NEW 1M / Mountain cat forward steering

[arcticcatwill]

A new thing im trying out, wondering if anyone would be interested. Fits EFI and carb, i dont know about the small block 5-600cc. Post is also sleeved at the top and ends up to be 2'' taller than stock.

Will

 

[1Mike900]

I 've heard of this "U" joint setup a while back, About a 11/2 yrs. ago. For the life of me I cannot remember where, But I remember this was the way to go! With the unions do you notice any bind at halfway over? Do you think there will be any extra torque needed by your arms to move it in the deep or heavy snow? Are the U joints strong, Won't wear out in short order and be sloppy?

Thanks for the pic
Mike

 

[Mountain Thunder]

Been wanting to do the forward post on my 02 thundercat MC but looks like the post would hit the rack carb fuel line crossover.This looks like it would work for my sled,Would it?

 

[arcticcatwill]

I need someone to test it for me, i mean its pretty stout, I would test it but i lost my crank last week. I think it could use one support from the top of the cross bar to the frame. But my rivits are also pretty loose. The u-joint has a life time warranty, obviously its voided (from welding). It was a little loose to begin with, all i did was peen the studs and it tightened up. No binding though, at all.

Will

 

[Offroad Engineering]

My buddies been riding a set up similar to this for the second season now and it works very well as far as bar placement but he's been having trouble keeping the ujoint in it. Everytime he hits something or rolls the sled it seems like I'm towing him out with no steering.

Use beefy parts, you'll need them, but it's a nice setup to ride.

 

[MADCATTER]

OK, try to hold back your laughter but here's my suggestion. The u-joint setup looks great but knowing the hell I put my machine through, the less joints the better. Years back, we had a homemade dunebuggy that was inherited with property, It was small but had a front mounted Pinto 4 cyl which took up a lot of room. The steering "shaft" was a heavy 3/4" cable that snaked around the engine with similar hangers as the Cat post. There was zero slop, zero binding and it was rigid enough enough to stand on.

I'd like to experiment with this on my sled buy I know I'll never get around to it. You'll need as much of the rigid post as possible, with the minimum of cable to make the turn. The top section of the post will need 2 hangers spaced as far apart as possible which means fabricating a mount near the jackshaft.

I like the u-joint idea but I think a rollover is enough to do one in, I've always wondered about trying this with a Snap-On or Mac 1/2 inch impact swivel!

-N8

 

[arcticcatwill]

OK, try to hold back your laughter but here's my suggestion. The u-joint setup looks great but knowing the hell I put my machine through, the less joints the better. Years back, we had a homemade dunebuggy that was inherited with property, It was small but had a front mounted Pinto 4 cyl which took up a lot of room. The steering "shaft" was a heavy 3/4" cable that snaked around the engine with similar hangers as the Cat post. There was zero slop, zero binding and it was rigid enough enough to stand on.

I'd like to experiment with this on my sled buy I know I'll never get around to it. You'll need as much of the rigid post as possible, with the minimum of cable to make the turn. The top section of the post will need 2 hangers spaced as far apart as possible which means fabricating a mount near the jackshaft.

I like the u-joint idea but I think a rollover is enough to do one in, I've always wondered about trying this with a Snap-On or Mac 1/2 inch impact swivel!

-N8

Is this swivel stronger than a normal universal?

 

[MADCATTER]

I know they can take 700+ ft.lbs. of breaking torque, question is longevity against the torque of two arms spaced that far apart and moisture.
-N8

 

[SnoKrazy]

Strong U-joints

I 've heard of this "U" joint setup a while back, About a 11/2 yrs. ago. For the life of me I cannot remember where, But I remember this was the way to go! With the unions do you notice any bind at halfway over? Do you think there will be any extra torque needed by your arms to move it in the deep or heavy snow? Are the U joints strong, Won't wear out in short order and be sloppy?

Thanks for the pic
Mike

Have you considered the u-joint from the steering shaft on a commercial truck?
The one on my Kenworth dump truck lasted well over 10 years with 5yrs of off- road oil field use!
Should be available at any salvage yard including the shaft.

 

[tobys670x]

Maybe a steer shaft out of a pickup?

 

[41racing]

I race circle track in the summer and use the exact part you need for this steering post on my car. It's just a u-joint made for steering shafts in race cars. It will definitely hold up and they're cheap too. They range anywhere from $40 to around $75 depending on the size and splines(which you wouldn't need for this application). Speedway motors has them as well as about a hundred other circle track places.

 

[arcticcatwill]

The only thing about these ideas, the u-joint i have now is a little bigger than the post dia. if you have your stock air box in there isnt a lot of space around the u-joint. it is already super close to touching. Do they make these other u-joints with a small dia.?

 

[41racing]

the u-joints fit a 3/4" shaft which is smaller than what is there already, but the body of the joint is bigger... I'm not sure if they make smaller ones or not.

 

[shakey84cj]

u-joints

Thought about doing this but my friends talked me out of it. These guys have all the u-joints for steering shaft one could possible dream up. Look for the ones listed as "smooth bore, as those are the weld-in type: https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/home.php?cat=5

Good luck!

 

[Mnt.Tamer]

I have been running a post with a u-joint for 3 years now and love it. the one I have is better supported than the one above. contact Lonnie, at 406-570-0056.
He build the best I have ever seen or herd of, I would post pic. of mine but don't know how to, I can email some pic If you pm me your email