Tether

[mmsports]

How many of you see a need?

I used to think pain in the butt. See a couple of time it would have been nice.

But this weekend I have changed my opinion to a must have.

I had a Friend get tossed from his sled and the throttle stuck wide open. I think we have all seen that, right stuff happens. Well some how his arm got caught in the track and it took a couple of minutes to get to him. I was not there and do not know all the details but he lost his arm so far and has a long recovery.

I am setting up a page on my website with tethers for sale and for every tether we sell 5.00 will go to help with his medical bills.

http://www.mountainmagicsports.com/tether_fund_raiser

 

[ruffryder]

Must have. Ride with it all the time. I don't like riding without one.

That is a scary story, sorry about your friends loss.

 

[Scott]

I've been wearing mine since 2001.

DONT ride without it.

 

[Spiced Wafer]

sad that they arn't even a option on the newer sleds...

 

[Scott]

sad that they arn't even a option on the newer sleds...

THEY HAVE TO BE, especially if the RMSHA guys are required to have them for racing.

 

[ruffryder]

THEY HAVE TO BE, especially if the RMSHA guys are required to have them for racing.

I don't think that is correct. Most safety regs go way above and beyond what comes stock on snowmobiles..

 

[Scott]

sad that they arn't even a option on the newer sleds...

No, they don't come stock on most sleds. Haven't for a LONG time.

I don't think that isn't correct. Most safety regs go way above and beyond what comes stock on snowmobiles..

I'm liberal-Democratically illiterate, so I'm not going to try an interpret you double negative.


The new sleds CAN accomodate tethers otherwise they could not run them in RMSHA...including the stock classes. Tethers are ISR required.

Now...you can't disconnect the kill switch anymore. True. But you CAN install a tether. FACT.

 

[richracer1]

What I find sad is it took a horrible accident that changed a lot of peoples lives to get people interested in and/or to start using a tether. Yes it is a pain some times, but I deal with it as the tether on my sled has been very useful on several occasions when I get tossed off of it.

I don't know about the Yammies, Doos or Cats, but the IQ and Pro Poos are extremely easy to install a tether on.

 

[minecat]

what type of tether, make and model for polaris if they are good ones i will buy 2

 

[MURFDOG]

Stock Polaris one works good. Safe and cheap insurance!
$40.00 bucks vs. who knows what might happen!

 

[plumnuts]

sad that they arn't even a option on the newer sleds...

they are standard on Doo

 

[powderpilot]

I have a little invention to make my tether more functional.

I had the problem of the stock tether getting wrapped around my left bar when I was counter-steering, and it would cause it to pop off at the worst times.

I took a lanyard and sewed a buckle from a backpack into the centre of it. One side stays clipped to my jacket, and the other side stays clipped to the sled. My lanyard is now a foot longer, and I can hop off my sled to put my scratchers down or even pull a ski without unclipping. It also makes it super quick to clip and unclip with my gloves on since I don't have to use the finicky little metal clasp on the tether.

 

[Scott]

A medium cheapo aluminum caribeaner (the kind you get at the gas station cash register) works good to clip to the plastic ring on your jacket. That's a nice quick clip-in/clip-out deal.

 

[Racer220]

Yep ^^^ Good idea. And to clarify.........Ski-Doos come standard with them and have for a number of years (they have the little chip that acts like a 'key' and won't run without it to my knowledge). Any other sled out there can accommodate a tether whether you can get rid of the kill switch or not. Go to any RMSHA race in the last 10 years and every sled going up the hill would have had one. This incident is a freakish reminder of how fast things can change a life. I got word yesterday that he is doing better, but the outlook on how much arm will be saved is still a waiting game. Sucks when we realize another aspect of safety at the expense of a fellow rider.

 

[LAMBOFGOD]

it is sad that it took a scary accident to open a lot of peoples eyes to the tether.....i am one of those people, 30 bucks, ten minutes of my time and i got one.....i feel like a total douche for not having one sooner, just glad i was lucky enough to not have something like this happen.....also found out yesterday to be careful jumping off the sled with the tether attached to your belt, WHAP right in the junk, my left nut still hurts (hes a little more sensitive then his brother to the right

 

[zebiraross]

I've rode years without one but finally got the sense to put one on this year. I was foolish for going so long without one. And very lucky...

 

[SnowXTC]

Don't go anywhere without one. Don't even start the sled without at least having it in my hand. It cost me a rebuild of my sled including the tunnel because I was not wearing it in 2002. I never forget now.

 

[suitcase]

Something so cheap, can save you so much its not even funny.

 

[slyrydr]

i've been riding almost 20 years, never used a tether, always thought it would get caught in tree branches at the wrong time....but, about 3 weeks ago, i just had a feeling i should put one on...so i had mm sports do it one day on my way home....two weeks later, i was climbing a very long steep hill with a hard, wind blown cornice at the top....as i was clearing the cornice, my right ski hit something hard that pitched me to the left and landed me at a bad angle...i couldn't hold the sled and fell about a dozen feet down, the sled landed on me with the track against my back on its' side and pinned me there until my riding buds lifted it off....the tether did its' job, it wouldn't have been pretty had i not had it...listen to your feelings, might save your something...

 

[1BIGCAT]

I had a lefty put on my sled when i bought it and never could get it to work right with the throttle,so I took the safety switch out and thus put a tether on,took some time getting use to it,but worth it!