Snowmobile Maintenance

[Pulleye16]

I have an older, 1999 polaris indy 500 that I bought about 8 years ago, 99% ice fishing machine with maybe one 20+ mile bar ride during a guys trip. No beating around the bush...it's been neglected! I add stabilizer and run the fuel dry every spring...and that's about it. oh-I've replaced the pull cord and spring a couple times, and maybe a spark plug or two.

Well, the speedo and odometer went out this winter. I took to google and asked around and it appears it could be the jackshaft bearing??? Or Drive shaft bearing??? I don't know squat about sleds but I can do basic mechanical stuff.

Anyways, after reading up on this issue, I realized there are a lot of bearings and grease-ups I should be doing. I'm guessing I'm missing a lot of simple PM's I could be doing.

So what do you guys do to your sleds each spring? Just looking to keep the 20+ y/o sled alive, not making her brand new. I'm hoping to replace someday but not until things settle down and prices become realistic.

Or, on a sled this old, do you just ignore maintenance and repair when needed?

[snow1]

Hey Pulleye,where are you located? my neighbor is a retired polaris certified wrench that does work outof his garage cheap here in hugo.He can patch it up for ya,he does my wheeler,chain saw's and lawn mowers as well,I fix things with duct tape and bailing wire normally or buy "new" until I tapped this guy's skill.

[Leech~~]

Hey Pulleye,where are you located? my neighbor is a retired polaris certified wrench that does work outof his garage cheap here in hugo.He can patch it up for ya,he does my wheeler,chain saw's and lawn mowers as well,I fix things with duct tape and bailing wire normally or buy "new" until I tapped this guy's skill.

These are the best kind of guys to know!     Shop prices are out of sight. 
Each spring before I cover her up for the summer I grease every fitting I can find on the sled. I wait until things warm up a bit so any ice frozen in shafts or fittings turns to water which can be pushed out with a grease gun.  The speedo & jackshaft bearing is the most neglected because it's hiding and most people don't even know it's there, until to late. 

[glenn57]

buy a ski-doo....you wont have to worry about it falling apart!!!!!!! mines a 95 formula!!!!

i've had mine to a guy to put new carbs in after it sat for 5-6 years. about it. otherwise i'm like Leech........ a little grease goes a long way to things not wearing out.

[Pulleye16]

Hey Pulleye,where are you located? my neighbor is a retired polaris certified wrench that does work outof his garage cheap here in hugo.He can patch it up for ya,he does my wheeler,chain saw's and lawn mowers as well,I fix things with duct tape and bailing wire normally or buy "new" until I tapped this guy's skill.

Aitkin. Thanks and I’ll look at this option should I need him.

I like working on things but when it gets to bad, knowing these types of people are like gold.

Thanks for the info on greasing these things up. It’s been a great sled considering, and just need to keep it operational for a few more years…can’t believe it’s over 20 years old. 

You guys do anything to the drive chain?

[glenn57]

Just keep an eye on the oil.

[LPS]

I have a 98 Skidoo Grand Touring.  582?  Great ol sled too.  I take it in the garage now and then and check everything and grease it up too.  Let it thaw out overnight.  Youtube is your friend on how to do most anything.  I have found lots of stuff on my sled for repairs.  I put a new seat cover on it last summer.  I also put a new primer set-up on it too.  The old one was leaking a lot of gas when I pushed it and I didn't like getting it on my gloves whenst going fishing. 

[Boar]

Its a good idea to chexk yut chaincase magnet.

[LPS]

Ok so what's the punch line.   

[Pulleye16]

Well, slight update here as I may rant…kept things simple until it warms up but was bored so I was working on the toys. Changed snowmobile spark plugs, fuel filter, burned a hole into the plastic around the pull cord so fixing that and took got an idea on fixing jack shaft bearing.

Here’s my rant… I hate preventative maintenance. Lol. After the sled, I decided to clean up and look at ATV items. Stripped out two bolts somehow and broke one off. Cracked my windshield will I was making minor adjustments to it.

Why when I touch perfectly working things do I cause more issues?  Lol. Can’t wait to bring the boat out of storage in a few weeks…😆😆🤪

[LPS]

PE you don't need to use a torch to do that maintenance.   

[Jerkbiat]

Ya, what he said.

[Leech~~]

Well, slight update here as I may rant…kept things simple until it warms up but was bored so I was working on the toys. Changed snowmobile spark plugs, fuel filter, burned a hole into the plastic around the pull cord so fixing that and took got an idea on fixing jack shaft bearing.

Here’s my rant… I hate preventative maintenance. Lol. After the sled, I decided to clean up and look at ATV items. Stripped out two bolts somehow and broke one off. Cracked my windshield will I was making minor adjustments to it.

Why when I touch perfectly working things do I cause more issues?  Lol. Can’t wait to bring the boat out of storage in a few weeks…😆😆🤪

STOP!  just stop, your hurting them!     

[glenn57]

  damn Pulleye you must be hard on your toys!!!!!!!!

[LPS]

LOL  Sounds like you best just turn the key off and wait till next year and start them up and go PE.

[Pulleye16]

Wait, you guys don’t use flames and explosives when working on your toys?

Next thing you’ll say is you don’t drink beer while doing it either…

[glenn57]

Wait, you guys don’t use flames and explosives when working on your toys?

Next thing you’ll say is you don’t drink beer while doing it either…

depends on what time of the day it is!!!

[mike89]

Wait, you guys don’t use flames and explosives when working on your toys?

Next thing you’ll say is you don’t drink beer while doing it either…

depends on what time of the day it is!!!

2nd that!!!   

[Jerkbiat]

Ya, don't get crazy now.