Buying a snowmobile is no small investment. When you put your money into a good sled, you need to make sure it will live long. In order to extend your machine’s life, you have to dedicate yourself to doing maintenance.

Aside from the usual service check-ups, repairs, cleaning, paint refreshment and using good engine oil, you need to use good antifreeze. Let’s talk a bit about this!

What is antifreeze?

Antifreeze or coolant is a solution containing a mixture of water, additives and a component that serves as a base. The main agents that go into an antifreeze gel are as follows:

Methanol (methyl alcohol) – is the most basic alcohol compound in chemistry. Its properties include volatile, flammable, no color and with a strong, particular smell. It can be used as antifreeze, solvent or fuel.

Ethylene glycol – is a solution with high boiling point. This makes it good as an antifreeze compound. Because it is highly toxic for humans, it is important to be dealt with properly. When ingested, it triggers symptoms similar to many diseases and it is hard to detect in the body. Careful handling is mandatory.

Propylene glycol – it is a chemical solution with lower toxic properties. This makes it popular as antifreeze. However, it can also become very corrosive. This affects the metal components of your engine and cooling system.

Glycerol – this solution is non-toxic, non-corrosive and behaves amazingly in high temperatures. Compared to the other compounds, glycerol does not have a very low freezing point.

When using antifreeze for your snowmobile, you will always mix it with water. The most common ratio is 50-50 or, in some cases producers advice on 60-40.

What is antifreeze used for?

Antifreeze is a solution that goes into the machine’s cooling system to help it balance engine temperature. During low temperature conditions, it helps lower the freezing point of a water-containing liquid. This extends to the whole engine system that operates a lot of heat transfer.

In hot weather or high temperature conditions, the same antifreeze gel will help increase the boiling point of the liquid. This in turn will prevent the machine’s system from overheating and crashing.

How to fill your sled with antifreeze?

Putting in antifreeze into your snowmobile can be a bit of a mess, especially if you do it alone. But do not panic, it is quite easy. You need to start by getting your sled ready.

#1 Buy a coolant/antifreeze as per specifications and prepare the mixture. Normally the manual tells you what conditions a good antifreeze should meet. The water-agent ratio depends on producer guideline and specifications.

#2 Drain the coolers of the existing solution. Pull off your lowest hose of the cooling system. To help with the draining, you can raise the rear end of your sled on a jack stand. The tracks should stay on the ground.

#3 Pour the antifreeze mixture slowly using a hose. This is very important to follow. The slow pouring will allow the air to escape and not go inside the reservoir.

#4 Make sure all air is out of the reservoir. While you pour the antifreeze, you may feel that it is full. A good way to check if air is out and tank full is to watch the head vent. When you see a steady stream of liquid coming back through it, you are good.

How to check antifreeze level?

In order to check the level on your snowmobile’s antifreeze, you need to take off the hood. This is an easy procedure. The hood is held in place by a few screws that you can take off in your own garage or yard.

After opening the hood, you can see your entire coolant reservoir. Now, it depends on the type, brand or year of fabrication of your snowmobile. The reservoir may have level lines or not. Some sleds come without markings for the liquid level.

If you are not convinced of what you see, go to your manual. It should specify what the recommended amount of antifreeze is or give you some markings to follow.

How often should you change snowmobile coolant?

You should ideally follow the user manual and comply to that specs. However, most people recommend changing it every 3-5 years or 5000-6000 miles. This depends on your riding style, but changing coolant doesn’t usually impact performance unless your engine is overheating.

Where to buy antifreeze for your particular snowmobile?

Any snowmobile dealership or service store keeps antifreeze. The brands differ however. The producers might have that covered. They produce antifreeze that goes specifically with your type of sled.

Auto stores and gas stations all have antifreeze on sale. If you prefer the convenience of home delivery, you can buy antifreeze online. You can read their specifications, composition and decide whether it is right for your snowmobile. On Amazon (link to Amazon), you can check if a particular antifreeze fits your sled and read users reviews.

Generally, any antifreeze will do for most machines. Another thing to consider is whether you want to buy a premised solution or just the main agent. In the latter case, you will have to prepare your own mixture at a 50-50 ratio (antifreeze – distilled water). The premixed gel adds a few dollars to your purchase, but makes it easier for you.

Advice!

Handle the antifreeze carefully, use gloves at all times. You can even go for a facemask to avoid inhalation of toxic components.

If you don’t know your way around it, it may be safer to ask for professional help.

Do not play with the ratio when mixing antifreeze. Using less than 50% antifreeze and more water can cause serious damage to your snowmobile. You will not be saving any money on this, on the contrary.

Check out our recommended gear page here.

The post Snowmobile Antifreeze/Coolant – All you need to know appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

In this article, we’re going to focus mainly on snowmobiles: how they work, what are the most common issues, and what to do in case you encounter one. Particularly, we will look at how to solve engine and snowmobile overheating problems.

Winter is a dream season for many people all around the globe. For some, it’s because of Christmas magic, which means more time with your family, the prospect of snow, and receiving nice gifts. For others, it means winter sports. You can do a lot of activities that involve snow, like skiing, snowboarding, and going with a snowmobile. And there are also some for whom winter is a season that never ends, and they use snowmobiles for everyday travel.

How do snowmobiles work?

Snowmobiles aren’t very common in warm climates as they are, evidently, only used on snow, so if you happen to leave in a southern region, your chance of encountering one is very slim. However, if you go up north, you will see that people use them for more than entertainment, and you will find out that the people use them as often as motorcycles in the southern area.

Built similarly to motorcycles, snowmobiles (often called motor sleds or snow machines) have a heavy engine in the center of the vehicle, with the rider balanced on top of it and with two wheels with rubber tires in front and behind. The snowmobiles have a belt-drive and clutch system that transfers the power from the engine, this way making the tracks rotate.

The engine sends power to the machine through a driveshaft, which makes the axle rotate directly and move the wheels of the sled. The wheels are large gears with teeth placed evenly so they are able to pierce the snow as they slide over it.

Used for fun or ordinary winter travel, snowmobiles are highly entertaining when they are working properly. Then again, as higher-powered modern snowmobiles can reach speeds of 150 mph, they are also dangerous if there is an issue with the vehicle.

Common problems among snowmobiles can come from the snowmobile stator, and they are a failure of the regulator-rectifier; shortened, corroded, or damaged wiring harness or connectors; and overheating.

Is overheating dangerous?

Taking into account that in a normal year, around two million people enjoy snowboarding in just North America alone, the statistics show us that snowmobiles are not as dangerous as they might be perceived. According to a study, about two hundred people die in accidents, and there are over 14,000 injuries per year due to snow machines. (source: Snowmobile injuries in North America by J J Pierz, Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 2003 Apr (p. 409): paragraphs 29-36.].

Nevertheless, just like any other machine, if it’s not working properly, it can become dangerous. Although, here you have to take into account all the other variables that might lead to overheating of the snowmobile.

Still, while having the engine overheat is never a pleasant or normal behavior, it can become unsafe if you find yourself far from a specialized service that can take a look at it. You have to double check if the engine has enough oil, anti-freeze, and if there is a possibility there might be a leak causing the disruption of the engine.

But can it affect the engine?

If you happen to notice your snowmobile is overheating, you should try and test it more to see if the same problem resurfaces. An overheating of the vehicle once shouldn’t hurt it because it normally goes to the point where it shuts off so it can protect the engine.

However, you have to pay attention and not let it do this too many times, as it can cause different technical issues like losing the rings, pistons, or other important components.

For example, if the snowmobile happens to overheat right before you start riding it, the machine should shut down before it overheats and not after. The inside computer should shut down the machine after around three minutes of idling in case the temperature rises over the safe, normal temperature.

In that case, usually the sleds get warmed up around 100-150° F, so any temperature that passes that is considered overheating, and the computer should instantly shut down to protect the engine.

Overheating at idle

Normally if it overheats during idling, it shouldn’t get hot enough to damage the engine, as temperatures rise way more than warm-up level during a normal ride (reaching temperatures of over 190° F).

Compared to cars, which can overheat during long drives, care always will continue to run after overheating (although it is advised to check them periodically so you make sure everything is running smoothly). The piston in cars shrink back to the normal size after cooling down, and snowmobiles can follow the same path and continue functioning while overheated.  The pistons going back to normal size after cool down.

What are the possible causes of snowmobile overheating?

When used excessively, the motor is normally warmed up and runs normally, so it shouldn’t reach the point where it completely shuts down. Just like the engine of a car, the snowmobile stator is similar to an alternator, and it’s what generates electrical power for the vehicle. The common failure for the snowmobile stators is overheating.

The Stator

The stator is a part mounted inside of the motor (some snowmobile models might have it surrounded by a bath of engine oil, while for some it’s dry). Normally, things can get heated inside the motor.

For the high-quality snowmobiles, the stators are built with extremely effective insulation around the wire windings so they could be able to withstand the heat, and, on the other side, a cheaper material might damage the quality of the wire.

The most common cause of failure for a stator is the heat retained, which can cause the insulation to break, possibly leading to a short circuit in the coils. Usually, this happens when the snowmobile is used at high speeds, which gets the engine to run hotter and heats up the stator from increased power output.

