this was the funniest stupid thing I had ever seen. A group of us had gone up north, and a friend of mine brought his new girlfriend (never rode before) and rented her a new ski-doo, I think it was the first model that ran the engine backwards, we get to a bar for breakfast, she says she thinks something is wrong with sled. he takes it for a ride. puts it in reverse, and hammers it. flying backwards across an icey parking lot, he cuts the skis, and flips this thing upside down, now he's 6'8" tall, doesnt want to have to buy a new hood or winschield, so he was sliding on his back, and basicaly bench pressing the sled, legs straight in foot wells, arms straight holding the bars, sled didnt get a scratch on it. but he had to walk into the bar, after EVERYONE saw it. that was funny as ****. JT
Stupid &/or Preventable Mistakes on a Sled
- Thread starter bruzzer86
- Start date
Love these stories!
I have many,... but here's one:
Long ago,.... I had one of my extra sleds for sale ('72 Polaris Charger),...
My neighbor at the time was interested,... so he comes over to "try it out".
(He had never owned a sled before, though he Did ride them before, and was
interested in "getting into the sport")
He was impressed at how sharp the sled looked,...ect.,...
So,... I start it up (one pull) (more impressive),...
He gets on, and drives through the yard to an open field.
After playing around for about 10 minutes,...
It appears he is coming back to the house,....and I will have a sale.
Well,.... he "pins it",... and as the sled is quickly building speed,...
It makes an IMMEDIATE and ABRUPT stop! He is hurled forward over the handle
bars and lands well in front of the machine on his face.
I'm thinking,...(Oh Oh,.... this doesn't look good), so I start to trek through the deep
snow towards him to see if he is o.k.
He gets up and walks over to the machine, shuts it off,...
and (in obvious discomfort, limping noticeably),........meets me halfway back to the house. (Now he is covered in snow, pants ripped from the handle bars,
his glasses are crooked, hats turned sideways,,...ect.,.) Without missing a step,...
He hands me the keys,... says "NO SALE" and just keeps walking back to his house.
I turn and ask if he's o.k.,... he just keeps walking,....
(mumbling and grumbling about frickin frackin snowmobiles,...)
So I get the toboggan out, and bring the sled back,.. the chain broke and "jammed"
in the case. One day later, and a 2 dollar link replacement,... the sled was like new
again,... and the OTHER neighbor bought it!
Always something!
)
oh ya,...
He never did buy any snowmobiles,...
and appreciated the bottle of whiskey I brought over to him)
I have many,... but here's one:
Long ago,.... I had one of my extra sleds for sale ('72 Polaris Charger),...
My neighbor at the time was interested,... so he comes over to "try it out".
(He had never owned a sled before, though he Did ride them before, and was
interested in "getting into the sport")
He was impressed at how sharp the sled looked,...ect.,...
So,... I start it up (one pull) (more impressive),...
He gets on, and drives through the yard to an open field.
After playing around for about 10 minutes,...
It appears he is coming back to the house,....and I will have a sale.
Well,.... he "pins it",... and as the sled is quickly building speed,...
It makes an IMMEDIATE and ABRUPT stop! He is hurled forward over the handle
bars and lands well in front of the machine on his face.
I'm thinking,...(Oh Oh,.... this doesn't look good), so I start to trek through the deep
snow towards him to see if he is o.k.
He gets up and walks over to the machine, shuts it off,...
and (in obvious discomfort, limping noticeably),........meets me halfway back to the house. (Now he is covered in snow, pants ripped from the handle bars,
his glasses are crooked, hats turned sideways,,...ect.,.) Without missing a step,...
He hands me the keys,... says "NO SALE" and just keeps walking back to his house.
I turn and ask if he's o.k.,... he just keeps walking,....
(mumbling and grumbling about frickin frackin snowmobiles,...)
So I get the toboggan out, and bring the sled back,.. the chain broke and "jammed"
in the case. One day later, and a 2 dollar link replacement,... the sled was like new
again,... and the OTHER neighbor bought it!
Always something!
)oh ya,...
