Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 12:58:44 PM
Hopefully this thread can be like the wall tent tips thread.
Looking to get a pull behind sled for it. Anyone have experiences with them , and hitches?
Post by: jrebel on November 28, 2021, 01:02:11 PM
Was looking at Costco and they had a pelican pull behind sled with hardware for the hitch part for 170 dollars. Was gonna research it a bit as I thought it was a good deal.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 01:08:51 PM
Tagging.
Was looking at Costco and they had a pelican pull behind sled with hardware for the hitch part for 170 dollars. Was gonna research it a bit as I thought it was a good deal.
Post it up when you figure it out, I saw it before I got my machine and forgot the price.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 01:14:59 PM
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/otter-outdoors-otter-pro-medium-sled-combo?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CAllProducts%7CHigh%7CSSCCatchAll&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7oyNBhDiARIsADtGRZYFkqEYzDFDe4JMMjpRRdplqT3PKuEgqISjcPoJt6CjzjPP3xWODFAaAm-cEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11218131519620878412?q=snowmobile+sleds&start=20&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&biw=390&bih=648&tbs=vw:l,ss:44&prmd=sivxn&sxsrf=AOaemvItFyRv8AIt1f1QwT1cdGf2EOBCJQ:1638133848731&prds=num:1,of:1,eto:2936281077465417678_0,prmr:1,cs:1
Post by: Caseyd on November 28, 2021, 01:17:19 PM
2. Non ethanol fuel only
3. Always have spare part plug and belt and tools
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 01:21:14 PM
1. Never ride alone
2. Non ethanol fuel only
3. Always have spare part plug and belt and tools
Thanks👍
Post by: horsehunter509 on November 28, 2021, 01:26:44 PM
Post by: Buckmark on November 28, 2021, 01:39:54 PM
Bbq chicken with tortillas, burritos, fajitas with tortillas, steak (precooked), list goes on and on :tup:
Post by: KFhunter on November 28, 2021, 01:41:33 PM
Hot dog cooker (exhaust oven) can’t begin to list all the stuff i heated up back when i rode. Wrap it up in foil and viola hot lunch.
Bbq chicken with tortillas, burritos, fajitas with tortillas, steak (precooked), list goes on and on :tup:
Reminded me of this classic
Post by: Ridgeratt on November 28, 2021, 02:07:38 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on November 28, 2021, 02:09:13 PM
Post by: jrebel on November 28, 2021, 02:44:42 PM
Tagging.
Was looking at Costco and they had a pelican pull behind sled with hardware for the hitch part for 170 dollars. Was gonna research it a bit as I thought it was a good deal.
Post it up when you figure it out, I saw it before I got my machine and forgot the price.
It is the pelican sport 68 that comes with runners, hitch and cover for 179.99.
Post by: KFhunter on November 28, 2021, 02:52:16 PM
Post by: CP on November 28, 2021, 03:34:46 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 05:12:41 PM
I don't have a hitch on my sled, so I wrap a piece of baler belt around the grab bar with holes punched in it for a bolt and tow my otter sled with it
That’s pretty slick.👍
I don’t have a bailer belt, but I’ve got one of the mud flaps off the logging truck that crashed on HWY 20 this spring.🤣
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 05:13:45 PM
Hot dog cooker (exhaust oven) can’t begin to list all the stuff i heated up back when i rode. Wrap it up in foil and viola hot lunch.
Bbq chicken with tortillas, burritos, fajitas with tortillas, steak (precooked), list goes on and on :tup:
Reminded me of this classic
That’s hilarious, and he can ride.👍
Post by: KFhunter on November 28, 2021, 05:36:23 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 28, 2021, 07:13:51 PM
You get the baler belt at north 40 or tractor supply, sell it by the foot.
Learn something new every day.👍
Post by: huntandjeep on December 03, 2021, 05:18:31 PM
1. Never ride alone@Caseyd
2. Non ethanol fuel only
3. Always have spare part plug and belt and tools
I keep hearing the " Non Ethanol fuel only "
Why is that ? We recently got into Snowmobileing 2 years ago and fill up at the same station 5000 other guys do every weekend . I know that station doesn't sell " Non Ethanol " . Only place in town that sells Ethanol free is all the way downtown , and a hassle to drag a 27' Enclosed trailer down there every weekend.
Enlighten me please .
Post by: bearpaw on December 03, 2021, 05:34:45 PM
Recently purchased my first one.
Hopefully this thread can be like the wall tent tips thread.
Looking to get a pull behind sled for it. Anyone have experiences with them , and hitches?