2-stroke vs 4-stroke

However, there are also cases for some of the 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines in recent snowmobile models where the stators are often falling from low speed riding on hard snow or riding in high altitude conditions.

Most snowmobiles usually need easy movement on the snow in order to function properly, so you have to keep in mind that mild temperatures might not be a proper environment, so you need enough snow for the engine to start pulling the way it should. The more RMP’s you’re using, the water will spin faster and that leads the coolant to move faster through the system.

Also, the track would spin faster and throw more snow up on the heat exchangers during a faster ride. Another reason for overheating could be that the increased airflow functions better at higher speeds, sending more power to the front radiator.

What to check if you notice it

If you notice your snowmobile is overheating, you might not need to worry just yet. As we’ve established before, there are multiple reasons why the machine would behave that way, and that might have to do with the external environment. Nonetheless, there are also other explanations for overheating, and it might come in handy if you knew exactly what to check and not start tearing the sled apart for some minor issue that’s causing the overheating.

Before going into all the technical details, it might be good to do a checklist of all the things you might have missed like engine oil. You might have thought of that, and you might think it’s a bit silly for you to read this, but it’s never a bad idea to check the oil and make sure it’s in the right quantity and that there are no leaks.

Oil

If there is an insufficient amount of fuel running down the motor, this might be the cause of the overheating problem.  This can cause the motor to get increasingly hot; so hot that it could burn down the entire motor, melting the pistons’ aluminum composition and cause them to get stuck to the cylinder wall, getting the engine to seize.

Fuel

Also, a high-quality fuel is crucial for the machine to work the way it should. The majority of snowmobiles use a 91-octane non-ethanol fuel to maintain the integrity of the motor. It always needs to be fresh fuel, not leftover from last winter. If you have put used fuel, it is recommended to drain it and replace it with a fresh one.

Coolant

Having checked that, we can move on to some other possible explanations for the overheating. You have to make sure the sled has enough coolant, verify if there are some leaks, and/ or tighten the screws and bolts on the head gasket.

Verify all the wires are connected properly. This could make the difference between a normal ride out or a day inside a garage, figuring out what happened.

Check the engine

If you went through that checklist box and checked all of them and the snowmobile is still overheating, this is when you have to start digging a little deeper and check the snowmobile’s engine. For the snowmobile to run properly, there are three components that are crucial:

1. Fuel/air mixture
2. A spark
3. Compression

Should any of them encounter problems when turning on your sled, it can cause the machine to overheat, underperform, or stop running.

Solutions

In case there is mild overheating while riding, you can try and add an extra fan and radiator on the back side of the motor sled, and they would keep the temperature level in case you have to ride it for a long time. That is also a good remedy if you use it when the outside temperature is warmer than the usual.

Another solution to overheating is to buy scratchers. The scratchers are a vital element that helps keep your engine cooler. What they actually do is they scratch up the ice and snow into a tunnel, which is transferred into the heat exchanger, helping to lower the temperature of the coolant that runs through the heat exchanger of the sled. They are also very important on hard-pack trails, as they aid preserving the integrity of the engine as they prevent overheating.

Can you still ride your snowmobile if it overheats?

You can still ride your snowmobile if you happen to notice that the overheating happens when idling. This might stop once you get the snowmobile running on snow at a speed that manages to get the engine running properly and get the oil pumping correctly.

However, if you are using the snowmobile correctly in the right environment and found it to overheat during normal use, you should take your time and revisit all the points and not use it further because it can become dangerous both for the sled and for your own safety.

If it overheats during a long ride, you have to let it sit for thirty or forty minutes in order for it to have enough time to cool down and adjust to the correct temperature.

It normally should allow you to return to riding and get more kilometers, but if you happen to notice it heat again, you would have to stop and let it cool again.

Conclusion

Overheating the engine can be a normal behavior up to a point. Although, if you happen to notice that your vehicle overheats more than normal and you have checked all the steps above and found no leaks or damages, you should definitely contact a mechanic to take a look at it. Waiting passively for it to pass might do further damage to it, and you might end up losing more than a few hundred bucks for the issue.

The post Snowmobile Overheating – What to do? appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

In this article, I am going to give you information on how you can protect your snowmobile by cleaning it properly. The snowmobile will look very good, but the cleaning also prevents the appearance of different problems.

Owning a snowmobile is a dream come true for winter warriors like us. It gives you the chance to ride the snow and enjoy winter at its best. The freedom of riding the snowmobile in the most amazing places is unique. Trust me, I know the feeling and I would not trade it for any other winter activity.

But owning a snowmobile also comes with responsibility. A good snowmobile is definitely a significant investment, not cheap at all. That is why it is important that you take good care of your winter vehicle.

As a general rule, the snowmobile should be kept in a covered space. It is not recommended for the vehicle to be left outside, where it can be exposed to different weather conditions. Imagine that it is left outside from spring to winter, that it a very long time to be exposed to wind, rain, and sun. If you do not have a garage, you must use a good cover for the snowmobile.

Why it is important to clean the snowmobile

The snowmobile must be cleaned and washed after each ride and before you park it for springtime. And you don’t do it just because you want it to look good. It is an important part of the maintenance, to prolong the life of the sled. After you return from a ride, the snowmobile will be full of dirt. This dirt means not only soil but also road salt and minerals from the snow. All these elements can affect both the metal and the plastic elements.

Also, it is easier to remove the dirt if you clean it while it is still fresh. If left for too long, the residues will get thick and it will be very difficult to clean them. Also, many parts will become greasy due to the oil, imagine how difficult it is to clean the grease after a few months.

Cleaning your vehicle after rides is important in order to prevent the rusting of the metal parts and the damage of the plastic material.

Steps for cleaning the snowmobile parts

There are many ways to clean the sleds, and I will tell you how I do it. My method is a thorough one, with all knees and hands at work, not just surface cleaning. I care for my snowmobile and I intend to ride if for many years.

Dirt removal

Generally, before washing, I start with an air compressor to blow the dust and dirt off the snowmobile. Use the air compressor from front to back and blow every part of the vehicle. Do not hesitate to use the compressed air to blow everything under the hood, clutches, rear suspensions, anything you can reach with it.

This is an easy method to remove the dirt, because of the pressure. As long as you make sure you blow everything in the right direction: outside, not further inside. Also, use it with care around sealed areas, not to break anything. For me, the air compressor has made life much easier and the cleaning quicker.

Clutches

Continue with the clutches. They play an important role in the ride and they must perform well. If they are not maintained well, they will create more problems along the way.

There are two clutches: primary (drive) and secondary (driven). Remove the retaining belt and use again the air compressor to blow them thoroughly.

Then I use a nylon brush, a scotch bright pad, and a pulley Flange cleaner. This spray is perfect for the removal of belt residue, grease, and other debris. You can also use acetone or soap and water, as long as you get a good clean. You must insist more on the inside part, to make sure you remove all the belt residue.

Of course, turn the ignition off before starting the process. Use the brush and towels with confidence, you will be happy with the result.

How to clean the carburetors

Keeping your snowmobile’s carburetors cleaned up is essential. Why is that? Because if they aren’t, your engine could have some problems or might not even start. So without any further ado, let’s get to cleaning. There are 2 ways of doing this. Those would be: by removing the carburetors and by not fully removing the carbs. Despite what others would say, the best and fastest way to clean them perfectly is by removing them.

Removing carbs from the snowmobile is very easy. You can do it without any help needed. The hard part comes in when you need to disassemble them in order to do a deep cleaning. I created a step by step guide, so you can do it without any problems:

1. The first thing you need to do in order to remove carbs is to remove the airbox first. After that, most of the snowmobile models have the carbs clamped. You need to unclamp them and just take them out of their intake boots.
2. After you do that, there is a very important thing you need to do. Look between the 2 carburetors. You should find the fuel line there and you have to pull it off the tee intake.
3. Coming up, you will see the throttle and the choke. They are 2 cables that have to be separated from the carb. Be careful, as you will need a special tool in order to do that. That is the needle-nose pliers. It is a really common tool, everyone has one of those in their house. Although you might be tempted, you don’t have to cut anything with this. Use it just to pull the e-clip. This will make unwinding the cable out of its locked-in area very easy.
4. The next step is to unbolt the carb float bowls. You may do that only if you’ve completed the previous instructions successfully.
5. Once you’ve removed the bowl, you will gain access to the internal parts of the carbs. A lot of people will tell you that you’re almost done. The only thing left to do is to get a carb cleaner and just spray it on the bottom. Although it may look brand new, this will not fix any technical problem. That is why the next step is to go further and remove all the jets.
6. Start with the pilot jet, which is usually found down the small tube that you will see as soon as you take the bowl off. You can remove it very easy, and all you need is a screwdriver.
7. The main jet will be your next focus. It is located in the middle of the carburetor. However, this does require either a nut driver or a 6mm socket.
8. The next thing you need to do is to take care of the needle and the seat assembly from inside the bowl. These were the last internal bowl components. If you’ve removed those, it is time to pay attention to the external parts.
9. Next up, look for a big white handle. That is how you find the fuel screw in a matter of seconds. Before you take it off, you need to check the fuel’s screw settings. This is an important part that a lot of people forget.
10. The jet needle is the one that needs to be taken off after that. Simply unbolt the top cover plate using an Allen wrench.
11. After all this work, you can finally clean the main body of the carbs. The best and harmless way to do this is to clean it by applying high-pressure air. You will also need a carburetor cleaner, which you can get from any snowmobile shop. Even some hypermarkets like Walmart have it. I recommend the Berryman Chem-Dip Carburetor for this, as it is cheap and effective. You can find it on Amazon for about 35 dollars. Soak the carbs ports in it and you will instantly see a difference. After that, apply the previous advice: use high-pressure air.
12. The last thing you should do is to reassembly every part of the carbs. If you followed every step from this list, every cleaning problems that you had with the carbs should have disappeared.

