steering linkage freeze up

jerryswiss · Post by **jerryswiss** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:21 am

Anyone have problems with snow getting in the hood and freezing up the steering linkage? I duct taped the holes on the belly pan, still coming in the headlight opening. Thinking of partially covering that opening up.

75rat · Post by **75rat** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:16 pm

TakeItToTheLimit wrote:I would check to see if the steel "sump" in the belly pan has been pushed up as that would limit the clearance from the bottom of the pan to the drag link and steering shaft swing arm.

-Rich

Agreed, very common problem on Trailfires and Sportfires....

jerryswiss · Post by **jerryswiss** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:22 pm

Checked the belly pan it is not bent. Snow gets in the headlight opening, melts and forms a chunk of ice on botton of belly pan and locks up the steering. Dug this out twice this year so far. How much of the air intaks can I block off and not have over heating problems?

big danno 1970 · Post by **big danno 1970** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:58 pm

I am having the same problem,did you find a solution?

427cobra · Post by **427cobra** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:43 am

I would try installing a screen in front of the grill. The 80's Liquifires had a metal mesh screen in front of the grill. I installed one of these screens on my 84 Sportfire.

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jerryswiss · Post by **jerryswiss** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:07 am

I had to plug the drain holes on the bottom of my sled because snow was getting IN there. I finally covered up part of the headlight opening to keep the snow out. I am eventually going to make my own grill or screen cover up that opening.

manitobatrailfires · Post by **manitobatrailfires** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:22 pm

I ride my Trailfire in the powder in the back country most of the time, not on groomed trails, and sometimes have similar problems. I found two things to help keep snow out.
First, I got the springs on the skis re-arced at a spring shop. It made the front end sit up just a little more, maybe a half inch or an inch. Changes the angle of the belly pan a little so the machine pushes over some of the snow that would otherwise come onto the hood and in the grill. Raising the front end also made it steer easier, as there was less weight on the skis. Of course, my machine was really old and had a hard life so maybe if your skiis aren't as bad as mine it won't change much.
The second thing that helped was plastic ski skins. They're a little wider so the front end stays up more. Also makes the machine faster, as the plastic in good shape has less drag than the worn metal. Might have to modify your wear bars a little by cutting the studs off and welding longer bolts on to account for the thickness of the ski skins. The first skins I bought were for an Arctic Cat, and I had to trim the ski just a little to fit.
Eric

krgrift · Post by **krgrift** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:38 am

i have fought with that for 2 years as well. with the trailfire 1980 440 and I actually ended up having to weld the on the handle bars at the fuel tank because they snapped off because of beeing restricted by all the ice under the motor and steering rods. I had the motor pulled out and we realized the belly pan was banged up underneath as someone had mentioned, but i got the high shine duct tape and covered underneath and it is still holding untill now. and we go threw everything, ditches, cattails, alfalfa fields long grass, floodways and i havent had a problem since

spudnut · Post by **spudnut** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:34 am

I have not had the same problems this year because we have less snow, they are getting it all back east. Also I did partially block off the headlight opening, with no over heating problems.

AirborneX4Special · Post by **AirborneX4Special** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:16 am

Snow enters the holes on the belly pan when the plastic plugs have been removed or have fallen out. Factory ones are scarce just like the clutch removal plugs, so improvise and your problems will end. I have never had one freeze on a trail or hardpack snow but the loose powder gets in and freezes around the main steering arm just like clockwork. LF's have a triangular - shaped open hole on the left side of the headlight opening that Deere decided was required to increase clutch cooling. A screen was originally slated for this opening but I have never seen a sled equipped as such.

Kulture Vulture · Post by **Kulture Vulture** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:51 pm

I use steel plugs from the hardware store for my SF. They are the only thing I can find to fit the holes. If you go on short rides in powder, the underhood temp doesnt get warm enough to keep the snow from melting and freezing. Then again I am in Illinois, where it is not nearly as cold as some of you northern fellas!

jdsnowfire · Post by **jdsnowfire** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:57 pm

i've never had an issue with the steering freezing overnight or while riding although i always have snow coming in the vent while riding ditches. but i'm in central IL and the sleds get parked in the barn every night which is kept at at least 35 degrees.

i know not practical for most people but i dont like to leave stuff parked outside overnight if i can help it.

what are the steel plugs called that you got from the hardware store?

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:31 pm

I remember someone saying once that those plugs were in the plumbing section.

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:15 am

Electrical parts known as knock out plugs may also work. They cost about 50cents.

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:57 pm

Thanks Todd, my bad.