c/atv-snowmobile-chat

That carb ice warning finally hit me in March

Rode my sled near Sault Ste. Marie and the engine started sputtering at 5 degrees. Took 2 hours of checking fuel lines and spark plugs before I remembered the temperature and humidity combo, then 20 minutes with the carb heater fixed it. Anyone else chase a bogging engine before thinking about carb ice?

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theabarnes•1d ago

A trail regular in Duluth convinced me to ditch my studded tires

Ngl, I rode studded tires on my sled for years because I thought they were the only safe option on icy lakes around Duluth. This older guy at the gas station watched me air down and said I was just asking for carbides to grab and throw me sideways on the hard pack. He told me to run a softer lug pattern and trust my skis more, so I tried it last weekend on the Mesabi trails. Honestly, the cornering felt way more predictable and I didnt chew up the trail like before. Anyone else swap off studs after a specific comment like that?

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finleyl55•9d ago

My snowmobile threw a track 40 miles from the truck, on a -10 degree night

Last month outside of Bemidji, the track snapped clean off at 2am while I was out alone. Had to walk back using the headlight from my helmet and a plastic tow strap, took 6 hours to reach cell service. Anyone else carry spare track links or am I the only guy who learns this the hard way?

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ray_mitchell•24d ago

One guy in Duluth changed how I feel about studded tracks

Tbh I used to think studded tracks were for people who couldn't ride worth a damn. Last winter I was fueling up at a gas station near Duluth and this older fella walks over, sees my track, and just shakes his head. He said 'you'll learn once you hit the glare ice on the lake' and honestly that stuck with me more than any forum rant ever did. I spent 4 years avoiding studs because I thought they were a crutch, but he made me realize it's just a tool for the terrain, not a skill badge. Now I run them on my utility sled for ice fishing and I can't imagine going back. Anyone else flip their opinion after a random stranger said something short and simple at a pump? It's wild how a quick comment beats a year of online arguing.

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benflores•25d ago

Swapped my winch cable for a rope, what a difference

Used to fight with that old steel cable on my ATV for like 5 years, always wearing gloves and worrying about snags in the brush. Last month I finally put on a synthetic rope kit with a new hawse fairing, and it's way easier to handle in the mud. Anyone else make the switch and notice their spooling get smoother or is it just me?

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palmer.jana•25d ago

My rigid tie-down straps cost me 3 hours on a muddy trail in Vermont

Got my 2015 Polaris stuck axle deep near Stowe last month. Had ratchet straps rated for way more than the machine weighs, but they kept stretching and slipping on the wet frame. After 3 hours of re-tightening and digging, a guy on a Kodiak pulled up with those cam buckle straps, the basic 2 inch ones. He looped em around the frame and winched me out first try. The stretch in my straps was eating all the pull force. Swapped all my tie-downs for cam style and haven't looked back. Anyone else ditch ratchets after a mud pull?

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elliotjenkins•26d ago

Snowmobile track studs actually made sense after I saw the difference on glare ice

For 3 winters I ran a stock track on my 2019 Ski-Doo and thought studs were just for racers. Last February we hit a lake up near Brainerd that was pure glare ice and I nearly slid into a pressure ridge twice. Buddy of mine had the same sled with 144 studs and he just walked across it like nothing. He let me take his for a lap and the bite was night and day. Pulled the trigger on a Stud Boy setup last week. Anyone else convert after watching someone else's sled hook up on ice?

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leep89•28d ago

Trailside belt change after a creek crossing in the Poconos

Last month I crossed a shallow creek on my 2018 Polaris and the belt started slipping bad about 2 miles later. I pulled over near a muddy bank and found the belt had frayed on the edge, probably from gravel that got kicked up in the water. Took me 45 minutes to swap it with my spare, and my hands were freezing the whole time. Has anyone else had belt trouble right after a water crossing, or was I just unlucky?