How to clean the snowmobile carburetors without removing them

Unfortunately, you can’t clean them just by spraying some cleaner under the hood. There isn’t such a simple method that will still be effective. No matter what you do, you still have to take some parts of them off.

Although, you don’t have to completely take them apart. If you aren’t too familiar with snowmobile’s parts, you may not want to do this. You could screw up a lot of things, so you know how they say, better safe than sorry.

If your carbs really do need some cleaning, just get a friend to clean them for you. I would even call a professional mechanic to do this, as I wouldn’t want to pay for broken parts.

How to clean the snowmobile’s engine

Obviously, the engine is a very fragile and important part from your snowmobile. This means you should treat it accordingly. You can’t just take some water and throw it in there. You will ruin a lot of components, meaning that it will cost you a lot of money. In my opinion, if there is a little bit of dust, but everything works perfectly, you shouldn’t bother with cleaning.

If you decide to go for it, you should take some safety measures first. Firstly, you will need garbage bags. Go ahead and wrap all electronics from under the hood with them. I would suggest you wrap the oil tank as well, just to make sure. This is just to make sure you won’t fry anything because of the liquids.

After that, the cleaner solutions will be your best friends. My recommendation is the Castrol Superclean solution. Apply it on the engine and wait 5 minutes. Take some water and rinse after. It shouldn’t have a lot of pressure, because it will damage the bearings. You can even take a good brush and scrub. When you’re done, grease everything. Take off the bags and that’s it. You can use your engine as a plate now. Just kidding, don’t do that.

How to clean the seat

If we already covered some hard to clean parts, we now came across seat cleaning. This one is very easy to do and also very safe. Destroying your seat while trying to clean it is highly unlikely, so let’s get to it.

Just like earlier, you will only need a solution to properly clean it. In my opinion, you should get a car seat cleaner. It will have the exact same effect on the snowmobile seat. The spray that I use is from Car Guys, and you can find it on Amazon for 17 bucks. It has wonderful results. Here is a link to it.

How to clean the snowmobiles plastics

Again, a really easy procedure. The cleaners will be effective here as well. Be careful, as plastic can have a bad reaction to some of them. Inform yourself before spraying it with a random solution from your house. After a lot of testing, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Armour All Orange Cleaning Wipes are the only things that will make your snowmobiles plastics look factory new.

How to clean the tunnel

The tunnel of the snowmobile can be cleaned just by applying some special solution to it. However, I like to get some better results. You will need to get the snowmobile tunnel cleaner from Sledbrite. It can deoxidize, clean and brighten sled tunnels. All of that, for only 9 dollars. So, after you’ve sprayed cleaner, leave it there for about 3 minutes. After that, start moving the product around with a brush, then wipe. The key of making the tunnel look brand new is to apply some metal polish to it. You can do that using a polishing ball and a common drill. This will make it clean and shiny, in a matter of minutes.

How to clean the chain case

I hear a lot of complaints about this cleaning. People say it is too hard for them to do and don’t want to risk to screw up anything. However, if you do it the right way, you can get this done in seconds. Depending on your strength, you may need a friend to help you with this. Why? Because you will have to lay the sled on its left side. Take off the cover and use a turkey injector to remove all the oil. After that, just use a normal, like carbs or brake cleaner. Put the cover back and you are good to go.

How to clean the windshield

You will need a single thing to clean your windshield: Meguiars Plastx. It is the best product on the market for such cleanings, and the results will be amazing. You can get a bottle from any special store, with about 6 bucks. Definitely worth.

Clean tracks and skis

Once you get to the tracks and skis, you must pay attention to every part of this area. After you’ve used the air compressor to eliminate the dirt, spray a good degreaser all over the place. After a few minutes, you can start cleaning it with a dry towel.

If your snowmobile is parked for a longer period of time, the rubber in the track might deteriorate due to moisture in the ground. Store the snowmobile on a stand, keeping the tracks of the ground is important and helpful.

Under the hood

Next move under the hood. Use an engine degreaser and a couple of towels. You will get dirty, so don’t forget to use some gloves to protect your hands. You want to reach all the places where you can get grease. Use the spray on the exhaust and around the oil reservoir and wait for a few minutes before you start rinsing.

Spray everything there is under the hood because grease is everywhere. You can insist on the belly pan and the exhaust pipe heat shield. Wait a few minutes for the spray to do its effects and then rinse the surfaces. You may need to repeat the process a few more time (spray and rinse) until there is no touch of grease left. Make sure you have more towels, and always wipe clean with a clean tower.

Suspension and rails

The rear suspension and rails are also parts to be careful with. Clean underneath, to make sure there is no gravel. Again, use the air compressor to remove any debris. Anything that gets stuck in between will wear the parts out eventually.

Heat exchangers

Underneath the tunnel, you find the heat exchangers. I clean them out with a nylon brush. It is important to remove minerals from the snow, road salt or mud, all things that get thrown under and cover the heat exchangers.

Wash the snowmobile

After you have worked hard to rinse the parts, you can give the snowmobile a good wash too. I start from front to back, I like to keep things organized.

You can do it the old way with a bucket of water and soap, or you can use a power washer. Use a mild pressure though. The method really depends on the time you have and on the available tools. The important thing is to do a good cleaning.

Start from the front and wash out every part, but make sure you avoid the electrical components. You can cover the engine with plastic bags to protect it.

Now you can say that you have successfully removed all the residue, debris, and grease from the snowmobile.

Polish the snowmobile

Let the snowmobile dry or use clean towels, and you can continue with the polishing.

Use a spray with a non-petroleum based formula. This spray does not harm the plastic parts. Spray and polish the vehicle. After the job is done, use a product for UV protection for the hood, in general wax is recommended.

With simple WD-40 you can rub the seat and the handlebar pads, this will make them all shiny and resistant to sunlight. Besides looking good, wax is also a good dust and dirt repellent.

At the end of the cleaning, never forget to grease and lubricate the suspension and steering elements of the snowmobile, it is a very important step.

Products to use for cleaning the snowmobile 

There are many products available on the market. You can either choose basic cleaning products that you have in your home or buy some specialized products.

This is the list of products I use for cleaning:

• the nylon brushes and the scotch bright pad, because they are very efficient in removing debris;
• several clean towels;
• air compressor;
• car wash soap or a pulley flange cleaner;
• available warm water;
• a good engine degreaser;
• WD-40 works;
• spray cleaner & polish, non-petroleum based formula;
• wax for plastic and metal polish for aluminum parts. The wax has a protective role against the elements, and it also helps the vehicle look shiny;
• protection gloves for your hands.

This is my general process of cleaning the snowmobile. It may seem a difficult and time-consuming process. Actually, it is not and I enjoy it a lot. Especially while I am having a beer and admire the shiny snowmobile.

Because I like to clean my snowmobile regularly, it is well maintained and things go smoothly every time. I would suggest that you take this job very seriously because it will help you enjoy your vehicle for many winters. Of course, when I prepare my sled for hibernation in springtime, I make sure to pay attention to all details. Otherwise, the dirty sled can deteriorate easily while kept unused. The cleaning process must be repeated again in winter time, to get your snowmobile ready to fly.

This list of basic cleaning and maintenance tips and tricks will help you keep the snowmobile working properly for a long time. If you care for it well enough, you will not need to visit the service for different repairs.

Conclusion

You must settle a regular maintenance schedule and follow it. You do not need to be a mechanic to take good care of your snowmobile, you just need to want and use the right products. Another advantage of the cleaning process is that you can notice if anything is wrong, like loose screws or other elements.

You will be able to give as much information as possible to the service operator.

I wish you great rides and I am looking forward to the thrilling winter months. I would love to hear from you any other suggestions for properly cleaning the snowmobile, so leave me a comment.

The post How to Fully Clean a Snowmobile – Step by Step appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Are these different or can you use one for both sports?

Helmets are that piece of gear in your equipment that is NOT optional. When riding a car of any sort, you are inside a habitat. The build of the car protects you from the outside factors.

When riding a snowmobile or a motorcycle, you are out in the open, so you need to ensure you have protection. This is the main reason and focus of a helmet – safety. And you cannot put a price on that, but you can put prices on various helmets. Thus, no matter what extreme sport you practice, you need to shield your head.

But, are helmets universal?

Are snowmobile and motocross helmets the same?

Short and to the point: no! Each type of helmet has a particular structure. This structure has been studied and put together to offer the highest degree of protection possible. Of course, this also is adapted to each particular sport and the potential dangers it exposes you to.

Therefore, the primary difference between a snowmobile helmet and one for motocross is the shield. A helmet dedicated to snowmobile use is made out of a double pane shield. By comparison, a motocross helmet will only have a one pane shield.

