It seems most people here do their own sled work. I'm just interested in finding out.

Joe

I do all my own work on my sleds from motor to clutch to suspension. From what I have seen most people bring their sleds in to get them worked on.

Thanks Riley, I could see how most people in general would use a shop.

I should have been more clear, I was referring to sw.com members and not most snowmobilers

I'm in the automotive repair business so its a no brainer that my sleds repaired right here.
:D

I pretty much do all my own. Unless its something that is major that could be cover under warrenty. Like a Crank or something. I rebuild my own shocks. Go through the clutch etc. Its fun to do also. That way it makes it quicker to repair something on the trail too, if you already know how it comes apart.

I make my living in the winter repairing snowmobiles, so yes I do all my own repairs. Everything from complete engine rebuilds to, customs, shocks, dyno tuning(engine) might have to hire help sometime.

Like motorcycling, snowmobile repair/maintenance is part of the experience for me...

AL

My brother is a mechanic and does sled repairs and setups during the fall and winter. So he really does a lot of my sled stuff but I help a lot too, so I guess I am somwhere in between all the anwers.

I do pretty much all of my own work other than shock rebuilds and i'm thinking about getting the stuff to do that to. About the only thing I bring it in for was warrenty work when it was still covered. I grew up on a farm and we did all our own work so I just kinda grew up with it and enjoy it.

I would want to think that most everybody works on their own sleds. Riders should. It may mean the difference between going home and continuing on with the rest. I do what I can, and what I can't, I'll play it with untill I figure out how I can. Believe me, there is ALOT of the latter at current. :(

I'll be doing most of my own work. But even most of the things I'll have others do i could, but rather not take the chance on. I was a licenced mechanic so i can do most everything but it;s smart to know when to let otheres help. I usually help them do it if I have others do work. So I'm a in between guy also.
Caleb

I do my own, with the shop rates the way they are who can afford to have a dealer work on them unless you're stinking rich.

Too bad you live so far away MXZ900. I need a winter job! Anyone near East Lansing Michigan have a sled related job for me?
Ryan :inlove: Sleds :inlove:

I do what I can , but I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most mechanically inclined. Geez, I'm lucky I can work this computer :doh: If it is something I know I can do , I will, if not, I'll bring it in so it is done right.

I do as much as I can myslef with the tools I have. Mainly the only thing I take the sled in for is to get shocks recharged since I have neither the knowledge or tools to do that myself. :doh:

Once in awhile a shop comes in hand. ONe time it was 10 degrees on old forge and it was 9am. All my buddys were getting ready to take off and i looked down and noticed my hyfax were shot so instead of screwing around with it and freezing my ( ) ) off... i just brought it over to east street and they swapped em out for like $25 plus the cost of the slides. I was ready and raring to go in 20 minutes. I happen to not mind paying it
heheheh

I do most myslef, but it depends on how complex it is, and how much free time I have.

FishHog

I need to start learning how to work on my sled. I just brought it to the dealer for the pre-season $150 porking. I can do absolutely everything to my car, with the exception of an automatic trans rebuild (I'm planning to learn that soon on one of my spares), but I don't know the first darn thing about the sled. I know that it's not beyond my abilities, but I've got to learn what parts are what, how to diagnose my problems, and how to identify a solution. Unfortunately, I forsee a lot of expensive trial & error in my future. I guess my first step should be to buy an Artic Cat service manual.



Please watch language. Thanks!



Last edited by phazerhater at Oct 8 2002, 08:46 PM

I don't know anyone that is really mecchanicaly inclined... Or even a little for that matter, so I havn't had anyone to teach me. I wish I could... I'm trying to learn as much as possible, but its alot different seeing it infront of you then talking through it on here....

So my answer is yes the shop does most of my work.... Plus at the moment I don't have much of a spot to work on it if I could anyways... SWRules

i do most of my stuff on my own but if it looks liek somehting will go over my head i take it to my dealer just a hop skip and a jump away so its pretty easy and he treats me fair

I do all the work myslef. plus i do it for all of my friends and neighbors and ther friends, and ther friends,and ther friends,and ther friends,and ther friends, :blahblah: :blahblah: :blahblah:

Sounds like the start of a great buisness Dan! :D

yeah ! if only a would charge ??? i do it for the love of it :inlove: :inlove:

Sorta like Dan,I do all my own stuff and people are always asking me to look at their old cats to see what they need to get them running.
I draw the line at re-cleating track these days,too darn much knuckle busting.



Last edited by phazerhater at Oct 9 2002, 12:02 AM

Glad to see that some people let the trained techs do the work if they don't know what they are doing but it's good to see people do some work themselves I think it makes for a better rider if you under stand basically how the machine works. Not trying to knock I know there are some good riders that don't know how to fix it, me, I just get out the wrenches when things aren't quite right

I do a little of everything, I work on it myself, and I turn to friends for help when it is beyond my skills or knowledge. I have some buds that know the insides of a sled better than anything, and they are a great resource. Having a basic knowledge of all the parts of your sled is indispensable when it is 10 below and something is broken. Somethimes you can cobble something together enough to get you home, but only if you know how your sled works. The only thing I don't do is take it to a dealer, because I don't think there is anything on the sled that I am afraid to get my fingers into, and I would rather save the money for aftermarket goodies :D

I try to do what I can myself, but like what was mentioned, warranty work goes to the shop.. A buddy of mine took his and his wifes sled to a dealer last year for a pre-season service, spent $300 and we had to take his wifes suspension apart on the first ride because they put his spring guides in upside down, he could have done that himself for free.

I do most work myself. Like some, a lot of it is for the first time. I take my time, make sure I have a good manual and the tools I need. It's mostly because I don't want to pay someone else to do it, but there is some satisfaction gained by doing something well. The sled that I have ridden for the last six years has EFI. I have never done engine work to it and might need some help if I did. I am getting a carbed sled this year for the first time in years and am a little rusty at tuning those things. Should be interesting. The most difficult thing I found about working on sleds is KEEPING WARM. :cussing:

i have a shop that i work in right behind the house and it looks to me like most of us do our own sled repair.

I will do everything but major engine work,Rotax has never let me down yet(knocking on my puter desk) hehe. For some reason I do not enjoy working on the sleds. Since I have been wrenching for 15 years,it gets old.

:D I like to most of my work myself......expands the learning experience!!! :D

There's no pride in having someone else work on your sled besides it's cheaper and you'll know every inch of your sled doing it yourself ;)