I have 5 days set aside around President's Day for my one and only trip this year. We were planning to do the usual UP backpack trip. Now I am concerned there won't be any decent snow, and if there is, the only place there will be will be in the Western UP, and everyone in the midwest will be riding there that weekend. So, looking at other options. Looks like the Albany lodge area might be the closest to us with decent snow. It's about 1,000 miles from where our sleds and trailer are stored (south suburbs of Chicago). Can you ride that area with short track sleds, provided they are jetted correctly? I assume you'd be somewhat limited but can ride trails and find play areas for the short trackers if we're not stupid. Also looking at South Dakota or Wawa as alternatives. The trail permits and gas prices of Wawa and the difficulty I've had in finding info about South Dakota have made the Albany Lodge area more appealing. Also open to other ideas. We've ridden the Tog area twice and loved it, but we've rented mountain sleds when we were there. Trying to do something with our own sleds this year, and trying not to drive all that way this year.
Albany lodge area with trail sleds
- Thread starter Hoosier
- Start date
The northern Big horns by sheridan wy would have good conditions too.We are going out over spring break in march and staying at bear lodge resort. They have a nice trail system any easy access for short stacks.We were out the 1st part of jan and there were lots of short tracks out there then. We are near waterloo ia and the big horns are about 2 hours futher than the snowies for us.
boatingbent
New member
I would agree on Albany ....Just make sure to have extra Gas with you
Clutching is not required, but it will make a huge difference in how your sled will run. If off trailing, it is necessary IMO. You will be lucky to pull 7000 rpm's with low elevation clutching up that high. Your typical 800 motor is only putting out 110 HP at that elevation. Now factor in SIGNIFICANT UNDER-rev, and that same 800 may be making 70-80 hp. You can decide from there.
At bare minimum throw some lighter weights in the primary to at least get the RPM's in the ballpark.
At bare minimum throw some lighter weights in the primary to at least get the RPM's in the ballpark.
How hard is it to clutch a sled and how long does it take? We have 600's if it matters. Do we need any special tools? Perhaps these are better questions for a dealer out there. Last question for now: what would a reasonable price be for a dealer out there to set up our sleds so they are clutched and jetted properly? Thanks for the answers.
What sleds do you have? We have cleanfire polaris' and only change weights ,takes about 1 hr. The polaris is real easy. In our ski doos we change to hollow pins If they have dpm or are fuel injected. You have to pull the clutch to do this. Rode both out there last march and ran great.
It can even be a bit easier than that if you want. Just get these tools and you can just (after removing the belt) compress the sheaves of the primary with the fork-like tool and then slip the clip over the outside edge of each sheave to hold the primary compressed. Then change out the weights, and use the tool to compress the clutch enough to take the clip off and done. Comes in handy when the primary is stubborn about coming off the crankshaft! Also very quick. I can change weights in probably less than 20 minutes without even rushing. You can also compress the primary with a small pry-bar or large screwdriver, but I have found the fork tool to work very well and is pretty cheap.
-John
Ummm the Polaris dealer?
Setting up your sled is part of the fun of going out west. Get all the guys together and do it together over a few beers and its done in about 35 minutes per sled. You will want to bring extra jets out west and may want to fiddle with jetting a bit when your out there. The Polaris charts are a little fat. The biggest thing is your needle clip placement, one clip slot off and it will run like crap.
Setting up your sled is part of the fun of going out west. Get all the guys together and do it together over a few beers and its done in about 35 minutes per sled. You will want to bring extra jets out west and may want to fiddle with jetting a bit when your out there. The Polaris charts are a little fat. The biggest thing is your needle clip placement, one clip slot off and it will run like crap.
Thanks - I live in Indiana but usually work with a dealer in Wisconsin where we normally ride. This trip is coming together as a last minute alternative, due to conditions in the northwoods. I contacted a dealer in Laramie. If we head that direction, I'll buy weights from them. We may just go to South Dakota so we only have to change jets, or to Ontario, and not do anything to the sleds (but buy $6 gas).
We drove through South Dakota twice in the last week on our way to Togwotee. Unless that snow is hiding somewhere I didn't see a thing - ANYWHERE in South Dakota. I wouldn't count on making that a destination...
CLuthcing and jetting like others have said, is a very quick project. Go for it!
These are the sites I was looking at for SD (specifically the Black Hills):
http://gfp.sd.gov/to-do/snowmobile/black-hills-conditions.aspx
http://twitter.com/sdsnowbhills
I am a little wary of it though because it doesn't seem like a big destination, which is also why I am also considering the Albany/Centennial area instead. I think we've ruled out Ontario because the other guys have certain issues (registration/insurance) that they won't have taken care of in time to get over the border.
Anybody have any opinions on the Black Hills vs the Snowies, especially with trail sleds?
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We ended up booking at the Old Corral this coming weekend (Albany was booked by the time we made our minds up). Polaris dealer in town will help with jetting and we'll put some weights in. A little nervous to see how the shorties do out there but most of the feedback I've seen says we'll do fine - just can't obviously go everywhere the long tracks go.