Motocross helmet

Snowmobile helmet

Motocross & snowmobile helmets compared

At first, you might think to yourself a double pane is better than one.  However, the reasoning goes beyond that.

Single pane shield vs. Dual pane shield  

In motocross, the shield needs to offer extreme protection from impact. This means the shield needs to be harder and more resistant to impact. A single, harder-paned shield will do a great job if properly manufactured.

For snowmobiles, you not only need to prevent impact but have to keep away the cold as well. This means that a helmet designed for snowmobiles will have a dual-paned shield also to isolate the cold.  In addition, the two panes have the role of minimizing the fogging effect on the shield from the cold weather.

In between the two panes, there is a thin layer of gas. This layer prevents the heat transfer acting as insulation.

A single shield motocross helmet does not withstand the low temperatures involved in winter sports.

We’ve talked about the main difference between the two types and their most important common factor – protection.

Now let’s see what elements form a helmet for both activities and how they compare to one another.

Helmet types

First off, there a many types of helmets available. In order to choose one that suits you, you need to consider what type of rider are you. Once you get your answer, you can make a good purchase.

The basic types are these:

Snowmobile helmets

• Full Face
• Modular
• Dual Sport Style
• Snocross/Motocross (do not get confused, it is a type name, not a double use helmet)

Motocross helmets

• Full Face
• Off-road
• Modular/Flip-up
• Open face or ¾ helmet
• Half helmet

Looking at the lists of helmet types, it becomes obvious that they all bare a resemblance.

The full head helmet covers the entire head, has few to no moving parts, and offers the best protection. In both activities, the full head is protected from great impact; while in snowmobiling, it also keeps the cold and wind noise out.

The modular helmet is a compromise between the full head and open face helmet by allowing the chin to be free. However, it does have a chin protection bar that the rider can choose to move aside or remove. Although the protection is lower on this style, some opt for it because of the easy access to their face. If you stop often and need to drink water, for example, it is less frustrating with the modular helmet.

Breath guard

You will find this feature in snowmobile helmets but not in motocross types. This guard seals your nose and mouth so that the air will not condense on the shield.  In turn, the breath guard redirects the air you expel to the bottom of the helmet and out.

There are options to install a breath guard later if your helmet does not have one from the start.

Ventilation systems

Either on a snowmobile or a motorcycle, ventilation is important. If the air cannot move through, moisture and heat will build up.

When using a snowmobile during winter conditions, the moisture can build up inside and become sticky and uncomfortable. For motocross riders, the problem is similar but not due to the temperature. Usually, the temperatures are high when doing motocross, and, if the heat cannot disperse, you get very hot. The same goes for the moisture factor, which can also impair your vision.

Some helmets come with adjustable vents that allow the rider to choose how much airflow to circulate.

Safety regulations & ratings

When you buy a helmet, you need to know how safe it is for you. After all, we established that protection is the main goal. To help assess this, safety systems have been developed. Nevertheless, laws vary greatly worldwide, and countries have different standards and guidelines.

Basically, what they measure in a helmet is:

• Impact – the shock absorbing capacity
• Penetration – the ability to withstand an impact with a sharp object
• Retention – how well the chin strap holds fastened
• Peripheral vision – how wide is the visual field

Among the many systems defined, we’ll mention 3 frequently used:

DOT – all helmets should at least pass this standard and be DOT certified.

Snell – this is a standard set by a US non-profit named after a well-known sports car racer who died due to head injuries. He was wearing a helmet that failed to offer enough protection. This organization sets a much higher standard. They test the helmets themselves to make sure they comply.

ECE – this is a standard set by the Economic Commission for Europe. It is comparable to the DOT with a few additional criteria. They also require a sample helmet to be sure it meets the conditions.

These kinds of security systems apply to all helmets: snowmobile or motocross. When buying one for yourself, you can verify the safety level by checking the certifications.

Next time you’re shopping for a helmet, think safety first and money later. Do your research and make sure it is a certified helmet that will protect your life. Using the same helmet for motocross as well as on your snowmobile might be money saving short-term. But on the long-term, your life is on the line.

The post Snowmobile Helmets vs Motocross Helmets appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Snowmobiling is one of the many winter attractions for seasonal hobbies. If you are not into high slopes and heavy skis or boards, this is an option. Or maybe you just want a bit of motorized excitement into your life.

Owning or renting a snowmobile may not come cheap. For the aficionados of such winter activities, there is a whole hustle that goes with the thrill of sporting. And when you own a snowmobile, problems are bound to happen. Let’s answer the issue of a backfire when starting your sled.

What is an engine backfire?

A backfire is a small explosion that happens when an engine is running. This happens internally, but it is not uncommon also to witness a small flame.

Backfires occur in internal combustion engines, yet the explosion takes place outside the combustion chamber. The reason for this is an unbalanced amount of fuel and air.

If the mixture of these two components is richer in air, then the ignition fails. The fuel remains unburnt, but it still has to travel out of the system. Inside the system’s exhaustion pipe, the fuel may ignite as a reaction with the hot components.

The same happens when the imbalance is the other way around. If you get a mixture of more fuel and less air, ignition does not happen. Still, the fuel comes out of the machine reacting with the hot environment in the exhaustion.

Another possibility is a backfire produced before the combustion chamber. When you start your engine, the plug holding the spark might fire too soon. This causes combustion that reaches into the intake manifold and fires up the mixture of fuel and air. The explosion caused by these untimed events finds its way out of the carburetor, and there you can have another backfire.

Before or after the combustion chamber – it does not matter. The phenomenon manifests with a loud noise or pop. In common terms, we call such a noise a backfire.

When & why does a backfire occur?

Most often, people describe hearing backfires when starting the engine. However, it can happen when turning off the engine or when slowing down.

There are many reasons for such an event. You are advised to check your engine, exhaustion, plugs, pipes, fuel mixture, etc.

Here are some potential factors that cause backfires:

• The spark plug(s) might be damaged, overused, dirty, or wet. This prevents the ignition from properly firing. Get new spark plugs (link to Amazon) if you need but make sure they are good!
• Not allowing your engine to properly shut down. Before completely stopping the snowmobile, give the engine time to reach idle mode. Only then can you turn it off.
• The fuel quality and ratio. Too much fuel or too much air doesn’t allow proper ignition. Also, additives in the composition of the fuel can cause a fire. Butane is often a reason for such reactions. Check your fuel! Water may also accumulate in the gas.
• Bad timing. When igniting the fuel, the spark plug can open sooner than expected and unburnt fuel comes out the exhaust pipe, exploding. Improper wiring also is a cause for bad timing.
• A problematic catalytic converter. When damaged or missing altogether, a converter can cause backfires down the pipe. Check your converters!
• It is not out of question having a mouse or small creature live inside your exhaustion system. Check it out by undoing the exhaust pipe from the head pipe and getting a good look!
• When all else failed, take your snowmobile to “the doctor” for a check-up. It could be trouble with the coils or other components.

In any case, a backfire, regardless of what caused it, signals a malfunction of the system. Ignoring the situation will not make it go away and, in the long run, it can cause more damage.

Do backfires harm the engine?

As mentioned, a backfire rarely is a cause for no concern. Unless it is the desired effect like in custom-built racecars, it means something doesn’t function well.

When a component is faulty, the fuel cannot burn entirely. This has undesirable effects over time. If the bad combustion happens inside the exhaustion system, the pipes and converters will suffer progressive damage. At the same time, if the explosion is strong, some other component may crack.

The bottom line is that it all depends on what caused the backfire and how strong it is. Your snowmobile may be in trouble, or it could survive to see another one.

Tips on how to prevent backfires

There are things you can consider to keep your snowmobile from backfiring. First and foremost: maintenance.

• Do regular check-ups and keep the machine up to date. Most manuals that come with a vehicle have a set of caring tips.
• Keep the exhaust clean at all times. A dirty or clogged exhaust system will enhance the effects of faulty combustion.
• Keep a healthy catalytic converter. When this piece is compromised, backfiring can happen in the exhaustion.
• Make sure your spark plugs are clean and in mint condition. Maybe you don’t want to be that old fellow that keeps poking on their toy. Yet, good sense and cleanliness can help prevention.
• Ensure airflow through the system is good. The valves and sensors should be working properly. If too much air reaches the fuel, the imbalance will cause backfires.

A healthy body makes for a strong and reliable individual. The same applies to machines like the snowmobile. They are powerful vehicles with an ability for thrilling experiences. Speed and challenging terrain make snowmobiling an exciting hobby and activity.

Short intro to snowmobiles

We found a cool name for it, but the truth is that a snowmobile is a motorized sled. It is how grown-ups cope with missing childhood and winter play. Thus, adults have their own fun in the snow in a slightly more speedy way than childhood.

Also known as a motor sled/sledge or snowmachine, it has been created for driving on snow or ice. There is no need to follow a road or trail; you can drive one over any type of terrain, with snow of course. For many, this is far more convenient than skiing at resorts or the weight of carrying a snowboard or skis uphill.

Originally, snowmobiles were designed with two-stroke engines and kept simple. Nowadays, the most common machines have either a two- or four-stroke engine on them. To keep up with new trends and advances, electrical sleds are coming up in the market.

