Early Season Checklist

[gary_in_neenah]

With the recent snows, many of us are ready for that first ride. But are we ready? Really ready? I pose this question because of the numerous factors that go into a fun, first ride of the season. Here's an example; one rainy weekend this past summer I decided to rotate the tires on the trailer. They'd been on the same hub since it was new, so what the heck. Come to find out, every lug nut was loose, not much more than finger tight. It only takes a few minutes to snug them up and you can avoid a lot of trouble down the road. Don't be one of those guys at the side of the road with tire and trailer troubles.

That's my tip to the early season checklist, what's on yours?​

 

[garageguy]

Stock up on beer for when my peeps come up to ride.

 

[600_RMK_144]

My checklist for each sled:
General pre-season maintenance…
We drop the primary & secondary to Thunder Products Clutching booth at Hay Days to be serviced. You can service them yourself if desired.

Before installing secondary > Grease bearings behind it with a needle tip

Install primary and secondary (after serviced at Thunder Clutching).
Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
Re-torque primary after running sled. > this is actually important. Ours have been loose when re-torquing!

Check clutch alignment (add/ remove shims behind secondary as needed).

New belt start of season….
Scuff belt > install > Set belt deflection. (rotate old to spare).

If sled has chain case, exchange fluid. Adjust chain tension as needed.

Pull exhaust valves > clean.

Check compression.

Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close to line.

Inspect track for damage, missing lugs, etc.
Set track tension and alignment.

Grease all zerks in the skid.

Check shocks for leaks. Send to Suspension Proz for rebuild as needed.

Check ski rubbers > replace as needed. (Keep spare set on sled).

Grease ski spindle bushings where the bolt goes thru.

Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.

New carbides start of season (old to trailer as backup).

Check ski alignment (should be toed OUT slightly).

Install battery from trickle charging thru summer.

New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).

Tighten any loose scratchers.

Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.

Drain old fuel, add fresh non-ethanol/ premium fuel.

Top off oil.

Top off brake fluid.

Install registration & trail stickers as needed.

In-season:
Clean primary & secondary prior to each trip.

Scuff belt prior to each trip.

Grease zerks every other trip.

Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.

Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.

Check trailer tire pressure prior to each trip.

 

[goofy600]

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[harvest1121]

I take mine to a snowmobile repair guy in Fort Atkinson Wi and don't worry about anything except snow right now.

 

[wiscrev]

My checklist for each sled:
General pre-season maintenance…
We drop the primary & secondary to Thunder Products Clutching booth at Hay Days to be serviced. You can service them yourself if desired.

Before installing secondary > Grease bearings behind it with a needle tip

Install primary and secondary (after serviced at Thunder Clutching).
Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
Re-torque primary after running sled. > this is actually important. Ours have been loose when re-torquing!

Check clutch alignment (add/ remove shims behind secondary as needed).

New belt start of season….
Scuff belt > install > Set belt deflection. (rotate old to spare).

If sled has chain case, exchange fluid. Adjust chain tension as needed.

Pull exhaust valves > clean.

Check compression.

Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close to line.

Inspect track for damage, missing lugs, etc.
Set track tension and alignment.

Grease all zerks in the skid.

Check shocks for leaks. Send to Suspension Proz for rebuild as needed.

Check ski rubbers > replace as needed. (Keep spare set on sled).

Grease ski spindle bushings where the bolt goes thru.

Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.

New carbides start of season (old to trailer as backup).

Check ski alignment (should be toed OUT slightly).

Install battery from trickle charging thru summer.

New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).

Tighten any loose scratchers.

Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.

Drain old fuel, add fresh non-ethanol/ premium fuel.

Top off oil.

Top off brake fluid.

Install registration & trail stickers as needed.

In-season:
Clean primary & secondary prior to each trip.

Scuff belt prior to each trip.

Grease zerks every other trip.

Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.

Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.

Check trailer tire pressure prior to each trip.

