Prepping A Snowmobile For The Off-Season
March 7, 2012
Every spring, many a snowmobile coasts to a stop at the end of the season’s last ride — and there it sits. In the yard all spring, summer and fall for the world to see. Unprotected from the elements, it degrades. Fuel hoses harden, seat fabrics dry out and crack, and rust forms on internal engine... Read more »
How To Replace a Snowmobile Seat Cover
February 10, 2012
Hold on to a snowmobile long enough and its seat cover will eventually split, crack or tear. Maybe a boot-lace eyelet hooked it or a neighbor’s dog chewed a hole. Maybe you’re restoring a vintage sled and it needs a new skin. No problem. Replacing a seat cover is relatively simple … if you have... Read more »
Cracked Snowmobile Fuel Tank Filler Neck
December 13, 2011
Back-ordered snowmobile parts are a bummer, but sometimes you can get by and make the old broken parts work until the new one comes in. In this case: a fuel tank. If the threads are cracked on your snowmobile’s fuel tank filler neck, you might be able to cut the neck off and still get a good seal... Read more »
How To Fix a Stuck Snowmobile Throttle
September 24, 2010
Summer is officially over (finally!) and we’re closing in on the time of year to pull sleds out of storage and get them ready for the snowmobiling season. You’re hoping that your snowmobile will just need a few shots of grease, some fresh fuel and a once-over with a wrench to make sure the bolts... Read more »
How To: Replace Snowmobile Exhaust Gaskets
September 7, 2010
Does your snowmobile’s engine have the black, oily residue that’s all too commonly seen on the front of the cylinders? This mess that starts under the exhaust ports and often runs down to the crankcase not only looks bad, but it gives the appearance of a poorly maintained sled, and it could hurt... Read more »
How to Change Spark Plugs in a Yamaha FX Nytro
January 18, 2010
Most snowmobilers can probably change spark plugs on an older sled as quickly as a NASCAR pit crew can swap a set of tires. But a plug change can leave a do-it-yourselfer scratching his head the first time he tackles this task on a four-stroke engine, as the plugs are usually stuffed under the steering... Read more »
How To Fix a Snowmobile Recoil Starter
December 16, 2009
Recoils look pretty simple hanging on the side of the engine, but don’t assume. The complexity of rewind starters is highly underestimated. Fortunately, their intricate parts can be tamed with the right tools and determination to get the job done. A broken recoil rope or failed components seem to happen... Read more »
How To Set-Up Your Snowmobile’s Suspension for Sharper Handling, Better Ride
October 16, 2009
Whether you’re blazing a path down a rutted-out ditchline or cruising at a leisurely pace, the difference between being worn out at the end of the day versus full of energy can often be determined by your suspension setup. Ride height is a term that refers to setting a snowmobile’s suspension for... Read more »
How To Rebuild A Vintage Carburetor
March 2, 2009
If we had a nickel for every old, non-running snowmobile laying idle across the Snowbelt, we’d have enough material to chrome the Statue Of Liberty. But that might be a poor use of legal tender, not to mention there are some who might object to making our giant green lady the world’s largest single... Read more »
Technical Q&A: Bad Hand Warmers, High-End Bog, Voltage Spikes
February 26, 2009
Cool Hand Joe Q: I have a problem with the handwarmers on my 1999 Ski-Doo MX Z 600. I have tested the ohms, voltage and voltage regulator and they seem OK, but the grips don’t get very warm. I sent the stator to a company in Canada; they said it tested OK. Someone said the magnets could be weak on... Read more »