A strong quality of these vehicles is their ability to reach remote places. With a mountain snowmobile, rescue interventions, for example, are much easier.

Conclusion

However, poor maintenance or lack of it will lead your snowmobile to give up. Remember that backfires might signal damage or malfunction. Keep your hands dirty and your snowmobile healthy!

Check out our recommended gear page for some tips.

The post Why does my Snowmobile Backfire? appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Are you a sports enthusiast that is looking for a new one that will increase your adrenaline? In that case, you’ve probably already thought about snowmobiling as I did. It is a really interesting and fun sport but does come with some risks.

Everyone knows that a snowmobile can be dangerous, even if you are very familiar with it. Even the smallest mistake can cause a terrible accident. However, in my opinion, you need to take some risks in order to have fun. Just make sure you don’t try anything silly.

In order to prevent anything a bad scenario, you need to wear protective gear. Although not as important as a helmet, you need to get yourself some handguards. That is why, in this article, I’m going to present and recommend the best snowmobile handguards on the market. If you don’t like those, I’ve also included information about a nice alternative to those.

What are snowmobile handguards and why do you need them?

Although you can imagine what they are just by thinking about their name, not everyone heard of them. They are 2 pieces of material, usually plastic, that need to be mounted on the handlebars of the snowmobile. Most of the times, snowmobile handguards don’t come with a mounting kit, so you need to buy that separately. We are going to cover this as well later in the article.

Many people ask me: “Why would you need these if you already have snowmobile gloves?”. The answer is not too complicated. You do need them if you want to keep your hands not only safer but also warmer and cleaner.

Let’s imagine a certain situation. You want to go for a ride with your snowmobile, but the weather isn’t too friendly. It is a cold, rainy and windy day outside. Because of the rain, there is a lot of wet and nasty snow on the ground. The snowmobile handguards will deflect the wind, and will also keep your hands dry and clean, by blocking the dirty snow. You will also feel safer because you know you have another layer to protect you in case of an accident.

Yes, I agree that a good pair of gloves can do some of those things. However, they can’t protect you from flying pieces of ice on the road. Although not being a must on a snowmobile, they are a nice thing to own. In my opinion, more protection is always better.

Characteristics and Specs

Snowmobile handguards are pretty straight forward. Like I told you before, they are not some advanced electric piece of gear. Therefore, they don’t have too many complicated specs. You should consider waterproof handguards. If you did practice this sport before, you probably know how annoying wet gloves and hands are. That is why this is such an important characteristic.

The second spec some people would probably want is removable vent covers. Depending on the area that you live in, you may want to consider that as well when buying handguards. If you live in a country where there are some high temperatures, this way, you could easily remove the vent covers. This way you could assure better airflow. If those temperatures drop, you can just put it back very easy.

Materials

As I’ve told you earlier, they are usually made from a type of plastic. It should be strong enough to deflect any incoming pieces of ice, but shouldn’t bend too much in the wind. It will be very helpful if the material will be waterproof. This way, you will not get wet hands, one of the most frustrating things while snowmobiling.

Sizes

Snowmobile handguards come in a lot of sizes. You might be tempted to go for really big ones in order to feel safer, but that is not always a good call. Although it may provide a little bit more protection, they will be frustrating when doing other small things. You can’t even stretch while taking a break, because chances are, you might be hitting them because of the size.

Another uncomfortable situation is when you are putting the helmet on. They will not break if you hit them, but you can change their position. Adjusting them back every time you do this can get very irritating.

On the other hand, too small handguards are not good either. They are not going to effectively block any ice, wind or water from your hands. They will feel annoying when you are keeping your hands on the handlebar as well.

With that being said, the medium size is the best. They shouldn’t make you uncomfortable in any way. However, they should be able to block every obstacle of your hands, coming from the front.

Design

Coming up, we’ve got the design of them. Many people will ignore it, but that shouldn’t be your case. They come in a bunch of different colors and patterns, so you shouldn’t buy a set if you don’t like the design of it. People usually paint their snowmobiles in some crazy colors in order to express themselves. If you want to do that as well, go for it. There will most likely be a pair of snowmobile handguards out there that will suit your needs.

However, there aren’t a lot of options when it comes to their form. Most of them tend to look like the back of a car mirror. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In my opinion, they look badass just like that.

Which are the best ones?

PowerMadd 34410 handguards

My number one recommendation must be the PowerMadd 34410 Sentinel. These snowmobile handguards really have everything that you’ve wished for. It has one of the sleekest design out there, even though it doesn’t come in a variety of colors. You know how they say, black goes with everything. This definitely applies to the snowmobiles as well.

It is a little bit larger than the normal size and will surely keep your hands protected and warm. Despite its larger size, it isn’t uncomfortable in any way, I didn’t find myself ever touching them by mistake. The plastic that is made of is flexible and hard at the same time. You shouldn’t rely on it too much though. They will block little things like debris and small rocks but they won’t keep you protected from thick tree branches.

Unfortunately, it isn’t waterproof, but their size is compensating that. Its measurements are 11x3x6 inches. The price is more than great. Only 35 dollars for a pair. If you consider this expensive, you should remember that these will last for years. It has a 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Here is the link to it.

PowerMadd 34210 handguards

The second option is going to be from PowerMadd as well, the 34210 Star Series model. These are medium size and are fairly similar to the previous one. Their dimensions are 10.3×2.5×9.3 inches. They are made from the exact type of plastic, so your hands will be fine no matter the weather.

Compared to the previous model, this ones comes in 14 different colors. Insane, right? You can match it with your snowmobile just by selecting the color that you like. It also has a removable vent cover. I already told you earlier what this is, so scroll up if you forgot.

Some people tend to break snowmobile handguards by mistake when installing them. If this is your case, you are in luck. It has a 1 year “no questions asked” warranty. That means you can get your money back in case you broke it unintentionally. Even though the set costs only 31 dollars, it is still a nice thing to have.

If you bought it but somehow it doesn’t fit your snowmobile, you can return it immediately. This one is a more popular model, with 79 customer reviews. It has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon and a lot of happy clients. You can check the current price on this link.

Rox Speed FX Flex Tec handguards

If you consider this too cheap and low quality, I have something for you too. Next up, we’ve got a product from Rox. This brand is very popular in the sports niche, making gear with insane quality. It is called the Rox Speed FX Flex Tec. Yes, you’ve read that right. It has a technology that allows it to twist and flex if you happen to roll over, so it doesn’t break.

Even racers use those, this should tell you a lot about them. It is also fairly easy to install and has extended lower flashing to protect you from the cold and wind. They are made from waterproof materials, so your hands will stay dry as well.

The price is similar to the quality of these snowmobile handguards: high. It costs approximately 120 dollars on Amazon. It doesn’t have too many reviews because of the price, but I can assure you will not regret buying this. It is a bit big though, with its measurements being 12x12x4.6 inches.

The design is pretty interesting with the 3D logo Rox printed on the front. I highly suggest you buy those if you can afford them. I will save you 2 minutes by giving you the link to Amazon.

How do you mount them?

A lot of friends of my blamed me because I recommended them these products, but they couldn’t install them. Let me tell you why this happened. Usually, snowmobiles handguards don’t come with the mounting kit. This means you can’t install them with what you get in the certain pack.

You will have to buy that separately. If you are one of those people, I have to tell you I’m sorry. It is your fault because you haven’t read the snowmobile handguard set’s description.

You can easily solve this by searching for a mounting kit. These will fit any snowmobile, and usually, any snowmobile handguard. These kits are different from the ATV ones, so watch what you are buying. Instead of wasting several minutes by doing that, let me recommend you some.

PowerMadd 34450 Sentinel Mounting Kit

If you bought my number one recommendation from earlier, you are probably going to need a special mounting kit. It is called PowerMadd 34450 Sentinel, and it will only fit Sentinel models from the PowerMadd brand.

This mounting kit is made from 6061 anodized aluminum, in order to be durable and lightweight. The best part is that you need half an inch of space near your handlebar grips in order to install it. So it will not meet the clutch, break or any important button on your snowmobile.

It costs as much as a snowmobile handguards set, but there aren’t any cheap options. Think of it this way: you only have to buy those once. The clients are satisfied with it, being really easy to install. Here is the link.

PowerMadd 34250 Mounting Kit

If you have another model of handguards, you should go for a mounting kid from the same brand. However, this one is universal and will fit any pair of snowmobile handguards. It’s called PowerMadd 34250 Star Series and it costs about 29 dollars. Again, there aren’t any cheap mounting kits. You can try shops like Walmart, but those sets will most likely let you down.

There are a lot of unfortunate mistakes made by people with mounting kits as well. They may seem very easy to install, but not everyone is good with those. PowerMadd already has your back with a 1 year no question asked warranty, just like it has for some handguards. You may not need it, but you never know. This one takes about 2 or 3 minutes to install, just like the previous one.

The looks are the same and it still requires half an inch to install. It is fairly popular and has 88 customer reviews on the Amazon online shop. Having a 4 out of 5 stars review, people seem to really love this one. Check the current price on Amazon clicking this link.

Snowmobile bar muffs

Before ending this article, I want to present to you a nice alternative in case you don’t like snowmobile handguards. They are basically gloves for your handlebar. They have the exact same purpose as the handguards, but being made out of fabric, they aren’t that protective. You will keep your hands inside them while you are holding the handlebar. That’s why you will not need to pair them with an insanely thick pair of gloves.

