Sudden loss of steering = not fun

[Shadow7874]

Was out on my 550 riding with a friend and i went to slide around one of the bends in the river/lake area and i started to lean and cut the bars but it just kept going straight. luckily it was a good bit away from the land or i would have been effed. Come to find out the bolt that holds the steering cable to the bars disappeared and i had to try to steer back by pushing and pulling the cable. Kinda painful on my hand and it seems like the lake grew 10X bigger but i made it back and now i gotta find a new bolt i suppose.

On that note, ne1 know where i can pick one up at or perhaps how big of a bolt i should be looking for? i might have something laying around ehre that would work but the problem is my ski is 45 min away so im not sure ill be heading down to the lake today or not

 

[N3vrSat1sfied]

always fun when stuff breaks. At least you didnt have to swim.

 

[yamaslut]

Was out on my 550 riding with a friend and i went to slide around one of the bends in the river/lake area and i started to lean and cut the bars but it just kept going straight. luckily it was a good bit away from the land or i would have been effed. Come to find out the bolt that holds the steering cable to the bars disappeared and i had to try to steer back by pushing and pulling the cable. Kinda painful on my hand and it seems like the lake grew 10X bigger but i made it back and now i gotta find a new bolt i suppose.

On that note, ne1 know where i can pick one up at or perhaps how big of a bolt i should be looking for? i might have something laying around ehre that would work but the problem is my ski is 45 min away so im not sure ill be heading down to the lake today or not

try using your leg next time to steer... it's kinda hard but probably easier than trying to hold the cable... I have done that a few times in the surf and it sucks

 

[yamaslut]

always fun when stuff breaks. At least you didnt have to swim.

is that a "Pumpkin" in your avatar???

 

[N3vrSat1sfied]

as in KTM yea thats a 06 250 sxf

 

[yamaslut]

as in KTM yea thats a 06 250 sxf

yeah, some people refer to them as pumpkins.

nice... I love my 250EXC
:thewave:

 

[N3vrSat1sfied]

ya ktms were by far the best bikes i raced i had a 03 125sx and 04 250 sx the season before that and just loved them.

 

[yamaslut]

ya ktms were by far the best bikes i raced i had a 03 125sx and 04 250 sx the season before that and just loved them.

yeah, this is my first and I could not imagine having any other bike... besides a 300EXC.... he he he

 

[N3vrSat1sfied]

well we are taking this forum way off topic but I raced them all and if i had to choose i wouldnt buy anything but the orange. suspension is the only downfall. but once you get it all set up it works pretty decent.

 

[yamaslut]

well we are taking this forum way off topic but I raced them all and if i had to choose i wouldnt buy anything but the orange. suspension is the only downfall. but once you get it all set up it works pretty decent.

yeah... suspension seems to be the one thing everyone bags on....

ok, back on topic. Sorry for the thread jack

 

[Waternut]

I had that happen last weekend actually. I ended up idling back to the ramp while dragging my hands in the water for steering. It broke on the pump side so holding the cable was out of the question for me.

Fun stuff....

 

[willycrumb]

I have done the steer the nozzle with my foot technique also. It was probably a lot easier since I was on a XP.:wavey:

 

[restosud]

that's a heim joint type bolt or ball ,not just a regular bolt fyi.

 

[yankeeboy]

i broke the same part 2 weeks ago on the river. had to pull/push the little rod. i ended up going WOT for short bursts and leaning to turn.

 

[Shadow7874]

i broke the same part 2 weeks ago on the river. had to pull/push the little rod. i ended up going WOT for short bursts and leaning to turn.

ya thats what i was doing partially.
so i went down today and managed to find a bolt that fit decently so i took it out for a ride. after i started heading back my throttle got stuck in for a moment but returned if i forced it, then all of a sudden it stuck wide open. tried to fix it on the water but ended up riding back WOT the whole way except the no wake area under a bridge. my steering cable is still good but the throttle cable is shot. never should have bought a 550. ne1 got a free sj

 

[Johnny340]

Same thing happened to me three weeks ago too. I leaned to turn. I was able to weld the fancy fitting that broke. Then I adjusted my steering throw properly so there was no more pressure on the fitting when at full travel. So the turn plate reached max travel a hair before the nozzle, not the other way around.

 

[Lake Erie Monster]

steering bolt came loose on my gts once, i was close to the beach so i padeled it in surfer style (not easy).... took a while but i got there.

 

[ger87410]

Shadow, sounds like your ski is just lacking in the maintenance department.


Having throttles stick is not fun and downright scary.

 

[Shadow7874]

Shadow, sounds like your ski is just lacking in the maintenance department.


Having throttles stick is not fun and downright scary.

It did quite stick. it was completely frayed a few inches down and all the lose wires got caught. other then those pesky cables its been running fairly well. i also lubed the steering cable pretty well after putting it back on so it should be set for a while, i just need a new throttle cable, and some spark plugs would be a good idea at this point

 

[Shadow7874]

p.s. where can i get a new 550 throttle cable? ebay has mostly used and really high priced new ones.