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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Well i took my quad out today and noticed when i go straight my handlebars are turned to the right, then if i make them straight my wheels are turned to the left alittle. I though maybe the bolt on the bottom of the stem was loose and it let the hole stem/handlebars move, but then i noticed the toe-in on the tires are different (one is straight up and down and the other wheel is tilted out alittle bit. Well since i don't have a service manual i don't know what the major bolts need to be torqued at.
 

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Not sure what major bolts you are reffering too...you need to loosen the lock nuts on the tie rods themselves, set your toe and retighten them. 99% sure there is no torque spec because you can not get a normal torque wrench on them...you can only use an end wrench.

Have you done this before? It can be a real PITA!

If you are up for some reading here you go:
Materials:
[email protected] 1X2 boards X 2' long
[email protected] pieces of rope/string/wire...I used 550 cord
[email protected] wratchet strap or normal tie downs
drill and drill bit
tape measure

Now, this takes a bit of imagination...drill a hole in each end of each board...put your rope through one hole, tie not and then threw other hole...rope has to be just long enough to hang board from top of tire where the board ends up hanging in the center of your tire. Can you picture that? The board hangs level (yes, check it with a level) across the center of your tire...sticking out a little bit in front the tire and a little bit behind the tire...repeat for other side.

Loosen the lock nuts on the tie rods (both sides...total of 4).

Take the tie down strap and hook one end on your grab bar and the other end on one side of the handle bar...repeat for other side...tighten them down until the bars are straight and will not move.

Now, I like to set the wheel at dead even, measure from the front of the board to a place on the frame...do the same for the other side and set them where you have the same distance from the front of the board to a place on the frame for both sides...you do this by turning the tie rods...

Now, begin, measure the distance from board 1 in front of the tire to board 2 in front of the tire...write this down...repeat for behind the tire. Personally I like 1/8-1/4" toe in or the front of the tires are 1/8-1/4" closer together in the front then the measurement on the rear...does this make sense? Once again you achieve this by turning the tie rods...each tie rod the same revolutions...you want the to tires to be the same distance from the frame.

Much easier to explain in person. I know it sounds like a lot of work with the boards but once you make them once you have them for life...mine are actually pieces of aluminum strap I had laying around.

There are at least 1,000 ways of doing this...this is just how I do it. Back in the 80's it would take me hours to get the damn toe set...then I made my straps (boards) and I can be done in under 30 minutes...we have 4 quads and setting the toe on them all can be tedious...but not with my "toe-o-meter"...that is what a buddy wrote on them! :D
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Thanks OKTRX450R I'm probably going to be reading it several times but as long as it works.
 

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Do you have new clamps on it? You may have one clamp turned on way and the other the other way....I did this not paying attention one time and it made it ride all weird cuz the bars were crooked when my wheels were straight.
 

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I know this is probably a little stupid, but I am going to ask any way. I have a race this weekend and I think I bent a tie rod. My questions is can I get away with changing the tie rod without taking out the tie rod ends? I don't have the tool to seperate them and I need to fix it ASAP. I have a ton of things that are going on this week between work and getting ready and I am looking for the quickest solution. It is the left side that is bent.
 

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Well i took my quad out today and noticed when i go straight my handlebars are turned to the right, then if i make them straight my wheels are turned to the left alittle. I though maybe the bolt on the bottom of the stem was loose and it let the hole stem/handlebars move, but then i noticed the toe-in on the tires are different (one is straight up and down and the other wheel is tilted out alittle bit. Well since i don't have a service manual i don't know what the major bolts need to be torqued at.[/b]
dude, one of mu wheels seems to tilt too, but i dont worry
 
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