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General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: azmtnman on November 08, 2017, 12:29:00 AM

Title: Snowmobiles???
Post by: azmtnman on November 08, 2017, 12:29:00 AM
Yes.....believe it or not, the guy from AZ is asking about snowmobiles!!! :D :D :D :D
Actually where I live we get 3-4' per year and 30 miles away 6+' that sticks around all winter.
My question is: Is there an "old reliable" model that is the "go to"?
I would prefer a 4 cycle engine and I don't want to spend a ton of money. It would probably get used 4 or 5 days a year--maybe more to get to the high lakes to do some ice fishing and run a trap line.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: WLC on November 08, 2017, 02:30:43 AM
Lots of folks like the old Skidoo Tundra.  I've got a couple of older Polaris machines( Indy 5oo and a 600XLT) that run well and haven't given me any trouble.  Also look for a Polaris Indy lite.  Also good machines.  Not too big and easy to move around when you get stuck.  Wish mine had reverse if for nothing else to make it easier to get them out of the shed when we go ride.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: SwampDonkey on November 08, 2017, 05:32:14 AM
My brother tinkers with old obsolete Elan machines. Very simple to work on and at one time more popular and reliable than cars in the far north.  :D
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: snowstorm on November 08, 2017, 07:03:48 AM
edge chassis polaris 04 and newer will have push button reverse . the 600 motor was very durable and it made 120 hp. short track sleds are 121" if you will be on ungroomed deeper snow. at least a 136 144 even better. true mountian sleds would have at least a 155" track. a old cheap 4 stroke?? the rxl 1 ton yamaha pretty good motor ruff riding heavy very heavy. older artic cat had a 3 cyl 4 stroke slow underpowered heavy. up this way a lot of the rental sleds are 550 fan cooled polaris. they stand up well
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: Crusarius on November 08, 2017, 07:41:32 AM
I would say you are better off with 2 stroke in a sled. It's quite a bit lighter. no oil changes. Can be pull started instead of having to hope battery is good. The newer 2 strokes are great quality and have auto oiling. all you do is fill a reservoir and it does the rest.

Reverse is a must. I used to have an arctic cat Z440. great sled. Light not very fast but was a ton of fun on tight trails. Wide open flat trails it sucked. I stepped up to a skidoo mxz 800. Was way to much sled for the riding I do. Sold that one and bought a skidoo mxz 600 sdi. SDI is semi direct injection. No more carbs for this guy.

I like the 600 the best. I can still pull over 100 MPH. but its still easy to ride and fun. Plus the SDI means in the fall I push the button. It starts. I don't have to screw with cleaning carbs draining fuel or any of that.

I also do not care what fuel goes in the sled as long as I run high octane. Typically 91 or 93. I run ethanol all the time and never had any issues with it at all. The sled is a 2006 it cost me $3500 3 years ago.

I used to live in AZ. didn't see much for snowmobiles out there so the used market may not be very good?
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: coxy on November 08, 2017, 05:48:06 PM
Quote from: Crusarius on November 08, 2017, 07:41:32 AM
I would say you are better off with 2 stroke in a sled. It's quite a bit lighter. no oil changes. Can be pull started instead of having to hope battery is good. The newer 2 strokes are great quality and have auto oiling. all you do is fill a reservoir and it does the rest.

Reverse is a must. I used to have an arctic cat Z440. great sled. Light not very fast but was a ton of fun on tight trails. Wide open flat trails it sucked. I stepped up to a skidoo mxz 800. Was way to much sled for the riding I do. Sold that one and bought a skidoo mxz 600 sdi. SDI is semi direct injection. No more carbs for this guy.

I like the 600 the best. I can still pull over 100 MPH. but its still easy to ride and fun. Plus the SDI means in the fall I push the button. It starts. I don't have to screw with cleaning carbs draining fuel or any of that.

I also do not care what fuel goes in the sled as long as I run high octane. Typically 91 or 93. I run ethanol all the time and never had any issues with it at all. The sled is a 2006 it cost me $3500 3 years ago.

