Tether time

[The Fourth Wolf]

On my last ride (Valdez--Yes, it was orsome) at the end of the day, on the ride out I gave in to the temptation for one last little pull on a short but steep, untracked slope in a ravine. The snow was granular, wet and heavy from being beat on by the sun on a 40 degree day.

Being tired I was riding sloppy and just before topping out of the pull began to stall and tried turning out a moment too late. I heaved on the bars to try and pirouette the sled back downhill but only pulled it over on top of me. The bars buried into the spring snow and BAM! Instant WOT!!.

My left leg was postholed and pinned but I was far enough downhill and clear to reach in and hit the kill switch. At no time was I close to getting caught in the track but that was my wake-up call. The guy who lost his arm ran through my mind as I dug out from underneath my sled. The whole time I was scolding myself for being a lucky, dumbazz SOB.

Had a dentist appt near my dealership today and picked one up. Installing it tonight. I'll never ride without a tether again. Ever.

 

[M8Chris]

I installed a tether a few months into the season and forced myself to wear it. I thought it would get in the way when riding in the trees or coming down hills tipped on its side but the tether stayed in. I need to install a tether on my other sled next fall. For sure worth it to ride with one!

 

[94fordguy]

Definitely a good idea and they only take a second to clip on.... If you haven't already, get yourself a small carabiner to clip on the end, it makes it much easier to attach and remove with gloves on.

 

[skibreeze]

I got tethers for my sleds also after hearing about the guy losing part of his arm in the track.

 

[akrevrider]

Good riding story... glad it ended well. Tethers are money well spent.

Thanks for sharing.

akrevrider

 

[Super Sled]

Wow, thank heavens you came out of it unscathed. Tethers aren't fool proof either, but they can definitely help.

 

[Calvin42]

Can anyone tell me the part number for the PRO and also are the wires there or do you have to cut and solder. No one has given me a straight answer. I'm a big proponent of tethers. I too almost died if for not wearing one. The PRO should have one from the factory. Anyways, any help would be appreciated. My dealer keeps telling me it's the tether that Polaris has always used and it's not just plug and play.

 

[Scott]

Good post Wolfy.

I put a tether on my sled in summer of 2000 and have never ridden without it. I snowchecked (joining The ProNation) a '13 and I told my dealer to put one on when he sets it up, cause I'm not taking delivery without a tether.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Good post Wolfy.

I put a tether on my sled in summer of 2000 and have never ridden without it. I snowchecked (joining The ProNation) a '13 and I told my dealer to put one on when he sets it up, cause I'm not taking delivery without a tether.

you snowchecked a pro?...oh my god..whats the world coming too..............

 

[Scott]

LOL. First new sled for me since Fall 2000, when I picked up my red snowcheck 2001.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

LOL. First new sled for me since Fall 2000, when I picked up my red snowcheck 2001.

I bet you fall over the first time you carve it............

 

[Scott]

I've ridden them a couple times....and yeah, I did. LOL

 

[CoyoteGirl]

Had a dentist appt near my dealership today and picked one up. Installing it tonight. I'll never ride without a tether again. Ever.

Good for you! And LUCKY you!

Tethers aren't fool proof either, but they can definitely help.

No, they do fail. AND sometimes things can go wrong with you close enough that the tether doesn't pull. This happened a few weeks ago trying a re-entry. Obviously I failed... Touched my running track for just an instant... and it hurt like HELL. As soon as I was sure it was all over all I could think of was that guy that lost part of his arm and the immense pain he must have been in........ YIKES.

 

[Scott]

yikes!

Good for you! And LUCKY you!



No, they do fail. AND sometimes things can go wrong with you close enough that the tether doesn't pull. This happened a few weeks ago trying a re-entry. Obviously I failed... Touched my running track for just an instant... and it hurt like HELL. As soon as I was sure it was all over all I could think of was that guy that lost part of his arm and the immense pain he must have been in........ YIKES.

 

[polarisIQmn]

I got used to riding with a tether when I had my IQR and from jet skis. I've always liked the concept of the tether since a young age when I started riding sleds and found myself falling off. I put one on my Pro before I ever rode and because even now I still tend to fall off on a pretty regular schedule. Won't ever have another sled without it. To make hooking and unhooking easier I put a D clip on my jacket and a small carribeaner on the end of the tether and have no problems hooking or unhooking with gloves on. Tethers are well worth the little money they cost.

Chad

 

[94fordguy]

Can anyone tell me the part number for the PRO and also are the wires there or do you have to cut and solder. No one has given me a straight answer. I'm a big proponent of tethers. I too almost died if for not wearing one. The PRO should have one from the factory. Anyways, any help would be appreciated. My dealer keeps telling me it's the tether that Polaris has always used and it's not just plug and play.

Well it IS the same tether and it IS plug and play.....

Can you post a pic of yours and were it plugs in. I have ordered my new pro with one from my dealer. He could not find it in book. Not sure if it will be put on at Polaris or dealer will put on. Thanks

Well my latest ones are on IQ sleds as I don't have a pro, but it should be the same thing. There should be a pigtail coming off of the ignition switch where the tether will plug in. From there just figure out where you want to mount the switch pin and drill a 1/2" hole and your pretty much done... takes all of 5 minutes to do.


Polaris part # 2870668

 

[turbolover]

Obviously I failed... Touched my running track for just an instant... and it hurt like HELL.

DANG BRANDY
That looks like it hurt like heck. Glad you were lucky to just touch it and not get caught in it. Glad that is all it was.

 

[Matte Murder]

I have meant to post this for a while. I put a Teth Air system on my pro this year and I think this is really the way to go. I also have a Freeride and like all Doos it comes from the factory with a tether which I think all sleds should. Tethers do get in the way, they snag on the bars and tree branches and sometimes I have forgot to put it on. The Teth Air has no downside except cost. Put it on your wrist and forget it. You do need to cut the antenna back enough that you can kill the sled by burying it in your coat or behind your back but that is simple.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

DANG BRANDY
That looks like it hurt like heck. Glad you were lucky to just touch it and not get caught in it. Glad that is all it was.

It hurt worse than my broken hand... eek! Thinking of shortening it up so it pulls sooner/quicker...

Tethers do get in the way, they snag on the bars and tree branches .

We quit the cup style as they kept failing on us. Went to the ProDesign WPS part #27-0100 (for black) clip style and have had much much better luck.

Also, I installed mine on the console (see below) and have had no issues with it getting in the way since.

 

[beamslayer]

That looked nasty. Have you ever thought about putting something on the studs that stick up a on the mnt bar going over the bars could leave a nasty scar.You could just cut them off.
Ride fast and take chances