Be careful pulling sleds unless you have a fan cooled engine. Generally when pulling sleds you don't run as fast and you don't get the snow thrown up onto the cooling panel like you would at faster speeds and therefore it's easy to overheat when towing.
I don't know what make/model you have but there are aftermarket fans for certain machines if you need/want a fan.
Post by: bearpaw on December 03, 2021, 05:40:20 PM
1. Never ride alone@Caseyd
2. Non ethanol fuel only
3. Always have spare part plug and belt and tools
I keep hearing the " Non Ethanol fuel only "
Why is that ? We recently got into Snowmobileing 2 years ago and fill up at the same station 5000 other guys do every weekend . I know that station doesn't sell " Non Ethanol " . Only place in town that sells Ethanol free is all the way downtown , and a hassle to drag a 27' Enclosed trailer down there every weekend.
Enlighten me please .
We have about a dozen sleds and when I quit filling them with fuel that had ethanol, I quit having problems. Several mechanics have told me that ethanol causes excessive deterioration of gaskets and such. Even though many of the newer sleds say regular fuel with ethanol is OK I don't use it.
We use ethanol free fuel in all our small engines, weed eaters, mowers, etc.
Post by: KFhunter on December 03, 2021, 05:41:27 PM
Lot of sleds can differentiate between the two fuels with detonation sensors and adjust the timing a bit to squeeze out a tad more hp at altitude, some sleds even have a switch
Some higher hp sleds HO engines ask for higher octane in their manuals, so why not ethanol free
If you pipe a sled or do any mods, run higher octane fuel, again ethanol free is no brainer
Of course the storage issues...
Most stock sleds are fine w ethanol though, refer to owner manual for octane requirements
If you have 89 ethanol gas tbe octane drops rapidly during storage, you sled could be bouncing off the detonation sensors and reduce horsepower to keep the engine safe
Post by: bearpaw on December 03, 2021, 05:45:31 PM
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=snowmobile+trailer+hitch&crid=1DM0J36EGH7O1&sprefix=snowmobile+trailer+hitch%2Caps%2C317&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_24
Post by: bear on December 03, 2021, 05:59:44 PM
1. Never ride alone@Caseyd
2. Non ethanol fuel only
3. Always have spare part plug and belt and tools
I keep hearing the " Non Ethanol fuel only "
Why is that ? We recently got into Snowmobileing 2 years ago and fill up at the same station 5000 other guys do every weekend . I know that station doesn't sell " Non Ethanol " . Only place in town that sells Ethanol free is all the way downtown , and a hassle to drag a 27' Enclosed trailer down there every weekend.
Enlighten me please .
We have about a dozen sleds and when I quit filling them with fuel that had ethanol, I quit having problems. Several mechanics have told me that ethanol causes excessive deterioration of gaskets and such. Even though many of the newer sleds say regular fuel with ethanol is OK I don't use it.
We use ethanol free fuel in all our small engines, weed eaters, mowers, etc.
Me too. Eliminated problems. Sucks to pay over $5 a gallon though
Post by: Stein on December 03, 2021, 06:04:44 PM
Post by: CastleRocker on December 03, 2021, 06:59:33 PM
In addition to a spare belt, (that has been properly broke in), plugs and tools, bring a Leatherman, at least a dozen or so zip ties, some paracord or mule tape, a shovel that has a saw, a ratchet tie-down, (will work as a come-a-long with the paracord/mule tape when your sled is 12' straight down a tree well), bring three completely unrelated means to build a fire, and use them every once in awhile when stopping for a break.
The three most important rules...
1) Don't go by yourself.
2) Don't EVER go by yourself.
3) Don't EVER, EVER go by yourself!
20 minutes wide open in a 3+ feet of powder will take you further than anyone can walk in that much powder in an entire day.
Post by: bear on December 03, 2021, 07:08:34 PM
Shouldn't be that expensive, around here it's .35 - .50 a gallon more tops. At or just under $4 is what we're paying.$5.10 a gallon last time I filled my cans in Whatcom county
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 03, 2021, 07:23:21 PM
Recently purchased my first one.
Hopefully this thread can be like the wall tent tips thread.
Looking to get a pull behind sled for it. Anyone have experiences with them , and hitches?
Be careful pulling sleds unless you have a fan cooled engine. Generally when pulling sleds you don't run as fast and you don't get the snow thrown up onto the cooling panel like you would at faster speeds and therefore it's easy to overheat when towing.
I don't know what make/model you have but there are aftermarket fans for certain machines if you need/want a fan.
SKI Doo 1998 MXZ 670 RAVE, no fan, trail sled two stroke.
Great tips everyone, thanks.
