Tethers and Trees

[theultrarider]

I ended up putting the Polaris tether on after hearing about some of the pro armors freezing up (after I ordered mine I started hearing about problems with the poo one too). Well I went for my first ride with the tether, you don't even know you're wearing it, I completely forgot about it and stepped off my sled and started to walk away and my sled died. Duh didn't take the tether off my waist when I left the sled. Well I put the tether back on and it wouldn't fire up. What happened was the little rubber seal that sits over the plunger came out when the tether popped off and it wouldn't push the plunger down far enough. Luckily I found it and put it back in, it fired right up. Now the fight with Polaris to warranty it since it's under 30 days old begins. I'll have a hard time trusting the Polaris style tether again. If they won't warranty it I'll be going with a pro armor for sure. Too bad I already drilled a half inch hole in my console. With that being said tethers are a great investment, I just hope I don't continue to have problems with them and end up not being able to get home.

Sucks that you had issues with it. I won't ride without one anymore. Too many close calls myself, and have seen runaway sleds grenade into trees.

However, leaving you stranded isn't an issue. Worst case just reach under the hood and unplug the wires and disable the the tether. It will start right up.

 

[sledheadd]

I ended up putting the Polaris tether on after hearing about some of the pro armors freezing up (after I ordered mine I started hearing about problems with the poo one too). Well I went for my first ride with the tether, you don't even know you're wearing it, I completely forgot about it and stepped off my sled and started to walk away and my sled died. Duh didn't take the tether off my waist when I left the sled. Well I put the tether back on and it wouldn't fire up. What happened was the little rubber seal that sits over the plunger came out when the tether popped off and it wouldn't push the plunger down far enough. Luckily I found it and put it back in, it fired right up. Now the fight with Polaris to warranty it since it's under 30 days old begins. I'll have a hard time trusting the Polaris style tether again. If they won't warranty it I'll be going with a pro armor for sure. Too bad I already drilled a half inch hole in my console. With that being said tethers are a great investment, I just hope I don't continue to have problems with them and end up not being able to get home.

I would recommend a pingle tether I've been using them for many years without a problem ever, They have always worked flawlessly for me, never freeze up.

 

[snowman80]

Sucks that you had issues with it. I won't ride without one anymore. Too many close calls myself, and have seen runaway sleds grenade into trees.

However, leaving you stranded isn't an issue. Worst case just reach under the hood and unplug the wires and disable the the tether. It will start right up.

Only problem is somebody (me) said hey I'm gonna zip tie these connectors together so they won't come unplugged. Definitely going to change that.

 

[snowman80]

I would recommend a tether I've been using them for many years without a problem ever, They have always worked flawlessly for me, never freeze up.

Which tether is that?

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I never had any luck with the tether to my waist, it would get wrapped around the bars every few minutes and was more of a hazard than nothing at all. The only way it works for ME is to have it on my right wrist since thats the only body part that seems to stay in one place when riding.

WB..uhmm..I think you are supposed to stay behind the windshield when you ride..but yeah I agree. seems the right wrist is pretty planted when you ride..

 

[sledheadd]

Which tether is that?

haha my bad fixed it !!
pingle tether !!!

 

[xc6rider]

haha my bad fixed it !!
pingle tether !!!

Sledheadd, I appreciate EVERY post of yours. Your picture just won't let me dislike anything!!!!

Now, back to topic...
Never had a pull problem with the Polaris tether getting snagged, and just installed a pro armour one (polaris one kept freezing). Either way, polaris one was on console just above gas cap, pro armour on right inside part of vertical right side of the pro tapers... No probs yet. Body side is clipped to hook on my left side of my klim coat, bottom side. Use a little carabiner to the coat...

And important to add, trees and branches n $hit are ALWAYS running into me! They sneak up out of nowhere and hit me...???

 

[moto_786]

I've never had a problem with my pro armor tether getting snagged in the trees and killing the sled, I have set my avi pack off a couple times though riding in the trees. I have my tether mounted on the back side of the bars with a rock climbing carabeaner on the land yard so it's super easy to get on and off of my crotch strap of my avi pack. The benefits of the tether out weigh the negatives of running one if there are any.

 

[Teth-Air]

This is why we designed the Cordless Teth-Air. They are on sale for $199 from $299.

