Anyone else see lots of broken down sleds this weekend?

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fredster

New member
My son and I rode most of Saturday, 180 miles in the Irons/Baldwin/Cadillac area. It was cold all day, single digits, when we left it was around 2 degrees out it might have gotten to 8 or 9....it was back down to 5 when we got back to the cabin around 5PM.....and at -5 when we left our club meeting around 8:30PM. Glad we took the truck to the club meeting!

Anyways....while it's not unusual to see maybe one or two sleds 'down' during the day, we lost count on Saturday. Traffic was not super-heavy, but we came across at least 6 or 7 groups stopped, always with one hood up, looking things over. And saw not one but two sleds being towed in later in the afternoon. They were all two-strokes, and based on the years were likely all carbed.

Was thinking about it today and wondering if these sleds were victims of the cold weather combined maybe with dirty main jets and E10 fuel. I know the cold creates other problems but it was just weird to see so many sleds down or being towed...

Did anyone else who rode this weekend notice more breakdowns? It was a lot colder in the MN/WI/western UP area so likely to have happened there too......

Looked like a lotta guys might be ordering top end parts this week!
 
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ditchcrusher

New member
When it's cold out or any other time you need to carry isopropyl in the red bottle with you and pour in a half bottle every time you get fuel. Especially when cold. You wont believe how many problems this will eliminate. I just shake my head.
Lot's of burn downs because of lean/water in fuel.
DC
 
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coldbear

New member
Government fuel addatives ??

Just wondering if they are putting the Ethenohl in 89/91 pump fuels up there??
 
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shoelessjoe

New member
Likely a combination of the cold weather making sleds run lean (or carbs freezing as mentioned above) along with the fact that this crazy winter we've had means a lot of people are just now on their first rides of the season. That first ride can show a few gremlins that developed over the off season.
 
mrsrunningbear

mrsrunningbear

Active member
we have a transport service that picks up broken sleds and their riders, we put 18,000 miles in 2 months and most of the sleds we pick up are less than 3years old. We thought we'd be picking up the old ones :confused:
 
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fredster

New member
mrsrunningbear -

Interesting info. What problems do you see the most? Burn down? Blown engine? 2S or 4S? Not trying to start any arguements just curious about the common issues and sleds you see.

I always enjoy seeing the sleds being towed in with no track on the skid and with the track tied behind the sled...but that usually only happens on older sleds.
 
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vector08

New member
Ditchcrusher-- I believe when my Moms sled burned down last year, (mechanical failure), we had asked the mechanic and he said that nobody should be running the isopropal alcohal in any sled in the winter. this liquid actually makes the sled run leaner and can actually lead to more burn downs. Just my .02

Fredster, what do you think?
 
mrsrunningbear

mrsrunningbear

Active member
fredster said:
mrsrunningbear -

Interesting info. What problems do you see the most? Burn down? Blown engine? 2S or 4S? Not trying to start any arguements just curious about the common issues and sleds you see.

I always enjoy seeing the sleds being towed in with no track on the skid and with the track tied behind the sled...but that usually only happens on older sleds.
Click to expand...

Mostly blown engines all 2S and lots of bogie wheels and a good mix of all brands
 
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scott_l

Member
yup had one go down in our group this weekend.

The assumption is the crank went out. Pulled it up by the road, removed tools out of sled and then whent to the cabin to get the truck and trailer.
 
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mn_polaris_guy

New member
Rode in North-Central MN over the weekend (McGregor/Hill City/Grand Rapids area). Had one sled in our group go down and noticed more than the norm broken down (a few tows, a few with hoods up). Probably the cold weather. We woke up Fri morning and it was -32! I don't think it made it above 0 on Fri. Sat was a little better, single digits.

FYI, the sled in our group ended up with a frozen fuel pump and potentially a crank seal (haven't dug in yet).
 
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rsvectordude

New member
We had another Ski Doo blow up this weekend. I refused to tow him and waste another new belt on that MXZ. He's on his 6th rebuild in 600 miles! This was an older iron '97 670. I gave him a ride to get his other Doo so he could tow it home once again.
 
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ditchcrusher

New member
vector08 said:
Ditchcrusher-- I believe when my Moms sled burned down last year, (mechanical failure), we had asked the mechanic and he said that nobody should be running the isopropal alcohal in any sled in the winter. this liquid actually makes the sled run leaner and can actually lead to more burn downs. Just my .02

Fredster, what do you think?
Click to expand...

Just make sure you don't use the yellow bottle stuff that has methanol in it. That's the trouble maker. Sea Foam works good, a little pricier though.

DC
 
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fredster

New member
Vector08 - you're correct, dealer said to not run Iso if the fuel is E10....the ethanol takes care of the water, but does lean the mixture further...adding Iso makes it even leaner. Having said that, it's still good insurance on the first time out when the sled has been sitting for months....but as many people found this weekend, not when the temps are around zero.....
 
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pfd_crew

New member
We had a 05 fusion primary clutch froze engaged, wouldnt release. He only made it 20 feet from trailer, also had sled smack a tree, no injuries, sleds pretty beat up.
 
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robocopf7

New member
I am no expert, but I ride sleds, motorcycles, atvs and boat (jet ski and 23 ft cabin cruiser). Maybe its me, but sleds seem to crap out waay too easily and quick. Rust and corrosion is hardly controlled (better coatings and paints would be nice). I haul only with a cover, and coat everything in WD-40 when possible.

For example, I leave my lawn mower full of gas, maybe change the oil, and it runs every time. Same thing with motorcycle. Gas and go. The sleds I've owned (current excluded) need absolutely fresh fuel, good oil, every bearing fawned over with fresh grease, clutches watched closely, drive train maintenance, etc.

If you don't, then failure, and trip or weekend is ruined.

I have found using synthetic grease and oils have reduced the failures, but it seems that unless you buy a new sled every two to three years, it will ruin a trip like what happened to a buddy last week in the UP. Just venting, but it seems like our failure analysis people at the factories are sleeping on the job. I would like to see sleds reliably run for 8 to 10 years before completely falling apart, especially after spending $10,000 plus.

I plan on moving to a 4 stroke with my next sled when I get some cash. Anyone else feel like this?
 
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zr580

New member
i too plan on moving to a 4 stroke but iam still gonna keep my f-7,just because its darn fun to ride.
 
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