Broken frame over structure

[akmotorider]

Hello all,

I was taking apart my sled today and noticed something that might be a problem. I’m fairly new to sleds and don’t quite know what to do about this. If it’s not a problem, I’ll just leave it be. I haven’t rode it since last year so I imagine I was riding it in this condition for a while.

This carbon fiber tube appears to be cracked all the way around. I don’t know how integral this is to the sled, but it seems to be supporting the frame. Replacement appears complicated.

I’m new to snowmobiling and don’t ride hard, but I don’t want the sled to fall apart while I’m riding it. Is this something I need to replace? If it is, how should I go about doing it?

Thank you in advance.

akmotorider

P.S. It is not covered under warranty. It is a 2013 Pro RMK that I bought used at the end of last year. It was probably sold to me like this.

 

[akmotorider]

I can’t delete this post, so I’ll just update it. I was able to eventually remove the carbon fiber tube from the metal joint. Does anyone know where I can find a titanium tube of the same dimensions to replace this?

 

[Teth-Air]

Yep , it's broken. You can find complete used top steering supports with the carbon tubes fairly easily and change out the whole section. If you want to repair it other guys may be able to give you better advice but I would be trying to slide an aluminum tube inside the carbon tube and rivet it in place. I have heard the carbon fibre is fairly hard to work with though. If you don't care about weight you can replace the carbon completely with aluminum.

 

[MKULTRA]

replace with aluminum tubing or get a second hand upper pyramid structure.

I broke mine too on my pro ride

 

[whoisthatguy]

Don't be surprised if the right hand side tube is cracked as well, since the crack location is concealed by a strap, and it has had to work twice as hard since the left hand tube broke.

 

[akmotorider]

Thanks for the info everyone. The right side was not cracked but you made a good point, whoisthatguy. I decided to remove both tubes and replace them with titanium tubes. Aside from removing the pop rivets that were in there, the process was fairly easy with a heat gun. Time to wait for the titanium to arrive.

 

[polaris bob]

The titanium tube replacement is a cool if not expensive repair option.

If you scroll through the pro ride section back a few years now you will find many threads of guys breaking the carbon over structure and reinforcing them by inserting aluminum tubes inside of the carbon over structure to reinforce it. There are a few detailed threads on what to order and how to go about doing it.

Personally if I had one I would just replace it with the "standard" aluminum tube over structure and be done with it.

In the real world you're not saving that much weight going carbon over aluminum. if you really want the carbon fiber look after repairing it just wrap it with a carbon fiber look wrap.

Don't get me wrong the titanium tube is really going to be cool !!!