Bent ski doo

[elf]

This weekend my wife hit something with her ski on her 2005 GTX. We first noticed it because her carbide on her right ski was bent out and up. I looked at the a-arms quickly and they looked fine, not bent at all. So then yesterday as I was unloading it I noticed it wouldn't turn all the way to the left. Still couldn't see any real damage so I flipped it up on it's side to take the carbide off and noticed that in front of the rear mount for the lower a-arm the whole bulkhead is pushed to the right. So we have a big issue here. Is this repairable by a home mechanic? I have a feeling if I take it to insurance its a total as it's a 05 with 6500 miles on it. If I can't repair it is there anyway to get full steering back out of it? I'll try to take some pictures tonight.
Thanks!

 

[ezra]

if you have insurance use it.the ski doo blues seen many nun bent up, many bulk head just behind clutches bent and cracked.at 6500mi more work than it is worth if you have full insurance imho.
never understood why if they were not going to beef up the NUN and bulk head why not make chitty a arms that will bend under a hit.I dont know any one who would rather take on a nun job than a 1hr a arm job.
I know guys who buy a left and a right arm the day they buy there sled and bring them on trips just in case.
sorry for the destruction but at least no one was hurt

 

[salmonbum]

The nun can be replaced by a home mechanic. You may want to try strapping down the sled tight to hold it in place, then use a come-a-long to pull the a-arm back into psoition. Saw a post on SW where a guy did this to an XP and it worked well.

 

[mjkaliszak]

Back in the day... we would hammer things out the best we could and swap parts then run them tweaked a little. Even had " Big Dave " sit on my old AC and I hooked a strap to it with the car and pulled things out.... This is not to say I have gotten any better at driving over the years... I just wear a Tek Vest and glasses.

 

[whitedust]

Use Insurance! On the bright side doos are light....right?

 

[elf]

Thanks for all the feedback. Sled is fully insured so thats a positive. I like the idea of using a come along to try to straighten it out. I think I will get the insurance company involved, see if they total it out, and maybe buy it back for a song and try to straighten it. If not, I've been looking for a reason to get my wife a new sled.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Sounds like a good plan elf, but give her your sled and get yourself a new one! I'm assuming you ride more than her, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[fatdaddy]

happens to ski doo all the time, my brother is on his second one and his insurance paid for it. I think it was around 1500 bucks, if you have insurance use it, I wouldn't jimmy rig these things, light yes, strong no. just like the old firecats fast but don't last.n ski Doo has sold everyone on how light weight the sleds are, long term testing is showing why you don't want a ski doo.

 

[elf]

Sounds like a good plan elf, but give her your sled and get yourself a new one! I'm assuming you ride more than her, but maybe I'm wrong.

I do ride more than her but we have 2 kids that ride with us. Next yr my daughter will be 12 and on her own sled but we have 2 more yrs of hauling my son around. So my thought is to pick up a Renegade for her and the plus one seat so for the next 2 yrs it can be a 2 up and then revert back to a normal sled. Also, she really doesn't like my RMK.

 

[mjkaliszak]

Use Insurance! On the bright side doos are light....right?

Obviously... lighter than a yamaha....
Unfortunately the " NUN " is different than the S/E module to change.The story I heard was that BRP engineering went to the S/E mod design to ( one of the reasons ) aid in component replacement when damaged. OR so I read on doo talk. I can't say I agree with that statement after replacing my S/E modules, the job was for the more advanced home mechanic. I have eyed up my NUN .... and I will say the " I want NONE of that.... I'll just try to keep her out of the trees.....

I still cherish the days of hammering things out, may be 20 years ago but I would call the ins co up, they would total it, I would hammer it, pull it ect.... and run it .... WITH plenty of gas money in the wallet for the rest of the season.

 

[whitedust]

Obviously... lighter than a yamaha....
Unfortunately the " NUN " is different than the S/E module to change.The story I heard was that BRP engineering went to the S/E mod design to ( one of the reasons ) aid in component replacement when damaged. OR so I read on doo talk. I can't say I agree with that statement after replacing my S/E modules, the job was for the more advanced home mechanic. I have eyed up my NUN .... and I will say the " I want NONE of that.... I'll just try to keep her out of the trees.....

I still cherish the days of hammering things out, may be 20 years ago but I would call the ins co up, they would total it, I would hammer it, pull it ect.... and run it .... WITH plenty of gas money in the wallet for the rest of the season.

