ski leg removal- Mach Z - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Johncinco · 03-07-2005, 03:44 PM

Hey there fellas, got a question for a problem that I have never run across before. I have a 98 Mach Z that I just picked up. Unfortunately the PO let it sit outside and I am pretty sure water got into the Ski legs, where the skis mount to the chasis. Turning is extremely difficult. I have narrowed it down to this problem specificly, took the steering arms off and turned the skis by hand.
So, I would like to take them off, clean and grease, and put back together. How the heck do I get them off?!!!! Took off the cap, removed the retaining clip, unclamped the aluminum part that connect the steering arm to the leg. Drove a steel wedge down into the groove to try and get some play in it. Still can not get the legs out. Banged on it with a hammer a bit thinking it would pop loose, but no luck. Whats the secret to get this baby apart.? I imagine theres some rust and corrosion in there, but I would think it shoudl still slide out. Any help greatly appreciated.

**smallengineguy** · 03-07-2005, 04:16 PM

Go to the Microfiche

And find your sled to make sure you're not missing anything. It sounds to me like you've done everything you're supposed to.

Johncinco · 03-09-2005, 11:22 AM

Thats the best all ya'll got? C'mon, tap my toe and swing a dead cat over it, maybe hose it down with marvel mystery oil, theres got to be a trick getting this thing apart.

Actually, I am going to try and get the alum arm off with a clutch/hub puller and see if that frees up the arm to slide out the bottom. Also going to try some Rust Reaper to see if that frees it up any. I hear that stuff is the schnizz when it comes to crusty metal parts.

**smallengineguy** · 03-09-2005, 02:39 PM

Tried a swing-press yet? (aka BFH...)

Johncinco · 03-09-2005, 03:01 PM

9lb sledge! Was working desperatley to keep from bashing the side of the sled at the same time.
The torch is starting to look good at this point.

Johncinco · 03-22-2005, 04:44 PM

OK , just in case anyone else ever has this problem, I'll answer the question. First- DO NOT beat on the top of the leg with a hammer to get it to come out. Do not even use some type of drift, to protect the end of the leg, and beat on it with a hammer. The fitment between the leg and the shaft is very tight, and the leg is a pretty soft metal and mushrooms out, so that you will not be able to get it through the shaft once you get the bell clamp off. Because when you do this, you now have to get a grinder and grind off the top that has mushroomed out, or, hacksaw off the leg.

Get a pulley puller and use it to pull off the bell clamp. You will need something to put in the hole of the leg to get something to push against, as the leg is hollow. I took a 1/2 bolt with a large head, drilled a pocket into the bolt to keep the puller shaft from skipping around, and dropped that into the hole. It was a battle of 3 turns on the puller, tap the bell clamp with a hammer on the bottom, and start again. Once you get the clamp off, the you can drive out the leg through the shaft, but be careful not to damage the top of the leg. See above for explanantion.

Liberal amounts of penetrating oil are required, at least a day or two in advance.

Do yourself a huge favor. Always always grease your legs at the zerk fitting. As a matter of fact, grease your sled everywhere needed. I could kill the guy that left this beautiful piece of machinery sit out in the weather and didnt take care of it.