Your Pre-Season Checklist

[gary_in_neenah]

Here's hoping for an epic winter for snowmobiling and we certainly deserve one after last year. With a 4 Stroke in the garage, my preseason maintenance is at a minimum. I believe there's only 2 or 3 grease zerts on the entire sled and the battery's been on the maintainer all year. So yeah, pretty much gas and go.

One thing I encourage everyone to do is check your lug nuts on the trailer. I averted a near disaster last year when I found every lug was loose by a complete 360 turn to tighten. It only takes a few minutes and you can check the tire condition while you're down there. A quick check of the lights and wiring would be a good idea too.

What else do we have to add to the list?​

 

[mezz]

Check tire pressures and grease the wheel bearings.

 

[eagle1]

Haven't even thought about sled yet!
Been busy trying to put garage back together after finally getting it finished/remodeled. Although I did pull my snowblower out of trailer today after delivery mom n dad theirs. Ohh and finally put mower to bed today so maybe after Thanksgiving I'll pull sled in.

 

[pclark]

Check your chain case level, replace lube if necessary

 

[indy_500]

Been tearing sleds apart for nearly a month now. Never ends! Not 1 thing gets overlooked on my sleds and all of my families sleds that get dropped off.

 

[stinkstar]

Been tearing sleds apart for nearly a month now. Never ends! Not 1 thing gets overlooked on my sleds and all of my families sleds that get dropped off.

Can I drop my sled off???

 

[goofy600]

Can I drop my sled off???

I‘ll do one better and give him a room for a weekend if he comes up and goes through all mine

 

[mspease]

I grease all trailer wheel bearings and any zerks on the sled when I put it away in the spring. It gets all the moisture out of there so it doesn't sit in there all summer. In the fall it's just charge the battery and go.

 

[onlypolar4me]

Been tearing sleds apart for nearly a month now. Never ends! Not 1 thing gets overlooked on my sleds and all of my families sleds that get dropped off.

OH! to be young and that ambitious again!!

 

[indy_500]

OH! to be young and that ambitious again!!

Man I’m not sure if ambitious or unlucky is the right word LOL. Taken 3 skids out already, couple oil changes, heated visor kits on 3 different sleds which required A LOT of plastics to come off and they were on 3 different chassis skidoo’s so I couldn’t repeat the process on any of them. Got 1 more sled to go thru and I’m losing steam, and this one will probably require the most work.

 

[euphoric1]

Been tearing sleds apart for nearly a month now. Never ends! Not 1 thing gets overlooked on my sleds and all of my families sleds that get dropped off.

Agree to that thought process, I do the same when its winter I want to ride them, not work on them. A lot of break downs are a result of a simple problem that could have been remedied just by doing a little pm prior. Have weeded out some guys from our group over the years that only parked and rode every year and usually spent first day of riding fixing things.

 

[durphee]

I usually do most of my work but this year I took it to a guy who is an excellent mechanic and does maintenance on the side. I told him to give me the works and check everything. After last season I am taking no chance on breaking down, season is too short and I am going every chance I can get......and I am putting in a new kitchen on main floor and new bathroom in the bonus room above the garage so my time has been scheduled.

 

[onlypolar4me]

Man I’m not sure if ambitious or unlucky is the right word LOL. Taken 3 skids out already, couple oil changes, heated visor kits on 3 different sleds which required A LOT of plastics to come off and they were on 3 different chassis skidoo’s so I couldn’t repeat the process on any of them. Got 1 more sled to go thru and I’m losing steam, and this one will probably require the most work.

Keep up the good work!

 

[indy_500]

4th skid of the year I’ve pulled, and it’s flurrying out!

 

[Hoosier]

Been tearing sleds apart for nearly a month now. Never ends! Not 1 thing gets overlooked on my sleds and all of my families sleds that get dropped off.

I think we're all family here right?

 

[600_RMK_144]

My stupid long list. Probably should get started soon...

General pre-season maintenance:

• Remove / Clean primary & secondary
• Before re-installing secondary > Grease bearings with needle tip.
• Install primary and secondary > Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
• 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.
• Pull all 4 motor mount inserts. Inspect for wear and replace if necessary. Use a little dialectic or silicone brake lube on these. Seems to cut down on the wear substantially.
• Check compression.
• Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close.
• Pull skid to replace all worn or rusted bearings. If still clean and tight repack.
• 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 Pros 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 for egged out holes.
• Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.
• Lube all heim joints in the steering.
• 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.
• Spray the exhaust manifold with WD or something to keep it from rotting.
• New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).
• Tighten any loose scratchers.
• Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.
• Drain old fuel, 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 all skid zerks every other trip.
Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.
Check trailer tire pressures prior to each trip.
Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.

 

[rph130]

My stupid long list. Probably should get started soon...

General pre-season maintenance:

• Remove / Clean primary & secondary
• Before re-installing secondary > Grease bearings with needle tip.
• Install primary and secondary > Blue loc-tight on secondary bolt.
• 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.
• Pull all 4 motor mount inserts. Inspect for wear and replace if necessary. Use a little dialectic or silicone brake lube on these. Seems to cut down on the wear substantially.
• Check compression.
• Check hyfax wear indicator. Replace if anywhere close.
• Pull skid to replace all worn or rusted bearings. If still clean and tight repack.
• 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 Pros 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 for egged out holes.
• Check a-arm bushings for excessive wear/ free-play.
• Lube all heim joints in the steering.
• 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.
• Spray the exhaust manifold with WD or something to keep it from rotting.
• New plugs start of season (spares on sled properly gapped).
• Tighten any loose scratchers.
• Check/ adjust throttle free-play as needed.
• Drain old fuel, 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 all skid zerks every other trip.
Check trailer lug nuts prior to each trip.
Check trailer tire pressures prior to each trip.
Grease trailer zerks prior to each trip.fleet of 7 similes in 2023

Good God. Mine have been sitting in the garage since March of 2023. No miles in season of 2023/2024. Started the entire fleet of 7 several times throughout the spring, summer, and fall and brought then up to temperature or to the point that the garage looked like it was on fire from the smoke, and I couldn't breathe anymore. I will go out there and cross my fingers and say a little prayer for them to start and run as soon as trails open. Thats my prep. If they don't, my neighbors and anybody within a substantial radius will get to see and hear my meltdown.

 

[rp7x]

ryan you forgot to ice your beer

 

[600_RMK_144]

Good God. Mine have been sitting in the garage since March of 2023. No miles in season of 2023/2024. Started the entire fleet of 7 several times throughout the spring, summer, and fall and brought then up to temperature or to the point that the garage looked like it was on fire from the smoke, and I couldn't breathe anymore. I will go out there and cross my fingers and say a little prayer for them to start and run as soon as trails open. Thats my prep. If they don't, my neighbors and anybody within a substantial radius will get to see and hear my meltdown.

Yeah. One day my OCD will catch up. I’m getting too old for all that.

 

[600_RMK_144]

ryan you forgot to ice your beer

Need a case for this long ass list! Maybe two.