X2 Yep you want light doo still top of the list.lol

 

[Deleted member 10829]

I do ride more than her but we have 2 kids that ride with us. Next yr my daughter will be 12 and on her own sled but we have 2 more yrs of hauling my son around. So my thought is to pick up a Renegade for her and the plus one seat so for the next 2 yrs it can be a 2 up and then revert back to a normal sled. Also, she really doesn't like my RMK.

Yep, 2 kids and the RMK sure does change things. Good luck with everything!

 

[fatdaddy]

My brother in law also had the 1+ seat and he didn't like it, the kid sits behind you so they can't see and besides I watched my nephew fly around like he was bull riding. After watching that I said no way and rented two ups for several years. Mind you my wife only rode about 5 times a year but thats still way under 11k for a sled. It worked out good for us, think about it. Besides we rented yamis, AC and Ski doos, you get an idea of what you really liked and I was supprised by which one I would buy if I had to. It was not the brand I ride either.

 

[elf]

My brother in law also had the 1+ seat and he didn't like it, the kid sits behind you so they can't see and besides I watched my nephew fly around like he was bull riding. After watching that I said no way and rented two ups for several years. Mind you my wife only rode about 5 times a year but thats still way under 11k for a sled. It worked out good for us, think about it. Besides we rented yamis, AC and Ski doos, you get an idea of what you really liked and I was supprised by which one I would buy if I had to. It was not the brand I ride either.

Her current GTX is a two up and my daughter has always rode behind her while my son rides in front of me. I found a great deal on a older Polaris Supersport for my daughter for next yr and my son is moving to ride with mom next year. I'll be free at last!!! I have a good friend who runs a renegade with the plus one seat and his kids really like it. I don't think my son will be happy but thats only because his sister will be riding her own sled while he's still a passenger.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

That will be a good sled for her! I remember the days of having 4 sleds at a time for the family. That's 4 mouths to feed, 4 places to sleep, 4 tanks to fill at every stop, 4 oils to be filled etc., gets very expensive! But the memories........Priceless!

 

[elf]

That will be a good sled for her! I remember the days of having 4 sleds at a time for the family. That's 4 mouths to feed, 4 places to sleep, 4 tanks to fill at every stop, 4 oils to be filled etc., gets very expensive! But the memories........Priceless!

Oh yes, it will get more expensive. Mostly just gas up for sleds. We do almost all of our riding out of our cabin in Finland so food and lodging won't go up. I'm sure there will be a few more repairs though!

I see you're from Spooner. Where about? I grew up in Shell Lake and my dad and lot's of relatives still live there.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

elf,

I live on Lipsett (Lipsie) Lake about 12 miles NW of Spooner, about 3 miles south of Big McKenzie Lake. I love the area! I was born and raised in Luverne, MN, graduated from Mankato State and then lived in Eagan, MN for many years working in the Cities. I bought this lake home back in 1991 and was finally able to move up here full time in 2006 once my son gradutated from High School. Does your dad golf at Spooner by chance? If so, I may know him as I'm a very active member there. Good luck with the family snowmobiling!

 

[elf]

So, the insurance company totaled the sled and set the value at $3315. I bought it back for $315 and spent about 2 hrs trying the "come along" method of straightening it out. Got it so the skis are even and there is full steering both directions. Still some distortion on the bulkhead right behind the muffler but overall I think it's good to go another 2 yrs. Was kind of looking forward to shopping for a different sled this spring but this defintely worked out better.

 

[ezra]

I would get some plate steel or alloy cut to fit the bent up part of bulk head. make a paper template and have a shop cut it out drill a bunch of holes and steel rivet it in place starting at 1 end will prob even out your tweaks and help keep it in place.
buy or borrow a air rivet gun they make a much tighter joint even a cheep 45buck harbor fright one is better than the hand operated one.
doo may have a plate for your spot already they do or did make a plate for behind the clutches

 

[elf]

I would get some plate steel or alloy cut to fit the bent up part of bulk head. make a paper template and have a shop cut it out drill a bunch of holes and steel rivet it in place starting at 1 end will prob even out your tweaks and help keep it in place.
buy or borrow a air rivet gun they make a much tighter joint even a cheep 45buck harbor fright one is better than the hand operated one.
doo may have a plate for your spot already they do or did make a plate for behind the clutches

Yep. I plan to cut a couple pcs of Alum that I can sandwich that area with and will rivet them together to strengthen that spot. I'll use a rivet gun from work to do it and she'll be as good as new!