Jason Houle, left, pictured at Haydays 2012 with a drag sled and two other guys who helped tune it.

As the owner of Straightline Performance in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Jason Houle and his team produce parts big and small to create more horsepower and get more of that horsepower to the ground. In doing so, Jason deals with a lot of people who think they might be great tuners or backyard mechanics. In actuality, some of those people miss some of the details. We asked Jason to tell us the five most common mistakes that he’s seen made by amateur tuners.

1. Belt Deflection Is Too Loose — Just because the belt sticks out of the secondary clutch a little bit does not necessarily mean that the tension is correct. The most accurate way to check belt deflection is to push against the belt with a finger midway between the two clutches and measure how far the belt moves. Pressure and deflection varies by make and model.

2. Track Is Too Loose — The adage of a loose track equating to a fast snowmobile is incorrect. Today’s machines require more tension as the ballooning effect at high speeds will cause the snowmobile to stop gaining speed sooner.

3. Didn’t Check The Basics — Bearings, bushings and alignment are seemingly minor factors that can, in fact, cause major performance losses.

4. Forgetting About Traction — Adding more horsepower will typically cause the track to spin more and lose acceleration. If you add performance products for the trail and expect to see gains in speed, traction accessories are necessary.

5. More Flyweight Mass Reduces Engine Speed — This statement may be correct, but not always. Today’s twin-cylinder engines have larger torque bands and might require several calibration changes in order to see the engine speed change. For example, if you add more weight and peak RPM stays the same, add more until it starts to lose engine speed. On the flip side, if removing weight does not cause the RPM to raise, the engine package might not have the capability to rev higher.

More than 100 classic old snowmobiles will be on display at the annual Snowmobile Hall of Fame Classic Sled Roundup on Sunday, May 26 at the St. Germain Town Park. Pick your now-defunct brand and you have a good shot to see it there – from the obvious John Deere, Kawasaki and Sno Jet classics to strange, limited-build brands that surprise collectors every year.

Yes, there will be plenty of old Polaris, Ski-Doo, Yamaha and Arctic Cat snowmobiles there – in fact, Arctic Cat is a presenting sponsor, along with R&R Motorsports – and those brands tend to dominate the prizes that are awarded in the many categories of judging. But last year’s winning sleds also included an Ice Skeeter, a Sputnik, a Hus-Ski and an Auto Boggan. Also expect to see a lot of restored and unrestored race sleds at the Roundup.

The Classic Sled Roundup features judging in several categories. Photo courtesy of the Snowmobile Hall Of Fame.

Plus, the event includes a huge swap meet, largely focused on parts for older sleds, but you never know what you’re going to find in there.

Money is raised for the Snowmobile Hall Of Fame through entry fees on the classic sleds and swap meet space fees, but attendance is free for consumers. There will be food available all day, live music and a raffle for a restored Mercury Trail Twister. The awards ceremony starts at 3 p.m.

To see images of past Roundup events, click here.

Ed Klim, president of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association.

1. Snowmobiles are advanced, technological wonders — Today’s new snowmobiles are cleaner, quieter and more efficient than ever before. The engineering teams are on a roll inventing amazing products for all of us to enjoy.

2. Snowmobile clothing is better — Not only is the new riding gear warmer, more comfortable and better fitting, but the looks are much improved as well.  You can actually wear your snowmobile jacket to the mall.  The new clothing keeps you warm and toasty even on the coldest of winter days, yet is comfortable and light to wear and warmer winter days.

3. Snowmobile creature comforts have made a big difference —  I love the heated seats and new suspension systems on modern sleds. And more creature comforts will be coming in future years.

4.  More women are snowmobiling — Snowmobiling is and always has been a family sport for many people, but sometimes snowmobiling weekends in popular sledding hotspots have been male dominated. Increasingly, however, women riders are becoming more involved in the sport. Plus, most of us enjoy the calming and comfortable influence of a woman while snowmobiling!

5. Snowmobile trailers are greatly improved — While they can still happen, roadside breakdowns with trailers are less common than they used to be. Modern snowmobile trailers are easier to tow, easier to load, and the light systems usually work.

Get your kid started off right by riding a ZR 120. This pint-sized snowmobile is powered by a Yamaha engine that’s limited to 8 mph. It has a new LED taillight and new Team Arctic green color to match the Sno Pro race snowmobiles that the “big kids” ride. Front and rear bumpers, a tether switch, padded handlebar and orange flag help keep junior safe when he or she is buzzing around the yard. A keyed ignition makes it easy for parents to stay in charge of the fun.