He never did buy any snowmobiles,...
and appreciated the bottle of whiskey I brought over to him
)This past Christmas eve day. My wife and I decided to go for a ride with a couple of friends of ours. My step son wants to go with so our friends let him ride one of there older indy 500 sleds. We all started out with full tanks of fuel and head out. It is now early evening on Christmeas eve and we begin to head back towards home. We are heading out of town and moving along at a fairly quick pace and all of a sudden the step sons sled just quits. We pull it over a couple of times and nothing. I look at the gas gage and it's empty. We discover the gas tank has a small leak. My buddy and step son jump on his sled head back to town, buy a new 2 gallon gas can at the Holiday, put 2 gallons in and head back to the sleds. When they arrive, we go to put the gas in the sled and notice the new gas can has a defect in it and is leaking gas. Still had a gallon and a half left in it. That will be plenty to get us to the next gas stop on the way home to fill up. With the fresh gas in we pull the recoil three times and the recoil rope breaks. I pull the belt, hook up my toe strap and tow him home.
polarfreek
New member
We have a guy that needs about 2-3 spare trailing arms every time he rides with us. We figured that the trees are in the wrong spot and its not the operators fault. Therefore, we always remind him to make sure he turns when he sees one and not expect it to up-root and get out of the way for him.
Bought the Neighbor a Tree
A few years back on my daughters 12th bday she want to ride the sled(97 ZRT 600) in the open field behind the house. I got on the back with her driving while I held on to the bars. We started slow going about a 100 yards then she had to make a left turn. Going slow she had to work the steering, as she pushed to go left she pinned the throttle, the studded track goes through the thin snow, hits the grass and digs in. Ski's are off the ground, I am fighting to hang on reaching for the kill button. We don't make the turn and go into the neighbors’ yard and try to ride up a 12ft pine tree. The top 8ft snap off and the sled rolls. Everyone is fine, just shaken up, sled had broken windshield. That was an interesting conversation with the neighbor.
The best part is the wife was watching from the backyard.
It was a bitch digging that stump out in the Spring.
A few years back on my daughters 12th bday she want to ride the sled(97 ZRT 600) in the open field behind the house. I got on the back with her driving while I held on to the bars. We started slow going about a 100 yards then she had to make a left turn. Going slow she had to work the steering, as she pushed to go left she pinned the throttle, the studded track goes through the thin snow, hits the grass and digs in. Ski's are off the ground, I am fighting to hang on reaching for the kill button. We don't make the turn and go into the neighbors’ yard and try to ride up a 12ft pine tree. The top 8ft snap off and the sled rolls. Everyone is fine, just shaken up, sled had broken windshield. That was an interesting conversation with the neighbor.
The best part is the wife was watching from the backyard.
It was a bitch digging that stump out in the Spring.
rsvectordude
New member
Well I shouldn't even admit this one but last weekend I decided it was time for a gear change. My buddy and I worked tearing apart the brake, chain case, got all the gears and chain out closely noting where all the little reverse gear springs, washers, etc go. Button it back up and thought. WOW that wasn't a very hard job at all. Then I picked the "spare" top gear up and noticed it was the new one!!! Well we got alot of practice in a short amount of time....DUH!
F
fusion
Guest
Hopefully you spent some quality time calling yourself an "idiot", because I sure am right now. So let me get this straight, you couldn't tell the diff between the new and used gear?
Wow.
rsvectordude
New member
Well it went from a 22 tooth to a 21 tooth gear and except for the 21 stamped on it you would have never known. I had cleaned the original gear and wiped all of the oil off and set it next to the new gear and my buddy just grabbed the closer of the two and installed it...It probably didn't help having garage cocktails while doing it but oh well. I can do a gear change in my sleep now so lesson learned I guess..
Joe snowmobiler
We were on a trip last year with a guy who was renting a sled. He talked about how he has been snowmobiling since he was a kid and how he is a great rider ect.... We stop for lunch and he parks his snowmobile in front of 3 sleds, blocking them in. I told him he should move it, but he said we will be in and out. We come out and he jumps on the wrong sled, he is pulling and pulling. I let it go on for about 5 minutes, I finally tell him why don't you try starting your own sled. Just as I tell him, this guy comes out of the pub yelling and screaming to get the %(Ch of his sled. He looks over to see his rental sled with a big pile of snow on the seat and a little note: Hey rookie, learn how to park!. He did not say two word the rest of the trip.
We were on a trip last year with a guy who was renting a sled. He talked about how he has been snowmobiling since he was a kid and how he is a great rider ect.... We stop for lunch and he parks his snowmobile in front of 3 sleds, blocking them in. I told him he should move it, but he said we will be in and out. We come out and he jumps on the wrong sled, he is pulling and pulling. I let it go on for about 5 minutes, I finally tell him why don't you try starting your own sled. Just as I tell him, this guy comes out of the pub yelling and screaming to get the %(Ch of his sled. He looks over to see his rental sled with a big pile of snow on the seat and a little note: Hey rookie, learn how to park!. He did not say two word the rest of the trip.
indy_500
Well-known member
my friend acatzl550 on here was hitting some huge drifts out in front of me a couple weeks ago and he hit the last drift and on the other side was a ditch, well the ditch was steep and it had 2 huge boulders in it and got his ski wedged in between 2 rocks after hitting the big drift and was sent thru his windshield. brand new windshield too.
yamahauler
Active member
first ride of the year this year, I used my buddies sled. We head down and stop at a bar. We get ready to go back out and I can't find the key. I am looking everywhere in that bar. Then I run outside thinking the darn sled may be gone...and the key was sitting right there on the seat of the sled..how stupid was that.