92 non-ethanol is all I use in my equipment.😉
Post by: KFhunter on December 03, 2021, 07:26:45 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 03, 2021, 07:27:50 PM
Just run scratchers if its icy
Scratchers?🤔
Post by: KFhunter on December 03, 2021, 07:29:51 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 23, 2021, 10:04:30 AM
Hot dog cooker (exhaust oven) can’t begin to list all the stuff i heated up back when i rode. Wrap it up in foil and viola hot lunch.
Bbq chicken with tortillas, burritos, fajitas with tortillas, steak (precooked), list goes on and on :tup:
Mine came with one.👍
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 23, 2021, 11:03:32 AM
KF is that a kick stand for your sled? Or curb feelers?
Post by: KFhunter on December 23, 2021, 11:59:43 AM
It sprays ice on the heat exchangers and lubes the hyfax.
(Plastic slides the tracks ride on)
On hard ice, the hyfaxes can melt down and engine overheat.
Post by: bhawley76 on December 23, 2021, 12:06:53 PM
Post by: luvmystang67 on December 23, 2021, 12:12:58 PM
1) Maintenance: learn about how these things are put together. I had my jackshaft bearing on the chaincase side go, I was able to save it from total destruction by disassembling my chain case before towing it 25 miles back to town with my second sled. Had a left it all attached it would've completely destroyed my chaincase.
2) Digging Out: Each sled needs a shovel, you need lots of rope, and a come-along. My wife accidentally rode hers off of a logging road, steep and icy with no way out due to trees. We spent 2+ hours using the come along and rope to get it out of a hole. There was nobody to rescue us, nobody else around and no other way out. Wouldn't leave home without any of these things.
3) First trip out I rode alone, as mentioned here, I'd NEVER do that again. I rode 1 hour out, nobody could've gotten to me that day, even though I had an InReach. Stupid. Never ride alone.
4) Leatherman, zip ties, bunjee cords... My recoil start broke in the middle of a 4 day trip. Sure there's an emergency rope for pull starting, but that was going to get old FAST. I was able to use some fire and two leathermans to rebend the catch on my recoil start and had it back up and running in 2 hours.
5) Headlamp. If your lights go out and it gets dark on you, you're hosed. Bring a really good headlamp as backup just in case.
6) Non-ethanol gas and never had an issue. The only thing some say is maybe a cup of oil IN the fuel with every tank to ensure you're getting great lubrication. I know some say that the modern fuel injected machines will adjust for this and lean out your auto-inject oil. I never had a problem with this, and see merit in doing it.
7) I had a lot of overheating issues without ice-scratchers on the older carb sleds. I also broke an ice scratcher once, and things got hot. Try not to ride on ice without functional ice scratchers, or you will overheat.
8) Muff Pots are a lot of fun, get one. Wrap burritos in parchment and then tin foil. Ride, then eat warm burritos!
9) Prepare and ride like they could quit at any second, because they can, do and will.
10) I bought a katana-boy saw for clearing trails. It was awesome and packable, necessary in Idaho.
Have fun and stay safe out there.
Post by: KFhunter on December 23, 2021, 12:34:24 PM
Carry spare belt and sparkplugs
Post by: KFhunter on December 23, 2021, 12:36:15 PM
2) Digging Out: Each sled needs a shovel, you need lots of rope, and a come-along. My wife accidentally rode hers off of a logging road, steep and icy with no way out due to trees. We spent 2+ hours using the come along and rope to get it out of a hole. There was nobody to rescue us, nobody else around and no other way out. Wouldn't leave home without any of these things.
Snobunge
Those things work good, I seen some pretty violent yanks with those things and the stuck sled jumps out of the hole
If solo, attach rope winch to it, tension tbe bunge and it'll apply pull for a good ways, enough to get you on top again
Post by: KFhunter on December 23, 2021, 12:49:35 PM
6.75lb for the 1/4 ton or 1/2 ton
https://lug-all.com/collections/new-lug-alls-light-line/products/1-4-ton-web-strap-hoist
Post by: Skywagon_185 on December 23, 2021, 07:03:03 PM
Post by: huntandjeep on December 23, 2021, 07:08:26 PM
This was one of my first purchases
2) Digging Out: Each sled needs a shovel, you need lots of rope, and a come-along. My wife accidentally rode hers off of a logging road, steep and icy with no way out due to trees. We spent 2+ hours using the come along and rope to get it out of a hole. There was nobody to rescue us, nobody else around and no other way out. Wouldn't leave home without any of these things.
Snobunge
Those things work good, I seen some pretty violent yanks with those things and the stuck sled jumps out of the hole
If solo, attach rope winch to it, tension tbe bunge and it'll apply pull for a good ways, enough to get you on top again
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 26, 2021, 07:16:41 AM
Let’s talk more about these. Advice needed please.
