c/atv-snowmobile-chat

24

black.margaret•20h ago

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?

15

theawest•22h ago

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?

10

sagey69•1d ago

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?

21

webb.val•3d ago

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?

17

mason361•4d ago

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?

6

palmer.henry•5d ago

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?

15

the_rowan•5d ago

I'm the only one who still tunes carbs by ear

Went to a group ride last Saturday and saw 4 guys all hooking up laptops to their sleds to adjust fuel mix. I pulled out a screwdriver and listened to the engine pitch like I've done for 15 years. Am I missing something huge or is this just fancy overkill?

25

ryan_carr59•7d ago

Warning: that cheap carb rebuild kit on Amazon cost me a whole weekend of tuning

Buddy at the shop in Billings told me to spend the extra $15 on genuine Mikuni parts after I fought my '02 Polaris 600 for two days straight and it still ran like garbage, has anyone else had a comparable headache with aftermarket jets?

13

ray_webb6•10d ago

Cold morning ride taught me a lesson about grip heaters

Went out last Saturday at 6am here in northern Wisconsin, temp was 12F. Fired up my 2018 Polaris Sportsman and headed down the trail. After about 20 minutes my right hand went numb, thought my grip heaters were on max but they were actually on low. Learned the hard way to always double-check the display before taking off, not when your fingers are already frozen. Anyone else have a dumb mistake like this with their atv gear?

26

the_henry•13d ago

Unpopular opinion: Bumpy trails are better than groomed ones for learning control

I used to only ride packed snow until a mechanic in the UP told me I was just going for comfort not skill. He said 'you can't steer worth a damn on flat ground.' So I spent two weekends on moguls near Munising and finally learned to shift my weight right. Has anyone else had a fellow rider call them out and actually improve from it?

19

amygonzalez•14d ago

Got stuck in a blizzard on the trail last winter and now I pack way differently

I was out on the trails near Houghton Lake last January and a storm rolled in way faster than the forecast said. Ended up stranded for about 4 hours with just a basic tool kit and a half tank of gas. Now I always carry a thermal blanket, a hand warmer pack, and an extra gallon of fuel strapped to my sled. Anyone else have a close call that made them change their whole setup?

24

taylor.jessica•14d ago

Spent $150 on a heated visor insert that fogged up worse than my old one

Bought that Universal Heat-Tek visor off Amazon thinking it'd solve my fogging issues on cold morning rides. First trip out near Silver Lake it fogged so bad I had to ride with it cracked open. Anyone else had better luck with a different brand or should I just go back to the old anti-fog wipe trick?

27

the_luna•15d ago

Helped a neighbor pull his sled out of a frozen creek last week, and he barely said thanks

I was out on the trails near Lake George last weekend and found a guy whose Ski-Doo went through the ice on a sharp turn. I spent about 45 minutes winching him out with my ATV while he just stood there on the bank smoking a cigarette. He muttered something about it being my fault for riding too close, then took off without offering gas money or even a nod. Has anyone else dealt with people who act like you owe them a rescue?

16

noahchen•15d ago

Rant: People keep greasing sled skis wrong on the Polaris AXYS chassis

I see guys at the trailhead slapping grease on ski rubbers every weekend. But they put it between the ski and the spindle. That does nothing. The wear is on the saddle inside the rubber where it contacts the ski, down by the wear bar holes. Grease that spot once a season and your steering effort drops way off. Has anyone else noticed this or am I the only one paying attention to where the actual friction is?

21

angela_coleman•16d ago

I was dead wrong about electric ATVs until I rode one last month

For years I thought electric ATVs were just toys for kids or rich people showing off. Then my buddy bought a used 2022 model from a guy in Traverse City and let me take it through some muddy trails by the river. That thing had instant torque that surprised me, it pulled me up a steep hill I usually struggle with on my gas bike. The quiet was weird at first, but I could actually hear the trail and talk to my friends without yelling. It ran for about 3 hours on a charge which covered more than enough for our afternoon rides. The only downside was recharging took 4 hours with a regular outlet, so you can't just gas up and go. Has anyone else here made the switch from gas to electric, or am I still in the minority?

12

cameron_chen63•16d ago

Has anyone used Canada Powersports Financing before?

Hey guys, I'm looking to pick up a new side-by-side before the summer really kicks off. I don't want to drain my savings all at once, so I'm looking into powersports financing Canada options. Has anyone here dealt with Canada Powersports Financing? Are their rates decent for someone with average credit?