Performing Pre-Season Snowmobile Maintenance
from www.snowmobile-ed.com

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Always give your snowmobile a checkup before the season starts. It’s easier to fix a problem while the snowmobile is in the garage instead of waiting until it spoils your fun on the trail. Consult your owner’s manual for items that may need to be lubricated, tightened, adjusted, aligned, or checked for wear. Key items include:

• Brakes
• Carburetor
• Chain
• Clutch
• Drive belt
• Fuel filter
• Handlebars
• Lights
• Shocks
• Skis/Skag bars
• Spark plugs
• Steering system
• Throttle
• Track
• Windshield
  Also be sure to perform all recommended maintenance.
  
  

  Key Items To Check

  Be sure to consult your owner’s manual before you attempt any adjustments or repairs. Taking your machine to a licensed snowmobile mechanic may be your best bet.

  
  Maintaining a Clean, Quiet Machine

  Beyond the pre-season checkup and maintenance, you can follow these suggestions to make sure your snowmobile runs cleaner and quieter.
  Use high-grade oil and gasoline, which burn cleaner.
  
  Tune the engine for your altitude, including the proper carburetor jet setting, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
  
  Change the spark plugs at least once during the season to ensure efficient fuel burning.
  
  Avoid opening and closing the throttle continuously, which causes inefficient fuel burning and increases emissions and noise.
  Don’t tamper with your exhaust pipes as that causes the machine to exceed legal noise limits.

Preparing to Ride
from www.snowmobile-ed.com

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Developing the Seven Traits of a Safe Snowmobiler
Safe snowmobilers know that they are responsible for their snowmobile and for their behavior while operating it. They demonstrate responsibility by learning about their snowmobile and by improving their riding skills. In doing this, they begin to exhibit the seven traits of a safe snowmobiler, who:

• Understands the mechanics of the snowmobile.
• Respects both its capabilities and its limitations.
• Maneuvers skillfully through a variety of operating conditions.
• Knows and observes the laws governing snowmobiles.
• Uses good judgment.
• Respects others and the environment.
• Purchases a snowmobile that has a label of certification from the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee.

Adjusting the Snowmobile to Your Size and Riding Style
Your position on the machine affects its handling. Follow the instructions in your manual to adjust these items.

• Handlebars: Set them at a height so that you can steer and operate the controls comfortably, minimizing strain on your arms.
  
  
• Suspension: Adjust the ski suspension and the front and rear of the track suspension to match your weight and riding style.
  
• Headlight: Adjust the tilt of the headlight according to the load distribution on your machine. For example, if you typically sit back on the seat or carry a load at the rear of the snowmobile, the front rides higher than normal; therefore, the headlight may need to be tilted downward slightly.
  
• Mirror: Adjust the mirror according to your height and sitting position. During a ride, you may need to adjust the mirror to reduce glare from lights behind you.

Preparing Yourself for Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is physically demanding, and riding for hours at a time requires stamina. To enjoy your time on the trail fully, you should:

Be in good physical condition.

• Get plenty of sleep and eat nutritious food before and during your ride.
  
• Drink plenty of water to replace the fluids you lose through sweating, even in freezing weather.
  
• Avoid riding when you are ill or fatigued, which affects your judgment and reaction time possibly leading to accidents.
  

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