Looked at some at two different dealerships, wide range of prices $50’s-$100+.
The cable ones look cheesy to me, and the spring loaded ones look heavy duty, some seem to have better scratch attachments on the ends.
Heck if I had some swather, or combine reel tines laying around I’d fab up some scratchers.🤣
Post by: KFhunter on December 26, 2021, 09:34:21 AM
The ones that bolt to the rail work good, in stowed position they hook over the rail
Back up with them down messes them up good
Don't go up a ramp with them down, that makes things interesting
Post by: KFhunter on December 26, 2021, 09:35:51 AM
Post by: MIKEXRAY on December 26, 2021, 09:56:49 AM
I've snowmobiled 28 years and never ever bought scratchers. On a couple of extremely icy frozen days all those years I did stop half way up the mountain to let the engine cool / throw some snow on the track. Usually enough snow on road or somewhere on way up no worries.
I've never used anything but Super Unleaded and have never had a single problem with any engine ever. Two sleds, two outboards on boat, generator always fire right up. I'm always perplexed at all of the Non Ethanol posts on here.
Good luck and have fun.
Post by: KFhunter on December 26, 2021, 10:05:21 AM
Post by: jackelope on December 26, 2021, 10:24:53 AM
more for stuff that doesn’t go through fuel in a hurry. Ends up causing fuel tank to delaminate and the crud from that ends up in carburetors.
Post by: KFhunter on December 26, 2021, 11:19:43 AM
I run non-ethanol on engines not frequently used, like gennerators and water pumps and I make for sure my last tank of the season is non-ethanol in things like lawnmowers
Just easier to do it all in non-ethanol
Post by: jackelope on December 26, 2021, 01:07:06 PM
If you're burning tbe gas through it's fine on anything not 50 years old
I run non-ethanol on engines not frequently used, like gennerators and water pumps and I make for sure my last tank of the season is non-ethanol in things like lawnmowers
Just easier to do it all in non-ethanol
That’s what I meant.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 26, 2021, 02:32:23 PM
Cable ones don't work well, but you can back up
The ones that bolt to the rail work good, in stowed position they hook over the rail
Back up with them down messes them up good
Don't go up a ramp with them down, that makes things interesting
Thanks KF, I don’t have reverse so no worries there.🤣
I just run non-ethanol in everything I fuel with gas cans so it’s easier, cars/trucks the fuel gets used quickly.
Post by: huntandjeep on December 26, 2021, 04:44:06 PM
Cable ones don't work well, but you can back upI've got a set of Cable on one machine and rail mounted on my SkiDoo . The cable are alright , the spring loaded rail mounted work way better . . And If you go with SkiDoo brand scratches you CAN back up with them .
The ones that bolt to the rail work good, in stowed position they hook over the rail
Back up with them down messes them up good
Don't go up a ramp with them down, that makes things interesting
Post by: Caseyd on December 26, 2021, 06:40:39 PM
Ethanol fuel has less power. On my sled I have to set the computer to non ethanol or ethanol fuel. Ethanol burns hotter so when running in ethanol mode it runs it richer.
Little engine putting out lots of power (165 hp)
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 26, 2021, 07:46:28 PM
Buy once cry once scratchers https://ibexx.com/product-category/snowmobile/ice-scratchers/
Ethanol fuel has less power. On my sled I have to set the computer to non ethanol or ethanol fuel. Ethanol burns hotter so when running in ethanol mode it runs it richer.
Little engine putting out lots of power (165 hp)
What sled you running?
Thanks for the link.👍
Post by: Caseyd on December 26, 2021, 08:33:57 PM
Buy once cry once scratchers https://ibexx.com/product-category/snowmobile/ice-scratchers/
Ethanol fuel has less power. On my sled I have to set the computer to non ethanol or ethanol fuel. Ethanol burns hotter so when running in ethanol mode it runs it richer.
Little engine putting out lots of power (165 hp)
What sled you running?
Thanks for the link.👍
Polaris Axys
Rode the new Polaris Matryx chassis last weekend and really enjoyed it. “Boss” won’t allow the upgrade yet :chuckle:
Post by: Caseknife on December 27, 2021, 08:05:49 AM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on December 27, 2021, 08:13:09 AM
Post by: Machias on December 28, 2021, 10:12:05 AM
Post by: bearpaw on December 29, 2021, 06:38:23 AM
This is a good example of why fan cooled engines are best for utility type snowmobile use! We were also running some fan cooled engines that same day and they did not overheat like the etec engine did.