Sled parked with the track up or track down ?

buickanddeere

Well-known Member
When you park your sled. Short term, long term and for
storage. Do you prop the back of the sled up and keep the
track off the ground?
And why?
 
Yes you should, it can freeze to the ground in cold weather, and for summer storage you don't want the track to dry rot if left on the ground, there are warm up stands you can buy to keep the track off the ground, for storage or warming up the sled.
 
i always stored them inside and when riding just rock it before driving away so i always leave down because its hard on the back, did it that way since 1969 and never had a problem with the track or my back. just stopped riding last year. always rode Ski-DOO and the last one was a 2006 MACH Z. chuck
 
B&D, I mean for out side storage, if inside say on a concrete floor, you can but rollers for the skis and for under the track to keep the sled off the floor, and move it around easier, but u don't want to leave the sled on the lawn with out lifting the track off the ground, track rot, studs rust, ect.
 
Over the summer it sits in the shed on the shelf, but during the winter just leave it sit outside if its gonna get rode the next day or so, pick up the skis and track before you ride and its fine, otherwise i put it in the shed if im not riding it again for awile if you have it stored on cement for a lomg time I wouldn't worry but I wouldn't keep it in grass or dirt for a long time.
 
the track should be left up off the ground, for freezing or for rot.
Also my Polaris manual said to store with the track off the floor to eliminate suspension set from being compressed by the dead weight--the springs will take a set.
I just made some 2x4 inverted tee"s that I set the rear bumper on when storing
 
My sleds all have 1 1/2" or bigger paddles, so I park them up on 2x4 boards stood on edge between the paddles. Seems like I get a longer life out of the paddles, they don`t dry-crack and tear off as easy.
 
In the Canadian Arctic snowmobile owners start the machine pick up the back and run it wide open for about 10 seconds. Don't know why.Mighty cold tho-minus 40 or so not counting the incessant gale.
 
(quoted from post at 00:33:46 12/09/12) In the Canadian Arctic snowmobile owners start the machine pick up the back and run it wide open for about 10 seconds. Don't know why.Mighty cold tho-minus 40 or so not counting the incessant gale.
No, really, the intelligent ones don`t. Run them full throttle, that is. That is about the fastest way to sieze a cold snowmachine engine there is. In cold weather you lift the track off the ground, or tip the sled on its side, and run the engine JUST FAST ENOUGH TO SPIN THE TRACK! It warms up and loosens up the drive belt, chaincase, and track enough that you will not burn the belt when you try to get moving.
 
I throw a jackstand under the rear, the steel cleats on the track leave rust marks on my concrete floor if I don't.
 

Speaking of tracks I pulled a stud out, backer plate and all, so I have a 4 square inch hole. I was thinking of spraying HiTack on the exposed edge. Anyone know of any other way to protect the edge?
 


I'm trying to come up with a good reason why a person would not lift the track clear of the ground. Over lunch or over summer. When I start the sled after an overnight I remove the stand and bounce the track to break any ice buildup, shake the skis,back on the stand, start the engine ,let the track turn and get the chain case oil moveing at IDLE or just above. When done for the time being I put the stand in place and run the track for a couple of minutes to clear the snow out.
 
My sleds have 1.5" paddle tracks so I try to keep them off the ground as much as possible to keep the lugs from folding over and cracking prematurely.....
 
I always prop the back of my machines up so the track is hanging off the ground,over summer storage I often start them and let the track spin
It keeps the track from taking on the shape from sitting flat,the rubber sometimes cracks at the spots where the track was'bent" around the boggie wheels or sliders.I've got a '74 and the track is good,a'95 like new and 5 1970's Ski Whiz by Massey Ferguson..all tracks look good.I got my '74 at home here,engine was tuned and is back in,just need to hook up fuel lines and cable controls.When I bought it new it was the Boss machine in the neighbourhood 440 TNT sm by Ski Doo and it was quick,took it up to 100mph one night and my helmet went into a speed wobble and almost threw me off the machine..that was the last time I ever let a snowmobile max out
 
The old Ski-doo's TNT's with the engine right in front of you were fast but didn't handle very good. Neighbor had a 340 TNT after trading in his 440 because it was too fast. The 340 was still fast. We had a 75 340 TNT with the engine in the belly. It had way better handling but wasn't as fast as the older 340 TNT. Different engine but was also way easier to pull than the older one.
 
Always put the stand under them. Give them a little burp on the throttle to get the snow out.
Why? To keep the track from freezing to the ground and the little throttle keeps any snow from melting and refreezing inside on the sprockets or anywhere else.

My neighbor would park his in the lawn in the snow, more than once after an afternoon of warm temps his track would be frozen up.

Rick
 

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