There are many benefits that justify the cost. Firstly it automatically protects you without hooking and unhooking every time you get on and off. Secondly it provides a level of security as the sled will not run without the transmitter present. (you can over ride this if you know how) Each transmitter has a unique code. Set up an installation is easy. You can walk around the machine with it still running.

It is also better because you can shut down the engine by covering the transmitter completely, even when sitting on the sled. This is especially important if pinned under a machine. My son was pinned once with a corded tether and it had got stuck in the rails so he could not pull it off the switch.

Many guys would think nothing about spending this much for a good pair of gloves or goggles that will be worn out in a couple of months. Safety should be given higher priority.

 

[flying frenchman]

I have mine mounted like gmustangt has in his picture.
I keep it quick wrapped on my left hand, easy to remove and I'm always on the gas an rarely on the brake. Seems to be an excellent location so far.

 

[Timbre]

I plan on mounting mine like gmustangt did too. Best location i have seen so far. Keep the cord a bit shorter, attach to center of body, and should be no issues in releasing at the proper time.

Teth Air is a great idea, but price is a huge deterrent! At $100 i would probably consider it.

 

[Teth-Air]

I plan on mounting mine like gmustangt did too. Best location i have seen so far. Keep the cord a bit shorter, attach to center of body, and should be no issues in releasing at the proper time.

Teth Air is a great idea, but price is a huge deterrent! At $100 i would probably consider it.

I bet you pay more than $100 for a tank of fuel in your truck?

 

[Scott]

I NEVER have my sled without a tether. Too many bad stories with pictures and videos. It's like riding without a helmet.

I've had lots of things snag my tether chord over the years. So now I have a cordless Teth-air. I like it a lot.

SOMETIMES, my sled shuts off when I'm riding it...but not very often. Once a month maybe.

 

[troyby]

The point is...

I bet you pay more than $100 for a tank of fuel in your truck?

I do pay more to fill my truck because I don't have a choice if I want to drive it. I would even pay $40.00 more per tank for a hundred extra horsepower.

I can't see spending $199 or $299 or even $99 when I can buy one for $34.95 and just deal with a cord.
Make your price reasonable and more people would buy it.

 

[Timbre]

I do pay more to fill my truck because I don't have a choice if I want to drive it. I would even pay $40.00 more per tank for a hundred extra horsepower.

I can't see spending $199 or $299 or even $99 when I can buy one for $34.95 and just deal with a cord.
Make your price reasonable and more people would buy it.

My thoughts exactly!!

 

[agalen]

kinda off topic..........i have an oem tether from polaris, the damn thing kept tryin to shut the motor down while riding this past weekend. it seemed to be okay on the ride in but after i fell off a few times and rolled the sled a few times the thing didn't want to stay put. is this an icing issue? any fixes? (wd 40?) Any help is much appreciated!
cheers

 

[dstrbdxpak]

kinda off topic..........i have an oem tether from polaris, the damn thing kept tryin to shut the motor down while riding this past weekend. it seemed to be okay on the ride in but after i fell off a few times and rolled the sled a few times the thing didn't want to stay put. is this an icing issue? any fixes? (wd 40?) Any help is much appreciated!
cheers

I add a few drops of oil regularly. 2 years, same tether, no issues.

 

[agalen]

I add a few drops of oil regularly. 2 years, same tether, no issues.

any particular type of oil?

 

[dstrbdxpak]

Honestly anything oil based will work. I use SnapOn tool oil because it's on the shelf and it's thin. Even just a dab of grease, dielectric gel, assembly lube. Just don't use ATF, it's a solvent.

As long as the plug boot is in good shape, it wont build water up when connected. It helps keep the rubber conditioned, fully seated and it breaks free easier on dismount.

 

[rotax]

Carbiner attached to the waist strap on my back pack.

Never an issue in trees, but it does tend to get wrapped behind my throttle lever now and again. When I'm on the right side of the sled and also turning the skis to the right. Never an issue with premature engine kill though.

Only time its caused problems is when I carve to tight or want to avoid a stuck, and I want to 'push/throw the sled away', as in; grab throttle and jump off/push the sled forward and upright in order to avoid a silly stuck. That maneuver works better when the engine doesn't die early... But its still worth wearing the tether and dealing with that now n then.