Material

They are usually made of nylon, neoprene or rubber materials. You should definitely watch out for their size. I don’t advise you to buy them online unless you already know how they fit. You can do that by buying them in a store, see how they fit your snowmobile then return them.

If they seem to fit your vehicle good, go ahead and order your size online, if it is a better deal than in stores. They should cover the handlebars, but they shouldn’t let any water snow or dirt in. Don’t buy really skinny ones. They will lower your hand’s dexterity.

Another thing that will do that is the thickness of the muffs. Although they may keep you warmer, you will operate the handlebar much harder. If you feel like your hands are too cold, but the dexterity is good, you should get yourself a new and better pair of gloves.

Those products are more expensive than the handguards, but they do come with an advantage. They don’t need any mounting kit. As you saw earlier, this costs as much as the handguards set itself. Most muffs will install insanely fast using the featured hook.

If you fear that you will not be able to access your controls with those ones, think again. There are many models on the market that have a clear plastic window. This will allow you to see through the muffs, so problem solved.

Kimpex Muffs

My suggestion must be the Kimpex Muffs. These little things have everything you need. Like I told you a moment ago, they do come with the plastic window that will make seeing the vehicles controls very easy. I know what your next question is. Isn’t that plastic going to let the cold in? The answer is no. It is high quality and also cold resistant. How cool is that, right?

It has neoprene lining, a material that is going to keep your hands warm no matter the weather. Kimpex even suggests going gloveless while you have these on for better dexterity and precision. In my opinion, you should do this only when the temperatures outside are pretty high.

Another essential feature is the waterproof material. No one wants wet and cold hands in winter, this will instantly kill your mood. They do have great quality, but a way too high price. At this moment, they are approximately 165 dollars. My advice is to wait for a deal because you shouldn’t pay more than 70 bucks for those. If you find them on this price, go for it. You will not regret it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you need some extra protection for your hands besides gloves while snowmobiling. No one can predict the future, so why not take all the safety measures in order to have a relaxing and fun ride? Handguards come in a bunch of options, and you need to have a least one set.

If you think they don’t fit your style, you also have alternatives. No matter which one of them you choose, you can’t go wrong with either of them. After all this information, my question for you is: which one did you choose and why? Have you ever been in the situation where you needed those?

The post Best Snowmobile Handguards and why you need them appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Do you like extreme sports? Are you a snowmobiling enthusiast? If the answer to this question is yes, then you might have encountered a big problem while snowmobiling. That is food.

We all know that you can spend hours and hours without even realizing it on this vehicle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take away your human needs while you are doing it. So today’s question is: what is the best food cooker for the snowmobile and what to do with it?

Why do you need this?

This is a question that I hear a lot. The answer is pretty obvious and those who have some experience with the snowmobile can probably figure it out. If you are riding on one of those, the chances are the temperatures are very low outside. After some hours of practicing, you might feel the need for a meal. What do you do?

You open your backpack and try to it what you prepared for yourself at home. You just remembered that you have some delicious sandwiches. Well, too bad. They aren’t anymore.

Depending on the weather, they might have turned into comestible rocks. Many people refuse to go on long snowmobile sessions or even go at all because of this. Food is a necessary need for the human and shouldn’t be skipped because of this little inconvenient.

There are a couple of ways to solve this, but only one of them is effective in my opinion. You can either try eating food that is made to be eaten cold. This is not an option because, after some snowboarding, your snacks will not be cold, but freezing.

The only option that we have left is the food cooker. It will not only heat your food but also cook it if you want. Make sure you read the whole article in order to find out more info.

People also try to cook meals using the snowmobile without any additional special products. I don’t suggest you do that. Although it might taste the same, the food will be exposed to the engine fumes. That will be very dangerous for your health. Spending some bucks on the product that I’m going to present very soon is 100% worth it.

How to choose the best food cooker

I’m going to tell you from the beginning that there aren’t too many good quality options on the market. That means you should stay away from any cheap products from stores like Walmart.

Always buy something that has some people reviews, they are the only one who can tell you the truth. There are also some indispensable characteristics that your snowmobile food cooker should have.

It must close completely, so the engine fumes will not enter it. You can wrap your food in aluminum foil just to make sure you avoid any bad situations.

Another thing you should watch out for is the size of it. If your favorite food doesn’t fit it, you might want to consider another one. The cleaning of some of them can be a nightmare, so it must be clean easily.

Difference between different brands or price brackets

The price should vary depending on the size and the characteristics which I’ve mentioned early. A very good product should allow you not only to warm precooked food but cook as well.

However, that is going to take a while. If you just want to heat it, it shouldn’t take too long. The average price is about 40 dollars. Don’t spend too much on it, because it will do exactly what the 40 dollar option will do.

Materials

There isn’t too much to say about this topic. The materials are pretty much the same. The recipient is made from stainless steel, and the base of it is aluminum. Just make sure that base of the one you are buying doesn’t turn black after some time. There are cheap low-quality materials that can even take fire, so don’t buy those.

How to use it

At first, you shouldn’t be to brave and abuse it. Stick to food warming instead of cooking. You need to get used to how long you should leave it under your hood. Also, the placement of it will make the difference between a food warmer and a food cooker. Obviously, the engine is going to get hot while you are driving.

Placing the food cooker near it will make the product reach high temperatures. You can install it over the clamshell at first, just to see how fast it will warm up food. After you get used to it, placing it near the Y pipe will result in some cooked food.

Another decisive factor is the amount of throttle you apply to the engine. This will make the engine warm up very quickly, so the food is going to get ready faster. When it smells like food, it probably means that is ready to be eaten.

Pre-cooked items are always the best choice when starting up. You can find those in any grocery store around you. It should take about 15 to 20 minutes to warm them up, and about 45 if they are frozen and you ride slowly.

If you want to cook basic meals with it, it will get messier. Why is that? Because you usually have to flip the food when it starts smelling. This means juices are going to spill everywhere, and you definitely don’t want that to happen. Also, you can’t cook everything. Don’t try soups or liquid foods, just because of the earlier reason. Big chunks of meat will not get cooked either.

Another great advice is to use your gloves when checking the food warmer. You will get burned if you don’t pay too much attention.

Which meals should you cook with it?

The famous meal among snowmobile enthusiasts is the hot dog. It looks very easy, and it is also delicious. Make sure you warm the bread a little as well, just to make it even better.

Pair that with some mustard and spices and you be ready for another round of snowmobiling in no time. It will provide approximately 300 calories that should make your hunger disappear.

The next food that most people love is pizza. However, you can’t fit a whole pizza in the recipient. About 3 slices should be enough. You can find a frozen pre-cooked pizza anywhere. Again, frozen foods will be harder to cook. Make sure you put the food warmer near the engine and apply the throttle for a while.

Another thing you can buy easily is fast food. Before you go snowmobiling, stop at your nearest fast-food. Grab everything you need and just put them in your bag. Once you feel you are hungry, place the food warmer where it doesn’t get too hot and place the food inside. This will take little time to warm up, so make sure you check it after about 10 minutes.

Frozen burritos can be a great meal as well if you are into them. Make sure you wrap them up in a foil first, so they can get cooked. They provide 434 calories, so only one of them can give you energy for a couple of hours.

If you don’t want to spend any more money on food, you can do a simple thing. Just pack what you had for dinner last night and put them in the food warmer. Make sure it is a food that tastes good even if it is reheated.

The best food warmer

I can’t give you a whole list of those, because there aren’t too many good products. The only one that is worth mentioning is the Muffpot. It is a very popular product among people that love snowmobiling. There are a lot of wannabes on the internet, but make sure you get the original one. It has a perfect size, in order to fit perfectly under the hood. It does have a stainless steel body.

You can find this on a bunch of different websites, including Amazon. Check current prices here. It only weighs 1 pound and its measurements are 13x12x4 inches. All people seem to love it.

Another great characteristic is that the mount is universal, so it will fit any snowmobile. You can install it in about 5 minutes, just by attaching it to the exhaust system from under the hood, using the special clamp that comes in the package.

Conclusion

In conclusion, food warmers are a great 40 dollar investment. You no longer have to worry about bad and cold meals. Just buy one of these, attach it really quickly, ride then eat whatever you like.

Get used to it at first and see how it works, then you can even try cooking. Don’t make your life too complicated by trying to cook 5 stars menus, but stick your favorite essentials. I told you everything about this product.

Now you have to tell me your opinions. Do you have a food warmer? How was your experience with it and is it worth it?

The post Best Food Warmer and Cooker for your Snowmobile appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Have you ever felt that there is something missing in your life? Do you feel like your life is a simple routine? If the answer to these question is yes, I think I do know what you need. You need to experience a new feeling, like adrenaline. There are a lot of ways you could do that, but a very simple one is to get into sports.

Not common ones, of course. An extreme sport, to be exact. The best extreme sports use an uncommon vehicle that will bring a lot of fun. People seem to find snowmobiles, snow bikes and dirt bikes the most interesting vehicles. That is why in this article I’m going to help you choose one of them.

What are they?

