Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 08:38:25 MST
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles
Subject: Re: Season tune-up 
Distribution: usa
Organization: Brigham Young University, Provo UT USA
From: bigdog@bones.et.byu.edu (Dan Canfield)

In article <1992Nov11.135809.28435@tellab5.tellabs.com> don@tellabs.com (Donald Leonard) writes:
>
>Looks like you've covered all the bases. I take mine to the car
>wash now and then to blast the engine compartment clean. The
>suspension gets hosed down after every trip either at home or the
>car wash. This keeps the salt content down. I also sand and paint
>the exhaust and ski's, drop the rear and front suspension and manually clean
>all bushings and shafts then re-grease. Check all the wheel
>bearings to make sure none have seized. Two of them were shot on my
>sled. I found them the other night. I found them in the wheels at
>the rear of the slide suspension. They were totally shot... not
>even a good cleaning would help. My guess is they take the most beating 
>during turns. The inside one is fine.
>
>Two questions: 
>First... why wash the drive belt??? Or are you the type that wipes
>the engine down after a ride?? :-) 
>

I wash the drive belts under two circumstances.  When they are new.  This
is because the belts have a slick release agent on them from the molds.  
Using soap and water, this agent is removed and the smoked belt syndrome
is reduced with the new belt.

Also, at the first of the year I wash the belt because they seem to 
attract grime and dirt when in storage over the summer.  I spend all the
time cleaning the clutches so it seems natural to make sure the belt is
clean when it goes on.

The first of the season may not be important for washing the belts, but
if you don't wash your new belts, you should really start.  I use Dawn
dishwashing soap and a little scrub brash and wash the contact surfaces
of the belts.  We have been doing this for years, and the last couple
of Polaris race siminars I have been to they are now recommending it also.


>Second... did you drill your suspension bolts when you installed the 
>grease zerks?? Or did you buy the kit from Metalman???
>

Not sure what you mean by "drilling the bolts".  I drilled all of the
suspension tubes that pivot around the cross bars and installed grease
zerks.  I also drilled and installed zerks on the spindle housing of
the trailing arms so I could grease the spindles.  Also, the housing that
the speedometer hooks into down on the driveshaft.  I believe the new
Indys have these mods from the factory.

Your absolutely right on the boggie wheels.  I had never given them
much thought until last year when my brother and I both toasted 2 each.
Now they get a clean and re-grease every so often (once a year).  Also,
if you have to replace those bearings, don't buy them from the Polaris
dealer.  I found them at the Kaman bearing distributor for half what my
dealer wanted for them.

You mention that you sand and paint the skis.  Have you found a paint
that is durable enough to last.  I know that the bottoms get polished
off pretty quick, but the tops of the skis take some abuse also.  We painted
ours with an automotive enammel last year, and it lasted about half the 
season before it started to wear off.  I am talking about parts of the skis
like the lift handles and reinforcing ribs.



Dan Canfield
bigdog@bones.et.byu.edu

DoD #0071,RP90
'89 FJ1200
'89 Indy707
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