Snowmobile Maintenance
We’re well into the heart of snowmobiling season so it’s time to check in and make sure you’re following all the best practices for snowmobiling upkeep and maintenance. Sleds are a little different from your average powersport vehicle and not as commonly talked about, so you may be a little lost as to where to find information on maintaining it. That’s where 2Brothers Powersports comes in. We’ve provided some of the basic maintenance checks you should be performing regularly on your own, before every ride if possible. But a good snowmobiler also knows their ride will need regular tune-ups from a professional as well. When that day comes, schedule a service appointment with our location in Onalaska, Wisconsin, proudly serving the areas of La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Winona, Minnesota.
Pre-Season Checks
If you haven’t hit the trails yet and are still trying to dig your sled out of storage, make sure it’s ready to ride before you get too excited. Change all filters as needed and check that spark plugs are still working. You’ll also want to check all your lights to make sure they’re going to light up when you need them to. You’ll also want to check the brakes, skis, track, and steering. This will ultimately mean taking your sled for a test ride before deciding if it’s safe to hit the trails. Try to stay as close to home as possible so if you do run into trouble, you can get help fairly quickly.
Regular Maintenance
A lot of what you cover in your pre-season check will come up again in your everyday checks. The very first thing you should do is check your owner’s manual. Most of what we cover are pretty basic and odds are you’ll be checking these things no matter what kind of snowmobile you have, but the way in which you check them or make changes might vary depending on your model. Your manual will also let you know if there are any additional checks you should be making to your sled beyond the basics that we list here.
Make sure your oil is fresh and topped off and you have enough good fuel to get you through your ride. Maintain all other engine fluids throughout the season as well, as well as chaincase oil as it breaks down. Go back to checking the spark plugs, even if they work at the start of the season.
Once again, check the skis and track to make sure they are properly functioning and aligned properly. You’ll also want to inspect the drive belt for any wear and tear, as well as the wear bars. Finally, one of the easiest ways to maintain your ride is to regularly grease the chassis.
If you find your suspension is throwing off your alignment or if you’d like to make a tuneup to make your ride easier for you or more enjoyable, you may want to change the suspension. You could take your sled to a professional, but there are also easy ways to tune up your suspension from home. You’ll want to remember to set the spring preload, check the limiter strap, and make sure there’s an even weight distribution before checking the front free sag, the rear free sag, and the rear loaded sag. You can find more specific directions with a quick web search, but you’ll still want to make sure you check your owner’s manual first.
When you think you’ve covered everything you need to cover, try taking the sled out for a quick test ride, just like you did before the snow season began. Feel for any problems with the brakes, clutch, alignment, and steering. Again, you’ll want to stay close to home so you can easily repair any problems or call a professional should a serious issue arise.
This is a lot to cover and it will take some time, but it’s important to properly maintain your snowmobile. The last thing you want is to be stuck in the middle of a cold trail with a sled that won’t move any farther. If you need help taking care of your sled, or if you still need the perfect snowmobile, stop by 2Brothers Powersports in Onalaska, Wisconsin. We welcome all patrons from the areas of La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Winona, Minnesota.
