What snowmobile to look for?

[Machias]

Sounds like the 600 ace is exactly what I want/need!  Thanks guys!!

[idaho guy]

Sounds like the 600 ace is exactly what I want/need!  Thanks guys!!

900 razr with tracks is what you need  I am over the snowmobile with a sled for hounds and trapping unless I want to check something really fast then I borrow my buddies sled!

[Tracker0721]

My dad just got a new RZR and has his older one sitting under blankets... maybe I should cut him a deal then haha. Except I’ve seen the tracks on those things. Sounds like it’s revving out and gonna blow just to get to 10-15mph. I’m waiting to hear back on the skandic but that tundra sure looks good too, price is a wee bit high. Still haven’t proven my need of a sled yet haha

[KFhunter]

I wouldn't put a Polaris anything on tracks honestly, if its going to be a tracked vehicle its going to be a Yamaha.

[idaho guy]

I wouldn't put a Polaris anything on tracks honestly, if its going to be a tracked vehicle its going to be a Yamaha.

I used to think the same but a little fyi just from my recent experience only- 
I had a Yamaha side by side with tracks and drug it out of the woods 3 or 4 times one winter.I started with the yamaha because I felt like you about it anyways bought the razr 3-4 years ago and haven't had to yet! Just replaced belt last year for first time found out I was pushing that when I got a look at it  I probably average 2-3 full days per week on the machine with tracks from late November till end of march or when the snow runs out.   

[idaho guy]

My dad just got a new RZR and has his older one sitting under blankets... maybe I should cut him a deal then haha. Except I’ve seen the tracks on those things. Sounds like it’s revving out and gonna blow just to get to 10-15mph. I’m waiting to hear back on the skandic but that tundra sure looks good too, price is a wee bit high. Still haven’t proven my need of a sled yet haha

   

I can go faster than that but you do need a buddie with a snowmobile to borrow if you want to do a really fast check 

[Machias]

For a very long time I was going to get tracks for my Kodiak.  Then more and more hound guys and trappers on several FaceBook pages were selling their tracks and going back to snowmobiles.  Lots of them said after using both for a while they were going back, go further quicker and a lot less gas. So I started to reconsider.  I think I'd like to try a sled designed for what I want to do instead of using a sled that is not designed to trap or haul dogs.

[KFhunter]

For a very long time I was going to get tracks for my Kodiak.  Then more and more hound guys and trappers on several FaceBook pages were selling their tracks and going back to snowmobiles.  Lots of them said after using both for a while they were going back, go further quicker and a lot less gas. So I started to reconsider.  I think I'd like to try a sled designed for what I want to do instead of using a sled that is not designed to trap or haul dogs.

Absolutely.  I too thought about tracks for my grizz but I'd only use them for a short time during early spring break up where you're running from mud to grass to snow back to grass back to mud back to snow again.

early winter I can get a lot done on my ATV w/o tracks or I switch to a snowmobile.   Fan cooled sleds can stretch the snowmobile time longer due to engine cooling, lots of idler wheels on the rails help extend hifax life too. 

[idaho guy]

For a very long time I was going to get tracks for my Kodiak.  Then more and more hound guys and trappers on several FaceBook pages were selling their tracks and going back to snowmobiles.  Lots of them said after using both for a while they were going back, go further quicker and a lot less gas. So I started to reconsider.  I think I'd like to try a sled designed for what I want to do instead of using a sled that is not designed to trap or haul dogs.

     

Speed is the only thing I miss about the sled when you really need to cover some ground. Gas hasn't been that bad for me but a lot of guys howl about the gas guzzling on the tracked 4-wheelers. I still kept 1 sled but still like to use my buddies its a lot nicer.  I get way off the road on some bootleg trails and if I tipped the dog sled over one more time I would have either shot myself or the dogs  I also don't miss unhooking and pulling the dog sled around every time I wanted to turn around on a narrow trail. Bringing someone a long on cat hunts has been a lot nicer with the side by side too.  If I was only trapping I would probably consider going back to the sled. Hauling dogs I will NEVER go back!! getting lazy I guess. But I have also never owned a nice sled designed for hound dogging or trapping either 

[KFhunter]

I wonder if a guy had double ended skis on a hound trailer (or any trailer for snowmobiles) and a tongue that flipped over, so you could tow from either end.   

Stop, unhook trailer, toss tongue to the other side, go turn around your sled, drive past your trailer, pull trailer to your sled hitch or back sled up, take off back the way you came. 


I know wet or crunchy snow its hard to turn them skis if you had to drag the trailer around to aim it back the way you just came. 


I use a toboggan, but I don't have any need to have a trailer on suspension for dogs.  The toboggan is easy to spin around.

[Tracker0721]

Well. I think I’ve made my mind up. See if I’m making a 4 hour journey to get a sled this weekend!

[idaho guy]

I wonder if a guy had double ended skis on a hound trailer (or any trailer for snowmobiles) and a tongue that flipped over, so you could tow from either end.   

Stop, unhook trailer, toss tongue to the other side, go turn around your sled, drive past your trailer, pull trailer to your sled hitch or back sled up, take off back the way you came. 


I know wet or crunchy snow its hard to turn them skis if you had to drag the trailer around to aim it back the way you just came. 


I use a toboggan, but I don't have any need to have a trailer on suspension for dogs.  The toboggan is easy to spin around.

   

Probably a good idea I have seen everything and tried a lot but not that. I like just putting my razr in reverse with the dogs in the box and unhooking and re hooking nothing! I turn around without leaving my seat or putting down my coffee lol

[idaho guy]

Maybe I will get really soft and put in a heater this year maybe even a radio!

[KFhunter]

Well. I think I’ve made my mind up. See if I’m making a 4 hour journey to get a sled this weekend!

heck ya

let's pop the hood!
key off, turn primary clutch by hand, do you feel good compression on each piston compression stroke? does it turn too easy? you should feel good compression pops as you turn it
wobble the primary clutch feel for crank bearings? is it solid? is it wobbling?
wobble secondary clutch by hand, feel for bearing wiggle, hows those jackshaft bearings?
pull sparkplugs, are they white? black? brown? set them aside for now
look down plug holes with a light, pistons got dents on top, divets or look scored? missing pieces around the rings?
rotate primary clutch while looking down sparkplug holes, cylinder walls good?  deep scores? look at exhaust ports, wear will be worst there
screw in sparkplugs and torque them to spec..change them before this next winter if you buy it (don't just put the same type plugs in the previous owner had, they might not be the right plugs for that engine)
chain case look good?  chain scars showing through? any jb weld?


prop the back of the sled up on a post or highlift jack, a fence post top and tie down strap, or tailgate works
track whole? spin it by hand if you can, might be a bad spot, are the track clips good?  or worn through? is the brake hanging up in one spot? track spin evenly? track drive shaft missing cogs? cogs worn out?
tunnel bent? bumper solid?
rails bent?
is the hifax chewed through and into the rails? anti stabs?
roll the bogie wheels, bearings shot? missing wheels? 

[KFhunter]

Maybe I will get really soft and put in a heater this year maybe even a radio!

there's a guy up here running around with a tracked rzr, 
I was sure glad when he couldn't go no further, the snow was a lot nicer to ride on without those huge trenches those tracks make 

snowmobiling in tire or track ruts sucks just a bit