bothers me. I have bent both of my lower arms, the left one twice. I have not hit anything hard with the sled.


EVERYBODY that has bent an a-arm needs to file a claim with Polaris so they GET IT. I did and they gave me one freebie but claim this is not a product defect. No, it isn't a defect it is an engineering FAIL and they need to hear from customers, a bunch of them, before they will acknowledge the mistake and take action.

 

[CO Powder]

I have bent both of my lowers now, one of them twice. I have not hit anything hard, in fact both initial bends happened on roads, covered in snow, at ~5 mph. If you give that ski and tall spindle just the right bump it prangs that a-arm super easy.


I talked Polaris out of a freebie this time. Maybe it will last long enough to get me past x-mas to where I can buy a new set from Alternative Impact.


They gave me a new arm but claim this is not a product defect just goodwill. The guy at customer service I spoke to said they have to be that way to save the bulkhead and tunnel. I told him I had insurance for that.


While I was at the dealer I looked at the Switchback they had there. Looks like the same bulkhead as the RMKs but uses much beefier steel arms.


So they can build a ditch banger with much stronger a-arms but ours will break the bulkhead???


EVERYBODY that has bent an a-arm needs to submit a claim to Polaris. It is the quickest way to get them to realize this design is seriously flawed and they need to beef up the front end some.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

Hey, that's not fair...if you are getting a free a-arm I want one too... (oh and yes, I voted for Obama)

P.S. This is sarcasm boys!!!

 

[Rudy149]

First ride out pretty depressing missed out on riding so I upgraded to k mod

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