Snowmobile construction, maintenance and pre-ride checks
Snowmobile construction, maintenance and pre-ride checks
This domain tests your ability to spot a machine that is not fit to ride before it strands you or fails at speed.
Track and skis
Check track tension to the manufacturer's specification: too loose and it ratchets under acceleration; too tight and it wears out bearings and slides. Inspect the track for cuts, missing clips and stud damage. Check ski wear bars (carbides) - worn bars make steering vague on ice - and ski bolts.
Brakes, suspension and steering
Test the brake at walking pace. Check pads, disc and fluid level; a spongy lever is a fault, not a style. Look for leaking shocks, broken springs and loose spindle bolts. Steering should move freely with no play.
Engine, fuel and electrics
Check fuel and, on two-strokes, the correct oil mix. Inspect the belt for glazing, cracks and correct width. Test lights, brake light, kill switch and tether; the tether must stop the engine when pulled.
Worked example
On acceleration, the track makes a rhythmic clattering and the machine loses speed. That is ratcheting from a loose track, not a clutching problem. Tighten to spec before riding.
Traps
Ignoring a worn belt until it fails; over-tightening the track; riding without a tether; and checking the brake only at the end of the ride.