c/atv-snowmobile-chat

Tried swapping my snowmobile track for a wider one and it totally changed how it handles in deep powder

I threw on a 1.75 inch paddle track on my '06 Ski-Doo last weekend and now it floats way better in the soft stuff around here in Northern Michigan. Did anyone else see a big difference when they went with a wider track or was it just me?

Finally picked a Polaris 850 over a Ski-Doo 900 Ace for this season

I spent like two months going back and forth between the Polaris 850 and the Ski-Doo 900 Ace for my new sled. Ended up going with the Polaris because I do a lot of boondocking up in the UP near Houghton and needed something that could handle deep powder without bogging down. The 850 just felt snappier on the test ride and the suspension soaked up the whoops way better than the Ski-Doo did. First real trip out last weekend after 8 inches of fresh snow and I gotta say it ripped through untouched fields like a champ. Only thing I miss so far is the Ski-Doo's fuel economy since the Polaris guzzles gas like crazy. Anyone else make the switch between these two and regret it or am I good?

That time my snowmobile clutch exploded on the trail last month

I was riding out near the Black Hills last month, just cruising along at like 30 mph, and my clutch just grenaded. A piece flew off and hit my leg, left a bruise the size of a baseball. Three years ago I had a buddy tell me to check the clutch bolts every season, but I kept putting it off. Has anyone else had a clutch come apart like that or was I just asking for trouble with old hardware?

Am I the only one who thinks studded tires are overrated for trail riding?

I rode 3 winters without studs up in the U.P. near Munising and never crashed once. Everyone told me I was crazy but I figured studs were just for ice racers. Then last February I hit a patch of glare ice on a downhill turn and ate it hard... bent my handlebars and bruised my ribs for 2 weeks. That's when I realized I'd been relying too much on momentum and not enough on actual grip. Has anyone else learned a lesson about traction the hard way?

Figured out a trick to keep my carburetor from icing up on cold morning rides

Been dealing with throttle sticking every time I hit the trail below 20 degrees, so I tried routing a hose from the engine heat to the intake shield. Has anyone else rigged up a simple heat wrap or deflector to solve this?

Talked to a old timer at the gas station who changed my mind on studded tracks

I've always been a no-stud guy, thought they wreck trails too fast. But this dude named Dave up near Brainerd, MN pulled up on a beat up '98 Polaris and told me he's run studs for 20 winters without a single trail closure complaint. He showed me his track wear pattern and it was way lighter than I expected. Made me wonder if I've been overthinking this whole time. Anyone else had a similar conversation that flipped your opinion?

Took my sled up to the Tug Hill plateau last weekend, what a mess

I rode up to Tug Hill near Lowville, New York last Saturday. The trails were beat to crap by noon, all chewed up from the weekend crowd. I get that it's a popular spot, but does nobody groom anymore up there? I hit 3 stumps hidden under powder and almost bent a ski. Anyone else have better luck on the southern trails lately?

Changed my mind about studding my track after that ice storm

Was up at my buddy's cabin near Eagle River last weekend and hit a patch of black ice on the trail. Laid my sled over hard and bent my ski loop. Always thought studs were just for drag racers but after watching a guy with 144 studs glide right past me on the same ice I was spinning on, I ordered a set of Woody's 1.325" studs that night. Anyone else run studs on a trail sled or is it overkill for most riding?

The day I realized chainsaws are just angry snowmobiles with teeth

I was reading the owner's manual for my old 1998 Polaris 500 while waiting for a buddy to show up for a ride, and it hit me that the whole two-stroke engine design is basically identical to the one in my Stihl chainsaw, which I never put together before - has anyone else noticed how much crossover there is between snowmobile parts and small engine equipment?

Old timer at the gas station told me I was running my sled wrong for 15 years

He said I was idling way too long before riding, and that modern engines just need 30 seconds then go easy. Has anyone else had their mind changed by a random stranger like that?

Swapped my chainsaw chain mid-trail after a stump ruined my day

I was out on my sled last weekend cutting through some blowdowns on a back trail near Eagle River and hit a buried stump face first. The chain went dull in seconds and I was stuck with no spare. I used to think carrying a spare chain was just extra weight, but after that 2 hour walk back to the truck I caved and bought a $30 pack of two chains. Now I keep one in my pack with a mini file and it saved my buddy's ride just yesterday when he snagged a rock. Has anyone else had a trailside chain swap save them from a long hike?