I used to live in AZ. didn't see much for snowmobiles out there so the used market may not be very good?
at least you got a great sled 8) another guy that got smart and left them artic craps behind  :D :D I have a 99 mxz 600 with 6k miles and never been rebuilt was raced on the grass/mud and snow crossed the first 2 years of her life got out of that and its been trail ridden every since the only thing that stinks is the clutch kit I have in it from racing
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: celliott on November 08, 2017, 07:48:26 PM
If you're going to go off groomed trails at all (from your described usage, sounds like most of the use) get yourself a long and\or wide track sled.  Skidoo skandics, arctic cat bearcat, polaris wide trak, yamaha vk, etc. Or a mountain sled. The wide tracks float good, will have reverse, and a high\lo range.
Any of the newer mountain type sleds will work, with a 144" at least.
A regular short track snowmobile, for someone not accustomed to riding sleds, is amazingly helpless in deep\ungroomed snow.

I'd look for an older VK540 or Skandic with a 550 fan. Bulletproof, simple engines. One thing to be aware of on the utility sleds, the gearbox (different than regular sled) is very expensive. Be sure it shifts smooth and the oil is clear with no filings.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: Crusarius on November 09, 2017, 07:27:06 AM
after being in some pretty deep ungroomed snow I do mostly agree with what celliot said. in that case there is a lot to be said for a smaller lighter sled with less power. My old 440 was great in that stuff cause it was so light and easy to handle.

But after riding opening day last year in 5' of fresh show. I wished I had a big mountain sled! but then the next day was back to normal and conditions were great.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: starmac on November 09, 2017, 03:31:26 PM
Tundra 11 long track, if you can find one for a decent price. They are pretty sought after here though. I have an old twin track alpine, slow but goes anywhere and will haul or pull a load, but is uneconomical. I would stay away from four strokes myself.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: celliott on November 09, 2017, 05:25:05 PM
Quote from: Crusarius on November 09, 2017, 07:27:06 AM
after being in some pretty deep ungroomed snow I do mostly agree with what celliot said. in that case there is a lot to be said for a smaller lighter sled with less power. My old 440 was great in that stuff cause it was so light and easy to handle.

But after riding opening day last year in 5' of fresh show. I wished I had a big mountain sled! but then the next day was back to normal and conditions were great.

You're right, there is a case to be made for a lightweight sled. Easy to get unstuck and definitely floats better, shouldn't trench right away when you gas it. Like an old Yamaha enticer or bravo long track, or newer skidoo tundra.
We just got a skandic for work. It's a 2006, with 250 miles on it  8) mint condition, 550 fan, 20" wide track.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: pappy19 on November 12, 2017, 12:04:16 AM
I've been an Arctic Cat man for 40 years and never been left in the woods. A 2 stroke is every bit as good and reliable as a 4 stroke and not nearly as heavy. The most reliable of snowmobiles are the 2 stroke fan cooled models. The Arctic Bearcat is their work horse but probably very hard to find a used one. I have an 87 Jag 340 fan cooled with 22,000 miles, and still starts on the first pull the i keep around for the kids. I still ride my 2002 600 Mountain Cat and it has never been in the shop.
Title: Re: Snowmobiles???
Post by: coxy on November 12, 2017, 06:12:17 AM
Quote from: pappy19 on November 12, 2017, 12:04:16 AM
I've been an Arctic Cat man for 40 years and never been left in the woods. A 2 stroke is every bit as good and reliable as a 4 stroke and not nearly as heavy. The most reliable of snowmobiles are the 2 stroke fan cooled models. The Arctic Bearcat is their work horse but probably very hard to find a used one. I have an 87 Jag 340 fan cooled with 22,000 miles, and still starts on the first pull the i keep around for the kids. I still ride my 2002 600 Mountain Cat and it has never been in the shop.
you must have gotten a couple that came off the yellow assembly line  ;) ;D