Ski removal problem - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

BJMercer · 04-09-2009, 08:01 AM

I recently bought a 94 Vmax 600 DX. I've been trying to do some minor maintenance before it is stored for the summer.

I'd like to take the skis off to clean and paint them.

But I can't get them off the machine. Help.

I've removed the cotter pin... and used an impact to loosen the bolt that runs through the mount... but those bolts will not just slide out. I've checked the manual and from what I can see... all I need to do is remove those bolts but they will not come out.

Am I missing something here or should I take a big hammer to the end of those bolts ?

Any help appreciated. Thanks

Barry

**BC_Dan** · 04-09-2009, 08:22 AM

The bolts are probably corroded and sticking in the ski bushing. If you pound on the bolt, put the nut back on (backwards if it's a castle nut) so you don't damage the threads on the end of the bolt, or use a punch or drift in the center of the bolt and pound on the drift. A good penetrating oil on the bolt (PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench ) may help, but the corrosion can be pretty tough!

**RJ Gleason** · 04-09-2009, 09:13 AM

If you can manage it, use the impact wrench on the head of the bolt and hit the other end with a hammer at the same time, after soaking them with some penetrating oil.

**BC_Dan** · 04-09-2009, 03:01 PM

Impact gun is a great idea, sometimes just the force of the gun can break the corrosion... good tip, RJ!

**RJ Gleason** · 04-09-2009, 03:23 PM

us old farmers usually have a solution for most problems/

**BC_Dan** · 04-09-2009, 04:51 PM

^ but it usually involves baling wire

**RJ Gleason** · 04-09-2009, 04:54 PM

Or duct tape...............
If the women don't find you handsome, they can at least find you handy.

acayea · 10-29-2009, 01:10 PM

did you have any luck getting the skis off? I want to do the same thing plus mountski skins and im not sure what bolts to remove to completely remove the ski?

any pics?

thanks,
al

BJMercer · 10-31-2009, 01:11 PM

Sorry for the delay in responding. No, I've had absolutely no luck removing the skis. I have soaked the bolts with penetrating oil. I've used wooden blocks to protect the ends of the bolts and hammered away. In frustration I hammered on the naked ends of the bolts WITHOUT installing the nuts on the ends. ( Don't do that )

It looks so obvious. I suspect some of the folks here are correct in that the bolts are seized inside the bushings. I suspect a pneumatic hammer, a small one, might do the trick but I don't know.

The snow will soon fly in earnest here and I'd like to have those skis cleaned up... but its just so frustrating.

Let me know if you have any luck.

BJ.

acayea · 10-31-2009, 01:35 PM

will do, thanks for getting back to me, i just picked up a track to replace the chewed one thats on it and got ski skins to put on yet, it would be easier to put them on with the skis off the sled, but if it looks like a bunch of frustration ill bypass the removal and just jack up the front.
Hey do you know the size of the two front seat bolts? I know there is a little bracket and a washer also , but i havent had luck with either metric or sae.

we have the same sled, do you know what the DX stands for ?

TwinsofMLB · 10-31-2009, 02:21 PM

Little indian trick I picked up trying to get the skis off the ZRT I sold: Air tools are your friend!

JheLrey · 10-31-2009, 03:05 PM

Just cut off the bolt heads and the ends of the bolts, drop the skis off, then remove the bushing...

BJMercer · 11-16-2009, 07:39 AM

I was thinking about renting a small impact hammer. I've used an impact wrench to loosen the bolts. But as I've said, they will not come out. So I figured a small impact hammer might do it. A page from the shop manual is attached.... just so you can see how easy it looks.

acayea · 11-16-2009, 07:49 AM

I used a brass drift pin and hammer, after getting them started hitting a block of hardwood with a hammer so i didn't mar the threads

BJMercer · 11-16-2009, 08:16 AM

So... did you get them out ??? I used a piece of wood to protect the threads too... and I hammered the crap out of that block. Mind you it was softwood... and still those bolts didn't budge.

So I'm curious... what came out of those holes ? Was there a sleeve around to bolt or are they just held in place by those two big doughnuts on either side of the bolt ??

Thanks

Barry

**RJ Gleason** · 11-16-2009, 08:32 AM

The bolt is frozen to the bushing inside the spindle still, unless you can break it loose, you will have to cut it out.

acayea · 11-16-2009, 09:25 AM

I was able to drift out the bolt from the bushing, took some force to get it started