These rare 80 degree October days won't last long, so take advantage of them to shuffle your shed and get your sleds ready to braaap!
Here's the Checklist to Prep Snowmobiles for Winter we use at C&A Pro to make sure our sleds are in tip top shape for long trail rides or hitting the backcountry. Remember to always consult your snowmobile manufacturer's owner's manual and follow their instructions specific to your machine.
1. Start by giving your sled a good cleaning. A clean sled makes it easier to detect any problems. Vacuum out any leaves, debris or critter nests. Mice love to build nests in tailpipes. Then wash the sled with mild soap and water using a soft terry cloth. If you use a power washer, don't point the nozzle too close to the sled. Dry your sled with a lint-free towel. Wax the hood using a soft terry cloth and rub some Pledge onto any plastic parts to shine them up. The clutches can be cleaned with brake cleaner. Keep your aluminum looking sharp with aluminum polish and spray metal protectant on exposed metal parts (avoid spraying it on drive or driven clutches). Keep your vinyl seat looking sharp by cleaning it with mild soap and water and applying a vinyl protectant. Many sledders swear by using Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser to clean snowmobile seats.
2. Tend to your battery. Charge your snowmobile battery if you have electric start and replace the battery it if it won't hold a charge. If your snowmobile won't start using electric start, here's a great video to help you determine if your snowmobile battery is dead or if you've got another issue. Now's a good time to also inspect wiring for rodent damage or lose connections.
3. Check your lights - Inspect your headlights and taillights.
4. Inspect your handlebars - Check your throttle, brake lever and kill switch to make sure they are operating correctly. Make sure your handlebars turn fully. If you run into any issues, take your sled to your snowmobile dealer for service.
5. Remove the drive belt and check for signs of wear. If it's worn out, replace it. Reinstall following the steps outlined in your owner's manual. If you use your spare belt, remember to replace it before you go out riding. You should always carry a spare belt.
6. Top Off or Change Oil - If you have a two-stroke motor, check your injection oil and fill if needed. If you have a four-stroke sled and did not change your oil at the end of the season, change it now.
7. Change your chaincase oil if you didn't do it in the spring and check your chain for proper tension, consulting your owner's manual for details.
8. Check for Leaks - Check for oil, brake fluid and coolant leaks and check your shocks for leakage around the seals.
9. Inspect your snowmobile track for tears, holes and missing lugs and check the track tension and alignment.
10. Perform a thorough inspection of all your rear suspension components, including the rear idler wheels (they should spin freely), hyfax, and ice scratchers. Here's a great video from Backcountry Builds on how to inspect your snowmobile hyfax/slides. Replace any worn components. Grease the zerks on your chassis, using the grease recommended by your manufacturer.
11. Last, but certainly not least, check your snowmobile skis and carbides. If your snowmobile ski tips dangle, it's time to replace the ski rubbers (dampeners). Watch this video to learn how to replace your snowmobile ski rubbers. If there's no carbide left on your runners, replace your snowmobile ski carbides. If your C&A Pro skis have gotten old and have started to flatten out, replace the ski handles using our ratchet strap pro tip for installing new C&A Pro ski handles. If you're still running stock snowmobile skis on your sled, throw them out and get some C&A's! Once you've got your new C&A Pro skis on, make sure your ski tips are properly aligned following our snowmobile ski alignment instructions.
Do you have any other tips for getting your sled ready for winter? DM them to us on social @caproskis!
Think Snow!
