Broken Steering Post

[RIP 191]

What is the best way to repair/reinforce a broken steering post on a MM700? I snapped mine off this weekend. Do any other steering posts fit that might be stronger than the stock MM steering posts? I was planning on running a solid shaft inside the tubing and welding it back together, but that means quite a bit of disassembly up front for the welding process.

 

[Lt Rascal]

I was planning on running a solid shaft inside the tubing and welding it back together, but that means quite a bit of disassembly up front for the welding process.

I done just that to a sled about 5 yrs ago. It was a quick fix the night before a big ride.

The steering column broke off just below the handle bar clamp plate. Yes it had the Mt Performance support stud installed. I found a 12" long (long enough to go in past the top support) solid rod that was a nice and tight fit, and grooved it for the seem weld in the column. I drilled a hole about 1 in down from the top of the existing column. The guy wanted it raised up 2". So I put the rod up through the clamp plate and welded it on top and bottom first then stuck the rod in the old shaft. I held it up 2" and welded the rod to the column and plug welded the the hole I had drilled. I did it all in the sled. I removed the airbox and put a welding tarp down over the engine compartment. It has been rode hard and rolled several times. He has replace bars and hoods but the steering column has not broke.

 

[RIP 191]

Thank you. Did you use a TIG or MIG welder? I would normally TIG such a thing, but my access to a TIG machine is rather limited at the moment.

 

[Lt Rascal]

Due to the quickness of this project I used a MIG but I am with you I would have prefered a TIG.

 

[RIP 191]

I think I will track down a TIG. Did you have to remove the plastic around the column or did you leave everything in place? The gas tank makes me nervous.

 

[cacsrx1]

I done just that to a sled about 5 yrs ago. It was a quick fix the night before a big ride.

The steering column broke off just below the handle bar clamp plate. Yes it had the Mt Performance support stud installed. I found a 12" long (long enough to go in past the top support) solid rod that was a nice and tight fit, and grooved it for the seem weld in the column. I drilled a hole about 1 in down from the top of the existing column. The guy wanted it raised up 2". So I put the rod up through the clamp plate and welded it on top and bottom first then stuck the rod in the old shaft. I held it up 2" and welded the rod to the column and plug welded the the hole I had drilled. I did it all in the sled. I removed the airbox and put a welding tarp down over the engine compartment. It has been rode hard and rolled several times. He has replace bars and hoods but the steering column has not broke.

I did the exact same thing on an SRX about 8 years ago....they were prone to break.

 

[mark]

Broken post

You don't need to plug weld the solid shaft to the steering post. I drilled and tapped a few 1/4" holes in mine and used bolts to hold everything together. I machined my rod to fit the I.D. of the post and it was pretty tight, make sure the rod will go all the way down and won't get stuck half way in.

 

[suva]

The newer MM steering posts are stronger than the old ones, I didn't have any issues with welding mine in place, I just wet towels on everything around where I was welding.

 

[ewsummit]

Handle bars

Had mine welded on MNT SRX.Stronger than ever.