Another one...I was 8. Had two older sisters and we all had our own sleds. We would ride around the woods/yard after school until supper. Was riding around the yard and was looking back while still moving slow and the next thing I know the sled bucks me right off. I am on my stomach and when I roll over I see the sled hanging from the guy wire of a telephone poll. It was pinched in there enough that we had to leave it hanging until my dad got home. Needless to say he wasn't too happy driving in the yard and see the sled hanging from the telephone pole, lol.
All of these stories are funny as all get out-thanks for all the laughs.
Another one...I was 8. Had two older sisters and we all had our own sleds. We would ride around the woods/yard after school until supper. Was riding around the yard and was looking back while still moving slow and the next thing I know the sled bucks me right off. I am on my stomach and when I roll over I see the sled hanging from the guy wire of a telephone poll. It was pinched in there enough that we had to leave it hanging until my dad got home. Needless to say he wasn't too happy driving in the yard and see the sled hanging from the telephone pole, lol.
All of these stories are funny as all get out-thanks for all the laughs.
bonehead moves
Put 7 gallons of diesel in an 11 gallon tank in Michigamme. As long as I kept the rpm's high, that 800t Susuki ran, but smoked big time. Wish I had a camera for the smoke trail.
Another was tightening a loose throttle bolt on a '79 SRX before loading it on the trailer. Without checking my work, I pulled the starter rope. The sled took off up the ramp and I grabbed the rear bumper. It pulled me up and into the trailer and hit the front corner, which caused the aluminum cover to come crashing down (close). Luckily for me the new air vents, cause by the skiis peircing the cover, let in enough light that I could see through the fast accumulating 2 stroke smoke and hit the kill switch.
Put 7 gallons of diesel in an 11 gallon tank in Michigamme. As long as I kept the rpm's high, that 800t Susuki ran, but smoked big time. Wish I had a camera for the smoke trail.
Another was tightening a loose throttle bolt on a '79 SRX before loading it on the trailer. Without checking my work, I pulled the starter rope. The sled took off up the ramp and I grabbed the rear bumper. It pulled me up and into the trailer and hit the front corner, which caused the aluminum cover to come crashing down (close). Luckily for me the new air vents, cause by the skiis peircing the cover, let in enough light that I could see through the fast accumulating 2 stroke smoke and hit the kill switch.
sledheadjoe
New member
Don't Look Back
I would have never let this story out of the bag if I hadn't stumbled across this thread and read some of the others...
This past weekend, my wife and I headed out on a 2 day 500km trip. When we ride together, I lead about 99% of the time as she is frightened of meeting faster oncoming traffic coming around a sharp corner. After leaving the parking lot, she took the lead and I happily followed behind thinking it was a good time for her to work on her leading skills. When I noticed we were approaching a road crossing ahead, I began slowing down as I completed my customary shoulder check to look for her behind (as she usually is) and check my gear that was secured with a couple bungy cords. When I looked forward she had already stopped in front of me and I was about 2 feet away. Needless to say, I hit her rear bumper hard enough to bust my hood off. I was furious with myself for making such a bonehead mistake. After I assured her it was not her fault, I fastened the hood down with a little wire and we finished the ride without any other incidents (with me in the lead).
Joe
I would have never let this story out of the bag if I hadn't stumbled across this thread and read some of the others...
This past weekend, my wife and I headed out on a 2 day 500km trip. When we ride together, I lead about 99% of the time as she is frightened of meeting faster oncoming traffic coming around a sharp corner. After leaving the parking lot, she took the lead and I happily followed behind thinking it was a good time for her to work on her leading skills. When I noticed we were approaching a road crossing ahead, I began slowing down as I completed my customary shoulder check to look for her behind (as she usually is) and check my gear that was secured with a couple bungy cords. When I looked forward she had already stopped in front of me and I was about 2 feet away. Needless to say, I hit her rear bumper hard enough to bust my hood off. I was furious with myself for making such a bonehead mistake. After I assured her it was not her fault, I fastened the hood down with a little wire and we finished the ride without any other incidents (with me in the lead).
