A sled that sat all summer needs a careful look before it hits the trail. This checklist covers the common items. Your owner’s manual lists the procedures, specifications and fluids for your model, and some jobs are best left to a qualified technician.
Chassis, track and skis
- Track: check tension and alignment against the manual’s spec, and look for torn lugs, exposed rods or missing clips.
- Slide rails and wheels: check the wear strips on the rails and spin the idler wheels to feel for rough bearings.
- Skis and carbides: check the carbide wear bars and the ski skegs, and look for play in the steering linkage.
- Suspension: look for leaking shocks, worn bushings and loose fasteners, and grease the fittings the manual lists.
Drivetrain and engine
- Drive belt and clutches: inspect the belt for cracks, glazing and uneven wear, carry a spare, and clean the clutches as the manual directs.
- Chaincase or gearcase: check the oil level and condition, and change it at the manual’s interval.
- Fuel system: if the sled was stored with fuel in it, check for water or varnish, and inspect the lines and filter for cracks.
- Engine oil: on 2-stroke sleds, fill the oil injection reservoir with the oil type the manual specifies. On 4-strokes, check the level and change the oil if it’s due.
- Cooling: on liquid-cooled sleds, check coolant level and freeze protection, and look over the heat exchangers for damage.
- Spark plugs and battery: replace worn plugs, and charge and test the battery on electric-start sleds.
Controls and safety
- Make sure the throttle returns smoothly, and test the brake, the emergency stop switch and the tether.
- Check the headlight, taillight, brake light and hand warmers.
- Clear out any rodent nests and storage plugs, and check the wiring for chew damage.
- Pack a small kit: a spare belt, spark plugs, a tow strap, basic tools and the manual.
Have a four-wheeler that works through the winter too? See the ATV and UTV winter prep checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How tight should my snowmobile track be?
Track tension is set by the manufacturer and measured a specific way for each model. Use the procedure and measurement in your owner’s manual.
When should I replace carbides?
When they’re worn, chipped or no longer give good steering bite on hard-packed snow. Check them before the season and periodically during it.
Should I change the chaincase oil every season?
Follow the interval in your manual. Many riders check it, and change it if due, as part of pre-season or end-of-season service.
AMSOIL products for snowmobile prep
- AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Chaincase & Gear Oil. AMSOIL describes it as an “extreme-pressure lubricant engineered to meet the high-temperature/high-load demands of today’s snowmobiles and ATVs” that “flows freely in cold temperatures for immediate protection and easy cold-temperature takeoffs.” Confirm the fluid your chaincase calls for in the manual.
- AMSOIL Quickshot Gasoline Treatment and Stabilizer. AMSOIL lists snowmobiles among its applications and says it “cleans varnish, gum and insoluble debris that clog carburetors, fuel injectors and fuel filters in powersports equipment and small engines.”
Product wording above is quoted or summarized from amsoil.com. Read each product’s label and data sheet for directions.
For injection oil or 4-stroke oil, use AMSOIL’s snowmobile lookup or AMSOIL’s official lookup guide to see what AMSOIL lists for your sled.