PRICE: $2,699

ENGINE: 123cc, fan-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS, hydraulic shocks, 3 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: slide rail, torsion spring, 4.5 inches of travel

TRACK: 10x68x.5-inch, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: Just like mom and dad’s sleds, the 2014 Arctic Cat ZR 120′s headlight and taillight are always on to help improve safety.

Arctic Cat calls this the ultimate dual-purpose utility/touring snowmobile. Touring focused features include a rear storage bag, heated driver seat and extra tall windshield for the ultimate in cold weather protection. Sturdy bumpers, a pintle hitch and fiberglass overload springs toughen up this smooth-riding machine, and a 17-gallon fuel tank expands the range of the smooth and surprisingly potent Suzuki engine. Standard Limited features include and extreme high windshield, rear storage bag, engine heater and heated driver seat.

PRICE: 13,199

ENGINE: 1056cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 8.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: Articulating, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13 inches of travel

TRACK: 20x154x1.375-inch, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: The Bearcat Z1 XT includes a special third-row seat so more helpers can ride along.

Arctic Cat calls this the ultimate dual-purpose utility/touring snowmobile. Touring focused features include a rear storage bag, heated driver seat and extra tall windshield for the ultimate in cold weather protection. Sturdy bumpers, a pintle hitch and fiberglass overload springs toughen up this smooth-riding machine, and a 17-gallon fuel tank expands the range of the smooth and surprisingly potent Suzuki engine. Color options are orange or blue.

PRICE: 12,499

ENGINE: 1056cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 8.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: Articulating, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13 inches of travel

TRACK: 20x154x1.375-inch, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: Special 8-inch wide skis improve flotation when riding off-trail.

It doesn’t get more original than the Arctic Cat Bearcat Z1 XT Groomer Special. Specially designed for heavy pulling, this model is engineered for businesses and organizations that groom snowmobile and cross-country trails. It has an extra-wide track and a powerful engine that can lug a heavy load. Special features include a rear light bar with floodlight and beacon, auxiliary radiator and rear power outlet. And to keep the work going for mile after mile, the Groomer Special has a 17-gallon fuel tank.

PRICE: $13,999

ENGINE: 1056cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 8.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: Articulating, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13 inches of travel

TRACK: 20x154x1.375-inch, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: The Arctic Cat Groomer Special is the only snowmobile that comes from the factory with a winch.

With a name like “Bearcat,” the Arctic Cat Bearcat series should be taken seriously. Versatility and simplicity are the hallmarks of the 2014 Arctic Cat Bearcat 570 XT. It has a fan-cooled engine rated at about 60 hp, a large 17-gallon fuel tank and articulating rear suspension for improved maneuverability — especially when driving in reverse. An extra-wide track keeps the snowmobile afloat and tall lugs dig deep when riding off the beaten path. Color options are blue or orange.

PRICE: $9,099

ENGINE: 565cc, fan-cooled, two-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 9.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: Articulating, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13 inches of travel

TRACK: 20x154x1.375, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: The 2014 Bearcat XT is standard with heavy duty front and rear bumpers.

With a name like “Bearcat,” the Arctic Cat Bearcat series should be taken seriously. Versatility and simplicity are the hallmarks of the 2014 Arctic Cat Bearcat 570. It has a fan-cooled engine rated at about 60 hp, so there’s enough growl to perform work and then head out for a 2-up cruise after the job is complete. An extra-long track keeps the snowmobile afloat and tall lugs dig deep when riding off the beaten path.

PRICE: $7,999

ENGINE: 565cc, fan-cooled, two-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 9.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: FasTrack Slide Action, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13.3 inches of travel

TRACK: 15x151x1.25, N/A

UNIQUE FEATURE: The blue-and-white color scheme is new for 2014.

The 2014 Arctic Cat TZ1 LXR has extra luxury features like rebuildable shocks, three storage bags, adjustable handlebar, and heated driver and passenger seats. Its C-TEC4 engine is made by Suzuki, and the chassis is known as one of the smoothest, most comfortable snowmobile frames on snow. Other features include painted bodywork for an upper-class appearance and mirrors so the driver can keep an eye on his or her passenger and trailing riders.

PRICE: $12,299

ENGINE: 1056cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, two cylinder

CHASSIS: Twin Spar

FRONT SUSPENSION: AWS VII, Fox IFP shocks, 9.5 inches of travel

REAR SUSPENSION: Extended Slide Action, hydraulic twin tube shocks, 13.3 inches of travel

TRACK: 15x144x1-inch, HackSaw

UNIQUE FEATURE: Fuel gauge software was revised for 2014 for more accurate fuel-level readings at low levels.