Joe
This is for my buddy.
My buddy just spent bunch of time sunday night working on his sled getting ready for a 1 week trip, new hyfaxes, carbites, grease everything, few other minor things even washed and waxed it . He decided to go ride the fox river today before leaving tomarrow. Well guess what he saw open water under rt. 173 went for it made it across no problem. He had to much fun tried again did not make it 2nd time, sank his sled in about 7-10 feet of water. Can you say DUMB ***.... Now he is not going. At least he got the sled out and he is ok.
I had also told him not to go had funny feeling about it when he told me he was going to the chain o lakes area.
My buddy just spent bunch of time sunday night working on his sled getting ready for a 1 week trip, new hyfaxes, carbites, grease everything, few other minor things even washed and waxed it . He decided to go ride the fox river today before leaving tomarrow. Well guess what he saw open water under rt. 173 went for it made it across no problem. He had to much fun tried again did not make it 2nd time, sank his sled in about 7-10 feet of water. Can you say DUMB ***.... Now he is not going. At least he got the sled out and he is ok.
I had also told him not to go had funny feeling about it when he told me he was going to the chain o lakes area.
816000tgre
New member
Head stand
was rid'n at the time in lower Michigan and at the end of the ride was sit'n wait'n with some friends and decided that this machine and me are going to jump a 16' ditch,had atleast 30" of snow on the ground,the first jump went great!..the second attempt was great til I got bucked on the other side and was doing a head stand for a little bit,til i realized that either squeez the throttle or go over the front of the sled and so I cob'd the throttle which put me back in the seat-like noth'n happened!..I did'nt realize at the time that I was just mak'n memories for a few good friends!
The funniest one i've ever seen thou was when I just put my zrt800 back on the snow after tear'n it down and punch'n the he** out of the motor and add'd ice pick's 4 the what was a snot full for my brother-in law,not even 2hrs on the fresh motor,there was a few of us out that day just doing sum drag's in a field,he ask'd if he could run it against the group,so yes like always !..He's about 250lbs and did'nt even take it for a quick spin,just lined it up and wait'd for the glove to drop,I've ben rid'n a stand up jet-ski 4 many yrs and for you that have tryied one,then you can relate to him on his belly with the throttle pinn'd and the ski's in the air,like I say-it look'd like he was rid'n a stand up !..he said it took all he had to pull himself up without fall'n off.
was rid'n at the time in lower Michigan and at the end of the ride was sit'n wait'n with some friends and decided that this machine and me are going to jump a 16' ditch,had atleast 30" of snow on the ground,the first jump went great!..the second attempt was great til I got bucked on the other side and was doing a head stand for a little bit,til i realized that either squeez the throttle or go over the front of the sled and so I cob'd the throttle which put me back in the seat-like noth'n happened!..I did'nt realize at the time that I was just mak'n memories for a few good friends!
The funniest one i've ever seen thou was when I just put my zrt800 back on the snow after tear'n it down and punch'n the he** out of the motor and add'd ice pick's 4 the what was a snot full for my brother-in law,not even 2hrs on the fresh motor,there was a few of us out that day just doing sum drag's in a field,he ask'd if he could run it against the group,so yes like always !..He's about 250lbs and did'nt even take it for a quick spin,just lined it up and wait'd for the glove to drop,I've ben rid'n a stand up jet-ski 4 many yrs and for you that have tryied one,then you can relate to him on his belly with the throttle pinn'd and the ski's in the air,like I say-it look'd like he was rid'n a stand up !..he said it took all he had to pull himself up without fall'n off.
About 6-7 years ago I was on my ex's Jag 440 one night. Stopped at the tavern just down the road from my house. Ended up getting all pie eye'd and decided to ride home because its only a couple miles. So heading home at about 30mph max (which seemed like 90 at the time) all was going good and was crossing the last field before the tree line of my back yard when all of a sudden I realise I'm laying on my back and the sled is on its side still running. Dang tree got in the way and broke my Collar Bone!
So a week later there I am with a broken collar bone and all these great snow conditions... So I strap/wrap myself up and go riding with the guys. I'm at the end of the pack trying to keep up with everyone when I come to a bridge that sent me head over heals in one direction and the sled in another. Didn't hurt the collar bone any, but sure did pull a muscle in my leg!! Could hardly walk for a week... Figured that was a sign of some kind and called it a season.
that's my "Dumb Butt" story and I'm sticking to it
So a week later there I am with a broken collar bone and all these great snow conditions... So I strap/wrap myself up and go riding with the guys. I'm at the end of the pack trying to keep up with everyone when I come to a bridge that sent me head over heals in one direction and the sled in another. Didn't hurt the collar bone any, but sure did pull a muscle in my leg!! Could hardly walk for a week... Figured that was a sign of some kind and called it a season.
that's my "Dumb Butt" story and I'm sticking to it
Back in my teenage days... dad and I would use the snowblower to pile snow against the house for added insulation. This often made for some pretty fantastic drifts forming up against the 1 story house as well. One particular year - late 80s I think - we had tons of snow and a couple days of high winds... perfect giant snowdrift from the yard to the banked snow and into the roofline of the house.