Swapped my snowmobile track for a camso kit and wow what a difference

I spent three seasons fighting with a worn out stock track on my 2016 Ski-Doo. Last month I finally swapped it for a Camso ice ripper kit and I can't believe I waited that long. The old track would slip on hardpack and I constantly had to feather the throttle to keep from spinning out. With the new setup I can actually punch it from a stop without digging a hole. Climbing hills feels way more stable too since the studs bite in instead of just spinning. It cost me about $650 for the whole kit but it saved my back from wrenching on the trail every weekend. Has anyone else made the switch from a stock track to a studded or ice ripper setup? Trying to decide if I should do the same on my buddy's Polaris.

Switched from trail riding to bog riding after my Polaris overheated 3 times last summer

Watched a guy try to start a snowmobile with the kill switch on for 10 minutes straight

Was up at the Eagle River trails last Saturday and this dude kept yanking the cord on his Ski-Doo, cussing up a storm about bad gas. I walked over, flicked the tether kill switch back on, and it fired first pull. He didn't even say thanks. Anyone else see people miss the simplest stuff on the trails?

That $400 heated helmet liner was a total waste of cash

Bought one of those fancy Snowtek heated liners for my sled rides up in Houghton last winter. Thing broke after 3 uses, the heating pad on the left side just stopped working. I could've just layered up with a good balaclava for $30 and been way warmer than that junk.

People keep putting studs way too close to the center of their ATV tires

I was at a ride last weekend up near Houghton and this guy had brand new tires with studs all bunched up in the middle. He kept spinning out on the icy corners. I mean, you need them spread out toward the edges for actual grip. It's basic physics, right? Has anyone else noticed this at the trails or am I just nitpicking?

That old timer at the dealership put me straight about belt break-in

Took my sled through a beaver pond last Tuesday and it did not end well

I was riding through some trails near Hayward, Wisconsin when I saw what looked like a solid puddle. Well, it was actually a beaver pond that was deeper than I thought. The machine sank right up to the handlebars in about 4 feet of water. Took me and my buddy 2 hours with a come-along to pull it out. Water got into the CVT and I had to drain it on the trail. Anyone else ever misjudge water depth and pay the price?

Chat with a guy in the UP changed how I set up my snowmobile trail riding

I was up in the Upper Peninsula last winter and got to talking with an older fella at a gas station near Ironwood. He mentioned he always carries a spare belt AND a pull rope because he's seen belts shred at 20 below with no cell service. That hit me because I usually just toss one spare in the back and hope for the best. He also said he sets his sled suspension a click softer for packed trails to save his back on long days. I tried it last weekend on a 60 mile run and it really made a difference in how I felt at the end. Has anyone else changed their setup based on advice from a random local?

Rant: My sled threw a track at 60 mph last Saturday

I was cruising on a fire road up near Iron Mountain around 3 PM when I heard this nasty pop. Looked down and saw the track flopping off the drive sprockets like a dead snake. Had to coast to a stop and spend 2 hours in 15 degree weather cutting the old belt off and rigging the new one with ratchet straps to get it tensioned. Anyone else ever have a track come off mid ride and find a better way to fix it on the trail?

Warning: Don't let your sled sit on cheap pads for a season

I left my 2018 Ski-Doo on those basic rubber pads all winter in my garage in Duluth and the rubber actually stained my track. Took me an hour with a pressure washer and degreaser to get it off. Anyone else have this happen or am I just unlucky?

Am I the only one who spent 4 hours changing a spark plug?

Went to swap out the plug on my Polaris 500, figured it'd be a 20 minute job. First I couldn't find my socket wrench, then the boot was stuck on there like it was glued. After wrestling with it for an hour, I realized I was turning it the wrong direction. By the time I finally got the new one in, I'd killed a whole afternoon and my hands were covered in grease. Has anyone else had a simple maintenance job turn into a multi-hour nightmare?

I was dead wrong about studded tires on ice

Always thought studded tires were just a gimmick for people who couldn't drive on snow. Took my Polaris Sportsman 850 out on Lake Geneva last winter and ate shit twice before a buddy loaned me his set. After one ride across that frozen lake with ice chunks everywhere, I never went back. Anyone else here change their mind about something after actually trying it?

Three years ago I blew $800 on a CVT rebuild that lasted two months in my Polaris

Back in 2021 I took my 2010 Sportsman to a shop in Billings for a new clutch setup. They charged me $800 for a full rebuild and new belt. Two months later I was stuck on a trail near Red Lodge with smoke pouring out. Took it back and they blamed me for riding too hard. Has anyone else had a shop just shrug off their own bad work like that?

Heated grips vs. heated gloves, which is actually worth it?

I tried those $60 heated grips on my snowmobile last week and they barely kept my fingers warm after 20 minutes in 10 degree weather near Lake Placid. Meanwhile my buddy swears by his $200 battery heated gloves but they died on him halfway through a long ride. Anyone else find one setup clearly better than the other for real cold riding?