38 replies to this topic

[snorander]

I haven't had my summer vacation and and I'm getting the itch for snow. Time to start getting my sled ready! Going to drop the rear skid, I have never done it so it should be fun.

Edited by snorander, 31 August 2010 - 02:39 PM.

[Rad8165]

snorander, on 29 July 2010 - 11:40 AM, said:

I haven't had my summer vacation and and I getting the itch for snow. Time to start getting my sled ready! Going to drop the rear skid, I have never done it so it should be fun.

My buddy next door says it is not hard! He has one of those nice lifts though so it makes it easy for him!

[snorander]

A lift would be nice, but I don't have one of those LOL. I'll probably make a stand for it out of 2x4's or something along those lines to hold the rear end up....I'll figure it out.

[Rad8165]

The lifts ,I think are about 200 bucks! you will always have it after that, and i used his once on a rebiuld of the 380 i have, it was so nice to put it at a nice height to work on!

[snorander]

I'll save the $200 to go towards my new sled some day LOL!

[gunmaker]

I drilled 2 holes in the rafters in the garage, put a solid bar into the holes, bought one of those yellow ratchet straps and hoisted it up. Ran a floor jack under the track to ease it down and up when it was time.

[Patriot]

I have a rule that I can't start working on the Ski Doo until the Sea Doo is put away for the winter. Still have a couple months to ride the Sea Doo, so the Ski Doo will have to remain in hibernation.

[snorander]

Well I don't have a Sea Doo so your rules don't apply LOL

Funny you mention the drilling the holes in the rafters I was in my garage looking where I could do that LOL!

[smallengineguy]

An air wrench can help immensely too. A lot of times the skid bolts just spin in the cross tubes and a regular ratchet is useless. An air wrench will "shock" them out.

[SHOWEM]

Patriot, on 29 July 2010 - 03:13 PM, said:

I have a rule that I can't start working on the Ski Doo until the Sea Doo is put away for the winter. Still have a couple months to ride the Sea Doo, so the Ski Doo will have to remain in hibernation.

Thats funny!! I was thinking the same thing. I have a seadoo jet boat and with this nice weather were having I'll use the boat until Sept. and then get the sled ready after that. I did start the sled the other day just to get a fix on some 2 stroke fumes!1 LOL

[snorander]

smallengineguy, on 30 July 2010 - 06:37 AM, said:

An air wrench can help immensely too. A lot of times the skid bolts just spin in the cross tubes and a regular ratchet is useless. An air wrench will "shock" them out.

Well I don't have a compressor or air tools, so I'll have to hope for the best!

Taking it apart is easy, it's the putting it back together that worries me

Edited by snorander, 30 July 2010 - 09:06 AM.

[Old Thumper]

I have one of those 4 section ladders that can be folded up in multiple different configurations. I set it up as a step ladder (6 or 7 feet tall) and straddle it over the tail of the sled. Then use straps to suspend the back of the sled as high as I want it. Not necessary if you have exposed rafters above, but I have a finished ceiling in my shop.

Before putting the skid back in, compress the shocks (I use bar clamps) then restrain them in the compressed position with nylon cord or cargo straps. Makes it much easier to wrestle the skid back into position.

[snorander]

Thanks for the tip Thumper. I've had this sled since I bought it new (fall of 95) & I have never had the skid out. I replaced the Hyfax a year ago, but I cheated & just loosened the track, enlarged the windows, & slid them off & on that way. Replaced the rear shock last winter, but I think it times for rear springs as the old girl isn't rebounding all the by itself. time to take it all apart give it a through cleaning, inspection, & greasing...

[prp77]

smallengineguy, on 30 July 2010 - 06:37 AM, said:

An air wrench can help immensely too. A lot of times the skid bolts just spin in the cross tubes and a regular ratchet is useless. An air wrench will "shock" them out.

An easy trick is to back the "free side" bolt out enough to slide an open end wrench over the exposed threads. Then tighten the bolt back down onto the wrench. That should allow you to loosen the "stubborn" side. Once both sides have been loosened you should not have a problem backing both out with hand tools.

[Old Thumper]

snorander, on 30 July 2010 - 11:48 AM, said:

Thanks for the tip Thumper. I've had this sled since I bought it new (fall of 95) & I have never had the skid out. I replaced the Hyfax a year ago, but I cheated & just loosened the track, enlarged the windows, & slid them off & on that way. Replaced the rear shock last winter, but I think it times for rear springs as the old girl isn't rebounding all the by itself. time to take it all apart give it a through cleaning, inspection, & greasing...

15 years - holy crap. You should plan on changing all the bearings in the wheels. I don't know what SkiDoo has on the skid pivots - Yamaha has plastic bushings that wear out - but have a look at those too while it is out. I would also check out the bearing on the speedometer pickup side of the drive axle. Those don't usually last too long. (the chaincase side bearing gets lube from the chaincase, so those go a long time)
Happy wrenching

[snorander]

Old Thumper, on 30 July 2010 - 01:24 PM, said:

15 years - holy crap.

LOL, I got 13 years out of the Hyfax and believe it or not I am only on my second drive belt, still have the original as a spare! But I am going put a new one this fall....

[NHsledin]

Patriot, on 29 July 2010 - 03:13 PM, said:

I have a rule that I can't start working on the Ski Doo until the Sea Doo is put away for the winter. Still have a couple months to ride the Sea Doo, so the Ski Doo will have to remain in hibernation.

Come on...what do you have to do? Take it off the trailer and start it?

I have one sled that needs wiring fixed...stupid chipmuck paid with its life. Oops sorry dear about the blood on your snowmobile cover.

[steviep]

snorander, on 30 July 2010 - 11:48 AM, said:

Thanks for the tip Thumper. I've had this sled since I bought it new (fall of 95) & I have never had the skid out. I replaced the Hyfax a year ago, but I cheated & just loosened the track, enlarged the windows, & slid them off & on that way. Replaced the rear shock last winter, but I think it times for rear springs as the old girl isn't rebounding all the by itself. time to take it all apart give it a through cleaning, inspection, & greasing...

For future infomation you don't have to enlarge the holes, skidoo provides one set of holes that are bigger that the rest just for that purpose.

[noxorc]

snorander, on 29 July 2010 - 11:40 AM, said:

I haven't had my summer vacation and and I getting the itch for snow. Time to start getting my sled ready! Going to drop the rear skid, I have never done it so it should be fun.

I dream snow everyday, the itch never goes a way.

Might I ask why drop the rear skid? Is there something broken or warn down you want to replace?
Keep us updated with your progress (with pic's). We will all learn something from it.

I have a few things I am adjusting while the weather is nice.

[Rad8165]

Like Thumper said change the wheel bearings, but I would go to eastern bearings for them and pay 1/3 the price for them!