Although snowmobiles are quite popular, I’ve met people that surprisingly don’t know what snow bikes and dirt bikes are. Just to make sure, I’m going to explain what snowmobiles are as well.

Snowmobiles

The snowmobile is a vehicle that is considered indispensable for a lot of people around the world. Why is that? Because it is used just like cars, but on snow. You can carry things with it depending on their size or even people.

However, most of the owners use it just in recreational ways. That means just riding it and doing a bunch of tricks. You probably know them from the Mountain Rescue teams, snowmobiles being a vehicle that they use frequently.

Snowbikes

Snow bikes have a really suggestive name. It basically describes them to you right away. They are really similar to the snowmobiles in terms of components. Both of them have skis in the front and a track in the back.

Compared to the snowmobile, the snow bike only has one ski in the front. These gained a lot of popularity lately, because they are, to most people, even better to ride than the snowmobile. They are easier to ride as well! Snowmobiles are much heavier and hard to turn and fit between 2 close trees. These problems are solved by the snow bike.

However, you need to know how to ride a simple bike before getting on one of those. Learning how to maintain your balance and how to steer a snow bike can be pretty hard. This also applies for the dirt bikes.

Dirtbikes

You probably are a little bit confused right now. Why did I mention the dirt bike if I talked about 2 snow vehicles? This is because snow bikes and dirt bikes are not too different. The dirt bike is also a light and fast vehicle, just like the snow one.

However, this is used for off-roading, not for snow terrains. I’m going to tell you a little trick to enjoy both of them. If your dirt bike is fabricated in 1990 or later, chances are, there is a conversion kit for it. Although it isn’t too easy, if you manage to nail it, you will be able to install the track and the ski, turning it into a snow bike.

Do you need a license for them?

Most people tend to not start one of these sports because of their commodity. And the first thing that they worry about is the license for these vehicles. That’s why I’m figuring that you are curious about this as well.

If I give you an answer, you might try something you will regret. This is because the laws are different for each state. You can determine this really easy, by asking Google. Make sure that the answers are up to date, as these can change from year to year.

I’m going to give you a general answer just to prove this. Many states require you to have a driver’s license for the snowmobile. If you don’t, you can drive those in special arranged areas. Yes, that is very odd.

Cars and snowmobiles are very different, but this law exists. You will need to be a minimum age as well, but this is also different from state to state.

Because snowmobiles and snow bikes need to be ridden on the same terrain, they usually have the same rules.

Dirt bikes, on the other hand, don’t usually need a license, but they require you to be 16 or older in most states. They are very loud vehicles, so they aren’t allowed on public roads. This is why most states don’t require you to have a license. While off-roading, there aren’t too many things that you can hurt, except yourself, of course.

Fun and adrenaline

You will enjoy every single one of those. The question is, which one will fit you the best? This is a question that will find its answer once you try them all. Generally speaking, even though snowmobiles seem more aggressive and tougher, people still seem to appreciate bikes more. Because of their lightweight, they will be powerful and faster. The speed is a thing which many people seek.

If you are one of those, you need to be very careful. Yes, speed is definitely more interesting and it gives you more adrenaline but is also life-threatening. We are going to talk about how to deal with that later.

Again, if you have the opportunity to drive all of them, go for it. Don’t let people influence the decision of your first buy, as it can be an expensive one.

Price

If we already mentioned price, let’s cover this as well. And brace yourself, we are talking about thousands here. This shouldn’t stop you from following your dreams. It’s not like you’re going to pay this money every day. Sure, you will need to take care of them, but their maintenance is not that expensive.

In this case, snowmobiles are the most expensive. Being such a massive vehicle, it will obviously cost a lot. A brand new powerful one can go up to 25.000 dollars. However, a beginner’s model is about 10.000 dollars.

Dirt bikes can have high prices as well, especially those made for racings. A modified dirt bike can value almost 30.000 dollars. The regular ones used for recreational purposes only aren’t that expensive. Their average price is about 7.000-8.000 dollars.

Snow bikes, as I’ve told you, are dirt bikes with a few modifications, including the track and the ski. There aren’t stores that sell an already built snow bike, unless they are second-hand, modified by people. So in order to get one, you can either buy it already used, or buy a dirt bike and the installation kit. A good kit is about 5.000 dollars. Consider going to a mechanic if you never converted one of those before. You don’t want to damage something.

If you don’t think that these prices are worth it, try visiting the second-hand market. Take a mechanic with you before buying anything, he will tell you what to get.

Gear

It is pretty obvious that these sports are very dangerous when you do silly things. Those can include tricks, jumps, speeding etc. And because of those, sooner or later, you will have an accident. Without the adequate gear, you will get some bad injuries. But what pieces of gear do you need for these vehicles? Let me inform you.

Both snowmobiles and snow bikes will be used on snow. That’s why the gear is the same for those. Many people told me: “Is just snow, how could you get hurt by that?”. This is such a wrong mentality.

Snow will not help you if you roll over with your vehicle. That is one of the most dangerous accidents that could happen. You need to be lucky to get out of this alive.

You will need gear that will keep you warm and protected like: a helmet, a jacket, some long waterproof pants, gloves and a good pair of boots. Wouldn’t you be enjoying those vehicles more knowing that you are protected? I know I would.

The gear is pretty much the same for the dirt bike, but the temperatures outside will be different. That’s why you should get something that will not make you sweat, like a thin jacket and thin pants.

Don’t spend your whole wallet on the vehicle itself. Save about 500 dollars for the quality gear.

Can a kid drive those?

Every one of these vehicles comes is kid size. That means a smaller vehicle with a smaller engine. They can be dangerous as well, so make sure you teach your kid what to do. These “toys” can make them love these sport and you can eventually buy a real vehicle once they grow up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best vehicle out of the snowmobile, snow bike and dirt bike is… the one that you like the most. No one should influence you and tell you which one you need to buy. The decision is yours. The only way to see which one is the best is to try them all for some time, and see which one provides the most fun. Which one did you buy and how long did it take to decide?

The post Snowmobile vs Dirtbike vs Snow Bike appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Are you tired of your boring and passive life and you want something more from it? If the answer to that question is yes, then you may want to consider an extreme sport. Depending on where you live and how the weather is there, you should think about a new vehicle, because they provide an amazing time.

But which one of them should it be? In this article, I want to talk about snowmobiles and jet skis. I will compare those two, then you can draw the line and see which one of those fits you best.

What are they?

Although this might be considered a silly question, some people don’t even know what these vehicles are. It is pretty obvious that they can’t be used on the same terrain.

Snowmobiles are vehicles that are used usually on snow. However, you can ride them on thick ice as well. This means you shouldn’t worry too much if the terrain has a little bit of ice.

It can handle those portion as well. It isn’t too heavy, but it will break thin ice. That’s why I won’t recommend it on a frozen lake, it can get too dangerous.

In some regions of the world, snowmobiles are as useful as cars. This is because not even 4×4 cars can’t handle too much snow. However, snowmobiles have 2 skis in the front and a track in the back. This makes snowmobiles very practical vehicles that can be ridden on both open terrain and trails.

The term “jet ski” is nowadays used for any personal watercraft. Compared to the snowmobiles, these vehicles can be used on water, in any time of the year. As long as the water is not frozen, of course.

However, they shouldn’t be used when the weather outside isn’t too friendly. One fall into the cold water is very dangerous for your body. They can be very fun to ride, as long as you don’t do anything that’s going to end up bad.

Do you need a license to ride them?

This is a question that you should be thinking about if you want to try any of those vehicles. You definitely don’t want to get in any trouble just because you wanted to find a new hobby. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a yes or no answer straight away. Why is that? Because it will vary from state to state.

In my opinion, you shouldn’t trust anyone on the internet. As you know, the laws can change at any moment. A simple wrong answer can get you punished by the police.

Depending on the area that you live in, you might even go to prison. So that’s something you shouldn’t do. The best and easiest thing to do is to just ask someone that owns one of those vehicles. If you see someone on either a snowmobile or a jet ski, ask them nicely to talk to you for a moment. They will tell you exactly what the laws are and what license you need.

If you are lucky, the state where you live in may require you just to have a certain age. Riding the snowmobile or the jet ski is not easy. My recommendation is to ask a professional to come with you or attend some courses.

Usually, in order to ride a snowmobile, you are going to need to take a test. As for jet skis, you will most likely need a boat license.

Fun and adrenaline

I think this is the most important topic that people are interested in. Which one is more fun and enjoyable to ride? This is a question that only a single person can answer: you. The opinions here are subjective, as we all have different viewpoints. If you the chance to drive both of them, go for it.

This is the only way to find out which one fits you better. Take your time and don’t rush it, as you are going to spend some money on one of those. We are going to talk about prices in a little bit. Don’t immediately buy a snowmobile if you like it. Make sure you ride the jet ski as well.

You might be wondering: how am I going to ride them if I don’t have a license? Well, first off, you can ask a friend to take you with him if the vehicle has 2 seats. If you think that is not enough, try going somewhere quiet, where there aren’t people around. You don’t want anything bad to happen. Then, try riding it. They will both provide a lot of fun, but again, the decision is yours.