Wow, while I applaud yo for all of that, it certainly sounds like the 70s when all you ever did was wrench the sled and never rode, lol.

 

[bearrassler]

My checklist for each sled:
General pre-season maintenance…
We drop the primary & secondary to Thunder Products Clutching booth at Hay Days to be serviced. You can service them yourself if desired.

Before installing secondary > Grease bearings behind it with a needle tip

Install primary and secondary (after serviced at Thunder Clutching).
Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
Re-torque primary after running sled. > this is actually important. Ours have been loose when re-torquing!

Check clutch alignment (add/ remove shims behind secondary as needed).

New belt start of season….
Scuff belt > install > Set belt deflection. (rotate old to spare).

If sled has chain case, exchange fluid. Adjust chain tension as needed.

Pull exhaust valves > clean.

Check compression.

Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close to line.

Inspect track for damage, missing lugs, etc.
Set track tension and alignment.

Grease all zerks in the skid.

Check shocks for leaks. Send to Suspension Proz for rebuild as needed.

Check ski rubbers > replace as needed. (Keep spare set on sled).

Grease ski spindle bushings where the bolt goes thru.

Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.

New carbides start of season (old to trailer as backup).

Check ski alignment (should be toed OUT slightly).

Install battery from trickle charging thru summer.

New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).

Tighten any loose scratchers.

Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.

Drain old fuel, add fresh non-ethanol/ premium fuel.

Top off oil.

Top off brake fluid.

Install registration & trail stickers as needed.

In-season:
Clean primary & secondary prior to each trip.

Scuff belt prior to each trip.

Grease zerks every other trip.

Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.

Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.

Check trailer tire pressure prior to each trip.

Mine is just a little shorter than yours

Install new trail sticker, license

Top off fuel

Top off oil

I am ready

 

[rph130]

Mine is just a little shorter than yours

Install new trail sticker, license

Top off fuel

Top off oil

I am ready

Im with you.

 

[600_RMK_144]

Wow, while I applaud yo for all of that, it certainly sounds like the 70s when all you ever did was wrench the sled and never rode, lol.

I hear that! Some years we might not get to everything on that list, but seasons like this and no snow to play in, we get to all of it.

 

[lt250rfd]

Thats an extensive list but good checks. Just recently pulled my trailer from storage and had some issues. One of the axles cracked where mates up to the spring. Unfortunate that happened but glad wasn't on highway headed north, was local in town, either way just replaced both axles with all the hardware.

 

[old abe]

My checklist for each sled:
General pre-season maintenance…
We drop the primary & secondary to Thunder Products Clutching booth at Hay Days to be serviced. You can service them yourself if desired.

Before installing secondary > Grease bearings behind it with a needle tip

Install primary and secondary (after serviced at Thunder Clutching).
Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
Re-torque primary after running sled. > this is actually important. Ours have been loose when re-torquing!

Check clutch alignment (add/ remove shims behind secondary as needed).

New belt start of season….
Scuff belt > install > Set belt deflection. (rotate old to spare).

If sled has chain case, exchange fluid. Adjust chain tension as needed.

Pull exhaust valves > clean.

Check compression.

Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close to line.

Inspect track for damage, missing lugs, etc.
Set track tension and alignment.

Grease all zerks in the skid.

Check shocks for leaks. Send to Suspension Proz for rebuild as needed.

Check ski rubbers > replace as needed. (Keep spare set on sled).

Grease ski spindle bushings where the bolt goes thru.

Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.

New carbides start of season (old to trailer as backup).

Check ski alignment (should be toed OUT slightly).

Install battery from trickle charging thru summer.

New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).

Tighten any loose scratchers.

Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.

Drain old fuel, add fresh non-ethanol/ premium fuel.

Top off oil.

Top off brake fluid.

Install registration & trail stickers as needed.

In-season:
Clean primary & secondary prior to each trip.

Scuff belt prior to each trip.

Grease zerks every other trip.

Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.

Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.

Check trailer tire pressure prior to each trip.

Clean clutches each trip?