78' Liquifire rear suspension

[liquifire1978]

Ok , I guess I'm just getting old. I used to be able to put one in , 30 minutes or less. I worked for HOURS trying to get the holes to line up.
Still haven't got it in
I've tried the factory manual way, front first..nope. Got the front two bolts in no problem. It's the back two I can't seem to get even close .
My son suggested rear first.. took the front two out and I can only get one rear to line up now.



Now I've taken this thing in and out at least four times since I've owned it! But this time....
I've got to be doing something simple wrong.. rear idlers are adjusted IN all the way so they are not the problem.
I just can't get anything to line up!!
Tried it on it's side like the factory says..nope
Tried it with the rear lifted up..nope.
Any advice?

Pat

[harleysportster]

Pat,
I have done it from underneath with the sled in the air on a sled stand.
-Loosen rear idler adjustment fully
-Measure the distance between the mounting holes on the side of the tunnel.
-Set the same distance between the front and rear swing arms. You may have to move the rear arm in the skid
-Lift the front swing arm into place and install the mounting bolts but leave them loose
-lift the rear of the skid into place, use a drift pin if necessary to move the pivot shaft into place and install mounting bolts.
-Adjust rear idler/track adjusters and center track

[liquifire1978]

I'll give her another shot once the swelling in my hand goes down. I dropped the rear onto my hand while fighting it Sunday.

I can pull my 136" Ski-Doo suspension out change tracks and service it with new slides faster than it taking me to get this thing back in

Thanks!!

[ICCSF 108]

Sometimes after the front bolts are installed you have to put a 4X4 under the track just ahead of center & have someone push down on the rear of the sled to get the rear bolt holes to line up.
good luck
Kenny

[liquifire1978]

Kenny, I think that is more of what I did last time that worked. At least it sounds like what I did..
Since I didn't have it installed I started redoing the whole thing, painting , servicing every darn inch. Just as I SHOULD have before I attempted to this last time. Still have swelling in my right hand, so I haven't tried it yet.

* Side note* Heart patients with Arthritis need to move slower, I'm not as young as I remember being !
Pat

[I500]

Be very creative in using a ratchet strap attached to the rear bumper and then around any part of the suspension you can attach to. I do this all the time and never failed me yet.

[Jack Frost]

Un-tension the rear springs when you line the back up.

[427cobra]

Make sure the front springs are loose as well.

Mine went in really easy this time around. I put the front in first. then lowered the rear of the sled to the correct height and the holes lined up with little effort....

Good Luck!