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haydenj90•28d ago

The 2025 carburetor tune I ran all winter ran worse than my 2008 factory setting

After 4 months of chasing a lean stumble on my Ski-Doo in the UP, I pulled the new adjustable needle and put the stock jet back in, and it fired up cleaner than it ever did, has anyone else found that going backwards on tuning beats what the aftermarket shops are pushing now?

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coran63•28d ago

I finally sold my 2-stroke sled after 3 winters of fighting it

Last month in Traverse City I dumped my 1998 Skandic for $900, and honestly everyone says 2-strokes are lighter and simpler, but I got tired of mixing oil and rebuilding carbs every time the temp dropped below 10. Has anyone else switched back to a 4-stroke just for the low maintenance, or am I the only one who thinks the old tech is overrated?

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cole_patel41•28d ago

Spent $600 on a plow kit for a 2004 Yamaha, best dumb purchase ever

I mean, I almost talked myself out of it since the sled is older than my dog, but after that 14 inch dump in March I was clearing my own driveway in 20 minutes while my neighbor was still shoveling. The mount bolts stripped once and I had to drill it out, but honestly worth every penny. Anyone else run a plow on an older machine or am I just asking for trouble?

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lily230•1mo ago

Three weekends of hunting a phantom misfire in my Ski-Doo

Last month my 2018 Ski-Doo started bogging out at 4,000 rpm in the trails near Traverse City. Swapped plugs, cleaned carbs, even replaced the fuel filter. Took me three full weekends before I found the real issue: a cracked intake boot that only leaked when the engine warmed up. Sprayed ether around it while it idled and the revs jumped, that was the tell. Anyone else wasted this much time on a vacuum leak that only shows up hot?

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sethmartinez•1mo ago

I finally stopped over-greasing my sled skis, what a difference

Took me 5 winters before I figured out I was packing way too much grease into the ski spindle bushings. I thought more was better, but it just blew out the seals and made steering stiff in the cold. My buddy laughed at me at the cabin in Island Park after he saw me pumping that gun like crazy. Once I switched to a light coat every 3 rides instead of cramming it, the skis turned way easier on hardpack. Has anyone else been doing this wrong too without knowing it?

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amy_sanchez•1mo ago

Belt dust is the real killer, not the clutch setup

Everyone online swears by fancy clutch kits for our machines, but I found the opposite after 3 seasons in the Poconos. My belt kept slipping no matter what weights I put in, so I tried everything short of a new clutch. Then I noticed the cover was caked with belt dust and the vents were plugged up tight. Cleaned it out with brake cleaner and a brush, and suddenly it grabbed like new. I think heat from that dust was doing more damage than any tune. Has anyone else found that plain maintenance beats throwing money at clutch parts?

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phoenix_adams60•1mo ago

My new track studs chewed up my heat exchanger in one weekend

Bought a used 2017 Renegade last fall and the seller threw in a fresh set of studs for free, so I figured I'd mount them before the season. Only went out twice near Traverse City before I noticed a small puddle of coolant under the sled after a warm-up in the garage. Pulled the belly pan and found a dime-sized hole in the heat exchanger right where the track clips pass over it. Those studs sat a little proud because I used the wrong backer plate, and on hard pack they canted sideways just enough to eat the aluminum. The shop quoted me $620 for a replacement exchanger plus labor, so I ended up patching it with epoxy and a steel washer as a temp fix. Check your stud lengths and backer plates before your first ride, especially if the track has any sag. Anyone else have a stud strike nick the cooler, and did you just patch it or replace the whole unit?

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robinson.jake•1mo ago

The $180 winch that dragged me out of a beaver pond

Bogged my 4-wheeler near Brainerd right at dusk, water up to the seat. That cheap winch from the farm store took 20 minutes but yanked me out like nothing. Anyone else trust a budget winch over their buddy's truck?

