Just curious what i should do for all the sleds that i have when getting them ready for this winter. I have never had any major or mechanical problems with any of them and want to keep it that way. they are a 96 formula z583, 97 formula 500, and a 99 vamx sx600. I have always ran all the gas out of the machines each spring, keep them inside, and added oil to the cylinders during the spring. Every year i have also greased all the nipples, added new hyfax and carbides, and adjusted the track.

Now i want to go through each sled real good i am planning on pulling off the carbs to clean them, greasing all the nipples, adjusting the track, and changing the gear oil. Now i need to know is there anyting else i should do to keep these sleds running strong? anything else need to be adjusted or greased? Also which gear oil should i use on these sleds? And should i also flush the coolant? thanks for any suggestions
mark

Clean The RAVES

check the clutches and belt, clean as needed and make sure belt is still ok, make sure u have everything in a tool kit to make any needed adjustments on the trail

Checklist for Sleds

1. Rebuild shocks
2. Check all bogie wheels
3. Clean Carbs
4. Adjust Carbs as needed
5. Clean power valves
6. Adjust power valves
7. Go through clutch and rebuild as necessary
8. Change brake fluid.
9. Change gearbox oil
10. Adjust gearbox chain tension
11. Lube Chassis
12. Change Hyfax
13. Check carbide runners
14. Adjust track tension
15. Clean entire sled and wax
16. Check choke adjustment
17. Pull off exhaust and seal.
18. Fuel filter/ oil filter?
19. Check/adjust brake lever
20. Check/adjust choke cable.

Here's a list I have posted in my garage. Some may have more.
I may also have added some.

do u really think bleeding the brakes every year is neccessary ?? i don't really think it is, IMO

how tight do you tighten your chain? I was told just as tight as you can get the tensioner with your fingers is as tight as it should be. Is that right?


Bauer

Originally posted by Bauer@Nov 18 2004, 06:05 PM
how tight do you tighten your chain?* I was told just as tight as you can get the tensioner with your fingers is as tight as it should be.* Is that right?
Bauer
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And then back it off just enough to get the pin back in.

I dont think he ment bleed your brakes, just ADJUST THE LEVER. :p

haha alright well if he ment adjust the brakes then that makes sense. he did say change brake fluid so...

Originally posted by Formula85@Nov 18 2004, 11:10 PM
haha alright well if he ment adjust the brakes then that makes sense.* he did say change brake fluid so...
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Well, when I wrote the list my brother in law told me that you are "supposed" to change your brake fluid every year. Don't know where he heard that from. We did his after about 3K miles, and let me tell you. It was pretty nasty. But, Have I done mine? No. I just check fluid level etc. I left it on the list for a reminder to adjust/check etc.

Another thing I always do is just grab a wrench and make sure all the nuts and bolts are tight.

Grease every cross shaft and grease zerk with a good cold weather grease.
Remove your pipe, sand and paint it if needed... then the usual once ove rthe clutches, carbs, bearings, check levels on the chain case... make sure it's oil in there and not a white oily soup!! Change seals if it is!!
EFI... dump in some fuel injector cleaner before your first ride with fresh gas! Ride smart for the first while making sure things are back togather right... nothing like an over tightened track... or exhast spring missing and running stright pipe... not cool!
I can't tell you how many guys I see pull the sled off the trailer start them and just launch them on the first ride out!! Crazy! Maybe a brand new one... but the older ones... no way!

Another thing, tryng to remember where I put my (ignition) key last April (lol).

Originally posted by snowmobiler7c@Nov 17 2004, 06:19 PM
Just curious what i should do for all the sleds that i have when getting them ready for this winter.* I have never had any major or mechanical problems with any of them and want to keep it that way.* they are a 96 formula z583, 97 formula 500, and a 99 vamx sx600. 364509

the age of those sleds and you haven't had any major problems :thumbsup: sounds like you should be telling everyone else what to do in preparation. :wink:

thanks everyone for the suggestions, i will probley start messing with them right after the thanksgiving holiday.

Paul, thanks for the compliment. I really try to keep good care of my sleds,trucks,cars, ect. Like i said i have always ran the gas out of the sleds each year, greased all the nipples, cleaned the carbs, oiled the cylinders for the off season, always ran ski-doo or yamaha oil, and kept general maintence like the track adjusted,new carbides, and hyfax. But i have never done anything to the clutch, never adjusted my drive chain, never changed the coolant, and a few other little things, which i should have probley been doing more often. The worst problem i have had is with the yamaha, it seems to rattle bolts loose. Have been on the trail and had a motor mount bolt come all the way off but thats been the worst of it. Both the 97 ski-doo and 99yamaha have 3,600 miles and the 96 ski-doo 2200. I will probley be updating to a newer rev next summer when the 2005's go on clearence but want to make it through another fun winter.

Only thing i am really concerned about on the list is adjusting the drive chain and looking over the cluthes. Not sure exactly what to look for. I think i am going to check out ebay for a service manual for each sled.

thanks again for all the info
mark

Originally posted by paul yarek@Nov 19 2004, 05:05 PM
the age of those sleds and you haven't had any major problems* :thumbsup:* sounds like you should be telling everyone else what to do in preparation. :wink:
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http://www2.wcoil.com/~kat1917/swpics/4.gif :withstupid:

might want to check over the fuel lines, they have a tendency to rot out and leak.

- Jason