Liquidator Spndle Bushing

[jdsledsrgr8]

It is amazing how it seems so clear when you tear a snowmobile apart, then when it comes time to put it all back together you start to question.

The Liquidator Spindle bushings. I do not remember them being this darn tight to get off but now after cleaning them up and painting they are tight to get back on. Sure the paint add some thickness to both the bushing and the spindle but not that much. With grease and some pounding they will go on but just wondering if I am missing something. Obviously you do not want the spindle to be able to slide up and down but wow I do not remember them being this tight.

Just thought I would ask the stupid question before I take the brut force to it and mess something up.

[jdsledsrgr8]

Picture added.

The top spindle goes actually inside the tunnel on the spindle below where the spindle attaches to the tie rod arm. The bottom bushing then goes on the spindle outside the tunnel. The 2 bushings then meet to make sure you have solid attachment and no play.

I think. Let me know if I am not remembering this correctly.

[jdsledsrgr8]

Correction. The top "bushing"

[JDT]

The bushings must fit tight so they do not turn in the bulkhead.

They require a BFH and punch to remove and the same BFH and a block of wood to install.

A layer of paint makes them very tight just as you are experiencing.

[JDT]

By the way, nice shocks!!

Is the thread on the bottom shock mount long enough to past into the nylon lock on the bolt?

[jdsledsrgr8]

Thanks that is what I was thinking but before you take a hammer to any Liquidator part, I want to make sure I am correct to do so.

Shocks: SPI Gas Shocks, I do not remember the product #, my local snowmobile shop ordered them for me. $110 I think per shock, which unfortunately is about right. They work great as I have them on my cyclone and 295s. Skid too. You are right I should get locking nuts and just make sure I have long enough bolts that go through the nylon.

[jdsledsrgr8]

Thanks that is what I was thinking but before you take a hammer to any Liquidator part, I want to make sure I am correct to do so.

Shocks: SPI Gas Shocks, I do not remember the product #, my local snowmobile shop ordered them for me. $110 I think per shock, which unfortunately is about right. They work great as I have them on my cyclone and 295s. They do not require any drilling that I recall just some spacers. I also had them put them in the skid.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Beware!! The bushings will break. Make sure they are started perfectly straight before "forcing" them into place.

DA

[80spitfire]

I often wondered if we should be reproducing spindle bushings; I wouldn't think it would be very hard for a good machinist to do, but then again I'm not a machinist lol

-Brian

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Someone here on the board (400 Brian??) said that McMaster-Carr had them in their bushing section.

DA

[400brian]

Not me, JDT is the Mc Master guy.

Is M66245 metal or rubber? I'd have to walk over to the shop to look. It appears they were used on quite a number of models.

It appears that Horicon Joe has sold some of these on ebay in the recent past.

[80spitfire]

That's cool to hear that you may be able to get them from somewhere. Brian, they were the metal ones. I think the rubber ones were only used on the 00 series and I think the plastic ones came around the time of the Spitfires; could be wrong though I'm more of a 70s sled guy.

-Brian

[400brian]

And in keeping with no parts in common with anything else...the 340/S had bronze oillight spindle bushings.

[80spitfire]

Sounds about right for a 340/S lol

[WinnipegStPaul9]

A quick tip to those of you who scrap. Knock out the spindle bushings on the 76-78 Cyclone and LF's. Keep those that don't break. I use a brass punch and as small of a hammer as allowed.

DA