How did you learn to work on snowmobiles?

[0neoldfart]

Farming

Born & raised on a farm, bought old bikes and sleds that didn't run, and figured em out. Took and apprenticeship and became a journeyman mechanic - read a few books on clutching and tuning as it applies to sleds. Never take my stuff to the dealer, unless it's for a ecm reflash or recall / warranty work. Work as an oilfield consultant now, still fix and maintain my own equipment. I would rather buy a sled without warranty - half the time the local dealers won't honor it if it has a can on it. At least I know my pre season inspection is actually done. I took my sled in for a pre season insp once, the very next week I couldn't get the secondary off as it was seized to the jackshaft - obviously the clutches were neither inspected nor serviced, although it was paid for... left a sour taste in my mouth after that.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

I went to work for Union Bay Racing!

 

[G-Force]

Told dad the sled was broke, he said "you know where the tools are, fix it" . Mind you some of his languiage at learning the new sled was busted was too colourful to re-print here

 

[69charged]

like someone posted earlier, i got my first sled when i was 9 and jumped it till it died a horrible death. i wanted a new one so i got a job at a local sled ( arctic cat) shop when i was 14 taking sleds apart for the used parts. eventually moved up to a sorta mechanic. then a REAL mechanic for them and then they were dumb enough to make me shop foreman. did that till i was 21 then got a job for a hydro company who put me through millwright schools and here i am at 32 working as a millwright and doing sleds on the side. my dad was a mechanic but only for the mines so i guess i got the first bug from him. i work on diesels as well kinda on the side and thinking of starting my own side buisness on them.
anyway, thats my long winded story.
thanks for some of the stories guys, makes me remember
clarence

 

[attak06]

sled repair

growing up my neighbor had a polaris and i had to fix it all the time for him.

 

[PowderBrad]

gool ol dad was an auto mech, turned heavy duty. I was always fascinated with tinkering to make things better. Hand in hand I supose. I'll never pay someone to do something I can learn or perform myself.

 

[treemongrol]

The old man said if I broke it it was up to me to fix it. I was never the nicest to my sleds so repairs were always necessary and the fact that I rode Polaris at the time I was always fixing, went to yamaha for a year had to fix more than polaris, switched to Skidoo, haven't had to fix near as much.

 

[AsylumCycle]

grew up on a farm, learned by fixing everything my dad broke. Used to have to fix the shop teachers vehichles in high school when he couldnt figuire it out. Just kept fixing more and more things.

 

[Doolerious]

I posted earlier about learning how to fix sleds by working on an old Polaris that we had and it just clicked in my head why I now ride a Ski-Doo. Parents are so great...teaching you about right and wrong, good and bad, etc., etc. See it was just a lesson and I didn't even know I learned it until 25 years later!!!! Man I'm slooooowww

 

[never_to_much_powder]

Kept breaking my sled every other ride or it had some cool new problem that had to be fixed so i had to learn

 

[SLEDIOT]

Easy I learned to destroy it first.............

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

broke it, started to take it apart and made it go back together, just not always so perfect on fit, but she runs, and i know a lot more now than i did before.

 

[Rob1334]

The old man taught me everything I know. Then i bought a 94 Polaris RXL 650.

Hahaha, just noticed this one....

Sled was fast as hell as long as you could kick the shock back out on it, good times!

 

[priest lake rmk]

Bought a Ski Doo

 

[SnowXTC]

I have not read the entire thread, but....

I guess I first learned things on my truck. I was a teachers assistant my junior year in Walla Walla, Biology, but we moved to Caldwell, ID 6 weeks into the school year and the only thing they had open at my new school was being a teacher's assistant for a soph auto mechanics class. Take attendance and occassionally grade papers. I learned some from the class, but spent a lot of time in the shop with the seniors. Either that or skipping. Truck always needed something done so I learned how to do it. I have pretty much always done my own work since then. Haynes manuals and just learning.

As for learning my sled, I went from how do you get this dann airbox back on to completely rebuilding my sled in 1.5 years. Had help taking it apart which was a mistake since I had to figure out how to put it back together by myself. Manuals, parts manuals, and A LOT of online help from some awesome guys on here. I rolled it 15+ times with a few cartwheels and bent the tunnel. (thanx again TS) If you have to replace the tunnel, you might as well build it the way you want. Ekholm tunnel with 4 and 1 DnR powder coated purple, Walker Evans shocks all the way around, Wildchild big wheel kit, Boss Seat, PLP trailing arms, Simmons skis, Rox Riser, Wildchild extended chromoly steering hoop and post, VForce 2 reeds, VariFlow, really sweet fiberglass hood, LED taillight, and many more things. I honestly have a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into my sled.

I am glad I did it, but now that RDR99 and I are married, it is really hard to get him to work on it. I can't pull the dumb girl routine. Also I am meticulous and a perfectionist about my sled and he does not always pay attention to detail.

Again, I will say Thank You to all those that helped me on here, IM, and the phone. I could not have done it without you.

 

[go high fast]

I learned by first assisting Turboshorty fix my sled.

Then, being the anal type that I am, I bought clutch books, carb books, shop manuals and the necessary tools and the rest is history.