Price

This is a topic that makes a lot of people not follow their dream hobbies. I will tell you right away that these vehicles aren’t too cheap. They are, however, long-time investments that will give you a tremendous amount of fun and adrenaline. As long as you take care of them and store them the right way, they will live for a long time. There is a way to buy a snowmobile or a jet ski without breaking the bank. That is: buying a second-hand vehicle. Everybody does that, especially beginners.

Let’s cover the snowmobile first. The average price for one of those is 10.000 dollars. The price varies because of the brand and the performance of the vehicle. A very powerful one is about 25.000 dollars. Even if you have a lot of money, you don’t have to buy the top model. Because you are just starting to get familiar with this sport. You don’t want to lose that much money in case of an accident.

Jet skis prices aren’t too different. Compared to snowmobiles, you can get a new one for 5.000 dollars. It isn’t going to be any good, as it is one of the cheapest out there. A high-end jet ski will cost you approximately 20.000 dollars. Again, the price depends on its performance, the build quality and the extra options it has.

You don’t have to pay that much though. You can get a decent car with this money. Instead, be smart and try finding a good second-hand snowmobile or jet ski. Exactly like the car market, there are a lot of fake deals. If it seems way too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you bring with you a mechanic or a passionate friend. This way, they will check it before you buy it just to make sure you will not get scammed.

Gear

I think you can figure out by yourself that these sports are quite dangerous. That shouldn’t stop you from choosing one of those. In order to avoid any horrible situations, you need to buy some gear. I don’t think you can avoid accidents all the time. They are inevitable, but wearing the right gear will make the injuries much less grave. Snowmobiles and jet skis are used in 2 different terrains: snow and water. That’s why the gear is the same for both of them.

For snowmobiles, you will need a helmet, goggles, a jacket, long pants, gloves, and boots. Depending on the temperatures outside, try picking the right gear. You don’t want to be cold or sweaty. In order to enjoy every single minute of this fun sport, you need to be very comfortable.

As for jet skis, you will need a wetsuit, a helmet, goggles, and a life jacket. The same principles are available for these vehicles as well. If it is too hot outside, a long sleeve wetsuit is not going to be good.

The brand is also important for this topic. You can’t buy something very cheap, because it will have bad quality. Again, we are talking about your life here. You don’t want to spend money on hospitalization just because you found a cheaper deal.

Before buying the vehicles, make sure you establish a budget of about 500 dollars for gear as well.

Can a kid drive one of those?

Just like the licensing topic, it depends on the state that you live in. If your kid really wants to experience one of those vehicles, you can buy one with 2 seats. It will be pretty much the same thing. Don’t allow your children to drive if they are too little. You might regret it, they have a too creative mind for these vehicles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no matter which one of them you choose, you will definitely have a great time. Make sure you take all the safety measures before you hop on one of them. Although they may seem easy to ride, you need to get used to them at first. Go to some courses as well before you buy one of those vehicles. The law is usually strict, so in order to respect it, you need those. Now tell me, which one did you choose and why? We’re you happy with your choice?

The post Snowmobile vs Jet Ski – Differences and Similarities appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.

Are you a brave person that is looking for some adrenaline in his life? If the answer is yes, after some online searches, you’ve probably found some ideas. Many sports can deliver what you are looking for, but which one of them is good for you? However, you will start to have lots of fun only by practicing that sport for a long time. If you have a busy life and some money to spend, my suggestion is to try a new vehicle.

Many people will suggest you choose between an ATV and a snowmobile. Why is that? Because snowmobiling or going off-road with an ATV will deliver the adrenaline that you are looking for. The question is, which one of them is good for you? You shouldn’t let people influence you. That’s why, in this article, I’m going to present and compare these 2 vehicles, making your decision easier.

 What are they?

A snowmobile is a lightweight motorized vehicle which is used on either snow or ice. In the cold areas of the world, people use these vehicles for transportation every day, because of the snow that is present at any moment of the year, making them a must for everyone there. However, most of the people use it for recreational purposes, snowmobiling being a very common hobby these days.

Its build is very unusual. Instead of front wheels, the snowmobile has 2 skis that are steered using a handlebar. It also has a track that is replacing the back wheels. This track is making snowmobile traction monsters on the snow. It also helps with the weight distribution.

An ATV (all-terrain vehicle) is a 4 wheel vehicle that does exactly what its name says: you can ride this on all terrains. They are used in a lot of domains like construction, military, surveying etc.

However, many people use it for off-roads as a hobby, just like a snowmobile. They are also very popular in competitions. Some models are modified in order to make ATV’s powerful and fast vehicles instead of utility vehicles. It is also used as a transportation vehicle by the people that live in hard to reach areas.

Do you need a license to ride them?

If you do want to start riding one of them, you would probably want to know whether you need a license for it. For snowmobiles, it depends on the state that you live in. Some states will require you to take a test before hopping onto one, some states won’t. You can find out this information very easy just by doing a little online research.

Even if your country doesn’t require you to own a license, you should still attend some snowmobile courses. The people there should tell you everything about those vehicles. They will also inform you about dangerous situations and what to do in case you are in one of those. Remember, health should always be your number one priority.

The same rules apply to ATV drivers. However, as you know, ATV’s can also be driven on normal roads. Most states will require you to have a car license in order to drive one of those.

This way, they make sure you know all the rules that are applying on the road. In order to go off-road, you may not necessarily need a license.

Again, you should take 2 or 3 minutes to ask Google this question. Just like that, you will eliminate the risk of getting in any kind of trouble.

Fun and adrenaline

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a simple answer right here. No one can say that snowmobiles are funnier than ATV’s or the other way around. This is because we all have different opinions.

My suggestion is to try them both and see which one you like. You might be like: “So you’re saying I should get an ATV license just to try it once?” right now. The answer is no. Although a lot of ATV’s are built with only 1 seat, you can find one with 2 seats. Ask someone with a license to take you for a ride, in order to see if you like it.

If you need to drive it in order to find the answer, go for it. Make sure you are in a quiet place where you can’t hurt anyone. Again, don’t choose one until you’ve tried them both.

As for adrenaline, they can both deliver the same amount of it depending on the terrain. Don’t go for jumping and doing tricks straight away. Take your time and get used to it.

Price

Price is a very important factor in choosing one of these 2 vehicles. I’m going to tell you from the beginning: it isn’t going to be cheap. A lot of people say that it is not worth investing in such expensive hobbies.

I can also tell you that isn’t true at all. Yes, you can do a lot of things with the money you are going to spend on one of these.

However, you can’t buy memories with money. And you are sure going to have many using these vehicles. Without any further ado, let’s see how much money do you need to get into either snowmobiling or ATV riding.

First off, let’s talk about snowmobiles. Depending on the brand, the vehicle itself it’s going to cost about 10.000 dollars. You don’t have to get a new one though. Read a few reviews on the internet and see which snowmobile is good for a beginner. Then, try to find a good deal, in the second-hand market.

As long as you take someone with you, that knows how to verify snowmobiles, you’re good to go. You can get a decent one for about 2.000 or 3.000 dollars. Don’t spend every dollar on the snowmobile, because it isn’t the only thing that you need. We are going to talk about that in a little bit.

The price of an ATV isn’t much different. A decent brand new model is 10.000 dollars as well. A big and powerful one can go up to 25.000 dollars. Yes, it costs as much as a car.

Don’t be fooled by the very low prices. Carefully read the description of it, and if you are a beginner, I would suggest going for a 450CC engine. Again, try finding a good price on the second-hand market. This way, you will not break the bank and still have lots of fun with your new purchase.

Gear

This is a topic that most people forget about. Like I’ve said earlier, don’t spend the whole budget on the vehicle. Both of these sports are very dangerous if you are too silly. In most of the cases, an accident is inevitable in the future.

That’s why you need to make sure it’s not going to be a tragic one. How do you do that? The answer is pretty obvious. You must take precautions.

Because these 2 vehicles are pretty similar, you also need about the same gear. Try to have your whole body protected if possible. You are going to need a helmet, something to protect your eyes like googles, a jacket, long pants, gloves and a good pair of boots.

Although you might be tempted to go to your nearest hypermarket and buy those, my suggestion is to forget that. Yes, you might pay less money, but the quality is not going to be good enough. With gear, you are aiming for the minimum amount of injuries in case of an accident. Cheap gear will not be going to handle that as it should.

Go to dedicated snowmobile and ATV shops or have someone guide. People from the internet can help you with that as well. As for prices, your gear should cost about 400 dollars. The most important pieces are the helmet and the jacket, and they are about 100 dollars each.

Can a kid drive those?

Both snowmobiles and ATVs come in little sizes, dedicated to kids. As for whether a kid can drive those or not, the answer is the same as earlier. It’s all up to the state that you live in.

However, these models aren’t like the adult size ones. They come with a smaller engine and some extra safety measures. An adult can set the speed limit very easy on those.

To eliminate any risks of tragic accidents, those vehicles will kill their engine if they detect that the child fell off.

Conclusion

Overall, those are similar vehicles that will deliver a lot of fun and adrenaline. Both of them come with some risks, so you should always be careful while riding them.

Don’t try anything silly unless you have some experience. Go try them both and see which one fits you best. No matter what decision you take, go and enjoy your new vehicle.

After so many information, now is my time to ask a question. Which one do you prefer and why?

The post Snowmobiles vs ATVs – Differences and Similarities appeared first on First Snowmobile - Passionate about snowmobiling.