Steering Adjustment; Handlebar Alignment - Arctic Cat Cougar Service Manual

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2. If paint has been removed from the tie rod
during cleaning or through use, touch up areas
before installation.
3. Visually check the tie rod for dents, bends,
cracks or other damage. Check the ball joints for
deep scoring or excessive wear. If a ball joint has
been loose, threads in the tie rod may be dam-
aged.
4. Check the ball joints for excessive wear or
damage.
a. If damaged, loosen the nut and unscrew the
ball joint.
b. Reverse to install. When installing new ball
joints, turn the new ball joint into the tie rod
at the same distance as the original.
c. If a tie rod or ball joint was replaced, check
Steering Adjustment as described in this
chapter.
5. Replace worn or damaged parts as required.
6. If one or more ball joints were loosened or
replaced, check steering adjustment as described
in Chapter Three.
STEERING ADJUSTMENT
Incorrect ski alignment can cause difficult
steering and result in lack of control. Accurate
checks and adjustments are important. Steering
®
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
adjustment includes centering the handlebars
and ski alignment.
Handlebar Alignment
To adjust the center tie rod( s ), the engine must
be removed. (Figure 31, Figure 33 or Figure
34).
1. Raise and support the snowmobile so that the
skis are off the ground.
2. Turn the handlebar until both skis face for-
ward.
3. Center the handlebars as follows:
a. Measure from the end of one handlebar grip
to a point at the back of the snowmobile
(Figure 35). Record the length.
b. Repeat measurement for opposite side (Fig-
ure 35). Make sure you use the same refer-
ence points. Record the length.
4. The distance recorded in substep a and b must
be the same. If adjustment is required, adjust as
described in Step 5A or 5B.
5A. On El Tigre models, proceed as follows:
NOTE
The outer jam nuts on the tie rods have
left-hand threads.
a. Loosen the two locknuts on each tie rod
(Figure 31).
STEERING SYSTEM
(TYPICAL OF MOST MODELS)
1.
Handlebar
2. Steering post
3. Tie rod
4. Bellcrank
5. Drag link
6. Idler arm
7. Tie rod
8. Steering arm