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rosed32•1mo ago

Stuck throttle on a rental sled near Duluth taught me a cheap fix

Last winter I rented a sled and the thumb throttle kept sticking when it got cold. I tried WD-40 and it made it worse, but a buddy said to hit the cable with silicone spray and a hair dryer. That cleared it in 10 minutes, has anyone else had that issue with rental machines up north?

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james_butler•1mo ago

Snowmobile trails used to be simpler, now it's GPS everything

Remember 3 years ago when I rode up near Munising and just followed the orange markers, no screen on my handlebars? Last month I got turned around on a new loop and had to pull out my phone just to find the gas station trailhead. Do you guys still ride old school with paper maps, or am I the only one who misses that? Maybe I'm just getting cranky at 42, but has anyone else noticed the trails feel more crowded since the apps took over?

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claireo67•1mo ago

Plastic skid plate cracked at -15F, zip ties saved the day

Hit a buried log near Ely last weekend and the stock skid plate split right down the middle. Drilled a few holes and ran zip ties through the frame, held up for the rest of the 40 mile ride. Has anyone else had luck with aluminum plates over plastic for cold weather?

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patking•1mo ago

Took my Polaris Sportsman into a bog in northern Wisconsin last fall and almost lost it

I was riding through the Chequamegon National Forest and hit a hidden creek crossing that turned into a 4-foot deep mud pit. The front end just dropped and water started coming over the racks before I could even hit reverse. Has anyone else pulled a quad out of a bog with a winch and had the cable snap mid-pull?

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paigeg22•1mo ago

Spent $300 on a heated visor and it was a total waste

I bought a heated visor for my snowmobile helmet from a local shop up in Bemidji. Thought it would solve fogging issues on cold rides. First trip out at 10 degrees, it fogged up worse than my regular shield. Took it back and the guy said I should've gotten a breath box instead for $40. Anyone else skip the fancy stuff and go simple?

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cole_patel41•1mo ago

Used to warm up my sled for 10 minutes every morning, now I just start and go

I used to idle my Arctic Cat for a solid 10 minutes before riding, thinking it needed to be warm. Changed that this winter after a buddy showed me how modern EFI engines work. Now I start it, give it 30 seconds, then ride easy for the first mile. Saves me about 9 minutes every ride and burns way less gas. Has anyone else noticed better engine life with shorter warm-ups?

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hollym82•1mo ago

Went with a used Ski-Doo over a new Polaris this winter and I'm not sure I made the right call

Back in November I was looking at a 2023 Polaris 550 for $9,500 or a 2018 Ski-Doo Renegade with 3,000 miles for $5,200. The Polaris had that new smell and a warranty. The Ski-Doo was half the price and the guy threw in a cover and studs. I figured save the money and put it toward gas and gear. Well, the Ski-Doo has been fine on trails but it bogs down when I hit deep powder. Had to get towed out twice last month up near Silver Lake. The Polaris buyer I know says his runs like a dream. Anyone else go used and regret it, or did I just pick a bad one?

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the_ben•1mo ago

Swapped my stock ATV tires for some used mud tires off a buddy's Polaris

I was debating between keeping my old knobbies or dropping $400 on new ones, but he gave me his set for $50 after he upgraded. They grip way better in the wet clay behind my shop, has anyone else run into issues balancing mismatched sets?

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mary_kelly•1mo ago

Picked a used Polaris over a new CFMoto for trail riding in Oregon... worked out okay

I had about $6,000 saved up last spring for a four-wheeler. The new CFMoto was sitting right there on the lot for $5,800 with a warranty, but I kept hearing mixed things about the reliability. Found a 2017 Polaris Sportsman 570 used with 1,200 miles for $5,200 from a guy near Eugene. Took a gamble on it since it had no service records. Put about 300 miles on it this summer on some rocky trails and it never stalled once. Needed new brake pads after 3 months, but that was cheap. Has anyone else gone used over new and regretted it or been glad they did?

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