I come home about 2am from riding and see the drift that has formed, and ride the sled right up it, parking it on the angled roof towards the highway. I walk down the roof and the drift and go into the house and climb into bed.
6am I am abruptly awoken by being dragged out of bed and across the floor down the hallway. Dad drops me only to hollar "Get that god damn sled off the f'n roof and into the garage right now!"... which I did. I was grounded from the sled for the rest of the year, and once I got back into the house... it was the worst beating I ever got in my life. LOL
I come home about 2am from riding and see the drift that has formed, and ride the sled right up it, parking it on the angled roof towards the highway. I walk down the roof and the drift and go into the house and climb into bed.
6am I am abruptly awoken by being dragged out of bed and across the floor down the hallway. Dad drops me only to hollar "Get that god damn sled off the f'n roof and into the garage right now!"... which I did. I was grounded from the sled for the rest of the year, and once I got back into the house... it was the worst beating I ever got in my life. LOL
The recoil felt a little strange when starting up. So I look under the hood and see a couple bolts loose. I tighten the 3 top ones as I couldnt reach the bottom one with the coat and all. The very top one I sheared. I figure lets ride my buddies are waiting and two bolts should hold her. Well after about a 100 miles I hear a couple clunks a figure its ice. After lunch I go to pull and get nothing but rope. Recoil fell right off. Very lucky on that one and lesson learned. Dont overtighten and use all the bolts.
on my first trip out this year I pulled my 2002 XCSP out for ride with our group to town. As I was a few miles into the trip I notice the engine light on and I pulled over to take a look. The rest of our group pulled in behind to see why I stopped. I had the hood open and went to tap the coolant bottle to see what the level was in the plastic bottle. Well these bottles have a very poor design and the cap is notorious for coming loose. When I tapped the bottle the cap popped off and shot hot coolant all over my helmet and jacket, luckily not getting too much into my face or hands. I jumped back and reach for snow to cool off my hot gear and face. My gear smelled and had the oily feel for the rest of the day and I was lucky to not burn my face. Lesson learned.
Thread must stay alive for sanity.
Maybe my brother can chime in with something dumber i've down but i'll share this good one.
Late last year I was getting in the last ride of the year in Marquette county on trail 14 near red road with my brother. I was riding the XLT and we'd been having a great time on the hero snow. Well, we get back onto the trail and head for the next ridge starting to go back towards the trailer. We're at near the top of the ridge, I crest it at about 50 MPH. I didn't see the exposed rock quite in time and nailed it right the right ski. Thing was tall and skinny, knocked me right off the back onto my ***. Now mind you how slick the trails can be at this point of the season. I sled for a good 200 feet on my ***, waving my arms frantically for my brother to not do what I did. He stopped with plenty of time, avoided the rock and all that. I, about 10 seconds later, ended my butt-slide down the trail and ran up to the XLT which had lightly bumped a tree off trail and was still running.
Total damage was a sheared trailing arm bolt and a sheared gas line at the fuel-pump... which I have never heard of someone breaking but hey, I've got talent!
Maybe my brother can chime in with something dumber i've down but i'll share this good one.
Late last year I was getting in the last ride of the year in Marquette county on trail 14 near red road with my brother. I was riding the XLT and we'd been having a great time on the hero snow. Well, we get back onto the trail and head for the next ridge starting to go back towards the trailer. We're at near the top of the ridge, I crest it at about 50 MPH. I didn't see the exposed rock quite in time and nailed it right the right ski. Thing was tall and skinny, knocked me right off the back onto my ***. Now mind you how slick the trails can be at this point of the season. I sled for a good 200 feet on my ***, waving my arms frantically for my brother to not do what I did. He stopped with plenty of time, avoided the rock and all that. I, about 10 seconds later, ended my butt-slide down the trail and ran up to the XLT which had lightly bumped a tree off trail and was still running.
Total damage was a sheared trailing arm bolt and a sheared gas line at the fuel-pump... which I have never heard of someone breaking but hey, I've got talent!