Author Topic: My First 88 LT500 Build (Read 38514 times)

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #125 on:** May 20, 2013, 06:17:19 pm »

Got the steering stem and tie rods on tonight not sure if I have them on right or not but it turns. How the hell do you align the front end with these American Star racing tie rods? Pictures coming soon.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #126 on:** May 20, 2013, 06:49:47 pm »

And here's me pushing my bum cart!

Dezsled · « **Reply #127 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:31:01 pm »

Tie rods look sweet, heims are trick

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #128 on:** May 20, 2013, 07:38:10 pm »

Do they look like I got them mounted right? Also any idea how to align the front end or should I wait to dial them in for when its on its tires?

Dezsled · « **Reply #129 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:30:56 pm »

Yeah from what I can see the bottom 'mis alignment' spacer is right

I waited to get the ride height set then adjust tie rods, someone else might have a better suggestion.

In my experience if your not able to use a cotter key, like on your tie rod nuts, I'd use blue (serviceable) locktite.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #130 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:34:11 pm »

What about doing the bump steer mod? Think with these tie rods it's necessary?

Dezsled · « **Reply #131 on:** May 20, 2013, 08:37:15 pm »

I went with the z400 spindles so I'm not able to answer that...

JayTater · « **Reply #132 on:** May 21, 2013, 04:58:15 am »

Hahaha!! Buck!! I'm with the Tampa One Hour/Ben Franklin office! Small world. Zilla is coming together well!

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #133 on:** May 21, 2013, 05:20:18 am »

No kidding, thanks man I'm on the home stretch can't wait to fire it up for the first time.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #134 on:** May 22, 2013, 11:41:56 am »

Just ordered Jerry's 9 plate Barnett clutch setup. Getting a new clutch hub, 85-86 250r clutch springs, clutch cable and lever from Jason. I'm t minus two weeks roughly away from having everything together and doing the first fire if all goes to plan and nothing major comes up.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #135 on:** May 24, 2013, 07:16:43 pm »

Got the rear axle and carrier installed hubs aren't on they're just slid on for the picture. Also installed the front bumper.

Dezsled · « **Reply #136 on:** May 24, 2013, 07:20:53 pm »

Right on dude, it's almost a roller! Bumper looks killer

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #137 on:** May 25, 2013, 07:38:36 am »

So last night I remounted my steering stem with the freshly painted radiator mount. Something I'm noticing is its pretty difficult to turn. Is this just because the suspension is at full drop and my tie rods are basically just mocked up and tightened down or should I be worried something is binding up?

5DollarFootLong · « **Reply #138 on:** May 25, 2013, 08:49:41 am »

Did u use the stock axle the clip on axel is on the brreak side?

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #139 on:** May 25, 2013, 09:58:08 am »

That question doesn't make any sense.

MD2smoker · « **Reply #140 on:** May 25, 2013, 10:01:25 am »

On the steering binding.. Did you ever do the bump steer mod? I didnt see if you had completed it or not. I just flipped the outer tie rod ends to the underside of the spindles and reset my toe. Also did you get the stem pc'd? It might be tight at the stem clamp area. I notice my steering was a lil tight before i reset my toe and got my bike sittin down with weight on it.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #141 on:** May 25, 2013, 12:02:47 pm »

I haven't done the bump steer mod yet because I have ASR pro x tie rods and I'm not sure if I'll need to do it or not. But I'm pretty sure it's just tight cause there's no weight on it. I didn't powder coat my stem but now that I think about it I didn't grease the bottom bushing and I think I over tightened it.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #142 on:** May 25, 2013, 12:05:25 pm »

Thanks kennerz I'll double check that. I have to unmount the shock and swinger to put the chain buffer on that I forgot to do.

MD2smoker · « **Reply #143 on:** May 25, 2013, 12:24:36 pm »

The aftermarket tie rods wont change the geometry of the front suspension unless there is some kind of offset built into the tie rod ends. The easy way to check is to see if the tie rods are parallel to the lower a arms. I compared my zilla to my yfz when i did mine. I try to get some pics posted to show you what im talking about. I just have to hobble my ass down to the shed to look. I was supposed to be riding all weekend but i fell 16 feet onto concrete and shattered my ankle last week. Looks like ill be on here a lot for the next month or two. Lol

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #144 on:** May 25, 2013, 01:08:30 pm »

Nice I'll probably do the bump steer once I get it on 4 wheels and adjust the alignment of the front end. There's a video I think chevyvetter did on YouTube about correcting the bump steer and what you're after I watched way back when I was in tear down mode. I'll have to revisit that video to try and keep your crippled ass planted lol. Sorry to hear about your ankle that sucks my brother shattered his 4 summers ago and wa down till about September after 3 surgeries a 2 plates and 7 screws.

MD2smoker · « **Reply #145 on:** May 25, 2013, 02:39:17 pm »

Yeah i got 6 screws and one plate now. This was supposed to be my first real ride on my 500 since i bought it. Looks like late july now. Your builds lookin good! Just keep at the details and youll be real happy with the end result.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #146 on:** May 25, 2013, 05:15:57 pm »

That sucks dude. Yeah I'm not gonna be happy with this build and will be tearing it back down next winter to change some things. My ultimate plan is to have a different cylinder, head and piston and a separate rear end setup complete swing arm shock/strut jj&a axle and drag tires. That way I can have a drag setup and a trail setup and its as easy as swapping cylinder, head and piston and rear end to have a completely different bike basically.

It's that or I find a rolling yfz450 or ltr450 or trx450 and swap in a lt500 kx500 or cr500 engine and have a trail bike hybrid and make my zilla a designated drag only bike.

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #147 on:** May 25, 2013, 06:12:44 pm »

Just to verify the two holes on the cushion lever eccentric kennerz was talking about should be on the bottom or toward the ground like pictured here in the manual right? Because this is how I had it mounted but I'm remounting it because I left the chain buffer off and I'm working on it right now so someone please respond quick! Lol

Dezsled · « **Reply #148 on:** May 25, 2013, 06:40:53 pm »

I think you need to rotate the shock mount 180* so it's closer to the ground....the pic shows it in the up position

Buckeye513 · « **Reply #149 on:** May 25, 2013, 06:54:20 pm »

Thanks kennerz that's how I had it mounted the problem though was I had the two cushion lever mounting bolts in from the wrong damn side so the bolts were hanging up on the swing arm which is why it looks jacked up in the pictures. I under stand what you're saying though and that's how I had it cause I had a hell of a time getting it to mount up.

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Author Topic: My First 88 LT500 Build (Read 38514 times)

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