learn me some snowmobiles/snowmachines

stuart in mn wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Myself however, am a glutton for punishment. I have a '76 Johnson Rotary powered sled.

That's just about the heaviest andslowest sled ever, isn't it? My sister and her husband had a couple Johnsons back in the day, I think they were built of lead.

We had a Sno-Cruiser made by Evinrude (I think they were made before they were branded as Johnson or Evinrude's) - we called it the Slo-Cruiser

Reviving this thread. My wife tells me the depressing Michigan winters are less so when you have a snowmobile. Naturally I want to do this as cheaply as possible. Here are the ones I found on craigslist/Marketplace for under $1k in the order of good to bad, so far as I can tell. I'd appreciate any input.  Apparently I can get into a mid/late 90s for $750ish and can maybe touch the 2000s for $1k. Do miles matter?
 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/858276134643626/

2001 Ski-Doo MXZ 440  $650

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/snw/d/ravenna-2-polaris-snowmobiles/7156207700.html

1999 Polaris Indy 600 and a 1979 Polaris Apollo 340 - both for $1k

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/664164541103815/

1998 Polaris 440 supersport - $500

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/583718355603828/

1996 Ski Doo MxZ - $685

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2650978258284278/

2001 Arctic Cat 550 - $800

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/547935189418051/

1999 Arctic Cat ZR 600, 2800 miles - $800

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/698859117356525/

1994 Yamaha 600 snowmobile 5929.0 miles  - $700 OBO

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/snw/d/grand-rapids-1998-ski-doo-440-snowmobile/7149094127.html

1998 Ski Doo 440 - $700

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3332052826846169/

1995 Skidoo Mach1 - $800

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/297698864988849/

1998 arctic cat 440 jag - $1000 OBO

https://lansing.craigslist.org/snw/d/swartz-creek-polaris-snowmobile/7179627882.html

1994 Polaris for $800 (looks like 70's styling, I'm surprised it's that new)

I would take a higher mileage well taken care of sled vs a lower mile rougher sled. 

fidelity101 said:

From my experiences you need to buy either a nice new sled or some sled that costs 500 dollars because there is no in-between. You will spend countless money maintaining a sled somewhere in-between but some old enticer or a 440 2 stroke is simple and cheap and crappy enough to when your done with it you can sell it for what you paid for it.

my comment from 2013 still stands. 
 

where are you at in MI? sleds can be a differently depressing topic... because we are not really gaining any snow in the lower peninusla. 

In reply to fidelity101 (Forum Supporter) :

I'm just outside Lansing.

Yeah, now that I think of it, my wife grew up on the west side of the state in lake effect. Not worth it down here?

my prior comment still stands then, you want a yamaha enticer or exciter they are cheap and take a lot of abuse. do you have any property that you can ride on from your house? I would advise an ATV then because we dont get a lot of snowmobileable snow down state. unless you feel like getting a trailer and driving 3+ hrs and then so forth. 

jstand said:

Like cars, everyone has their favorites.

Look at what dealers/ shops are around, and go with a brand with local support. Nothin worse than having to spend more on gas or shipping than the part costs.

I prefer skidoo, and for general use fan cooled is not a bad way to go. Simpler than a SBC, top end ca be done in less than an afternoon for under $100.

I picked up a 96 MXZ 440 fan with reverse and heated grips/ thumb for $1600 last year with 900 miles. At the same time I got a 2000 MXZ 380 with push button reverse and the warmers for $2k.

If you go skidoo get an S2000 chassis or newer and you'll have decent suspension and still keep cost reasonable.

My previous comment is still my recommendation, but depending on the budget you may be able to get newer chassis design and spend less than I did in 2013. 
 

Miles can matter, but not as much as maintenance. It also depends on the types of trails, since that can be essentially the automotive equivalent of highway vs city miles. I wouldn't be concerned with a well maintained sled with 3k miles or less. I'd start to worry more about wear out when they get over the 3k mark. 

Make sure you look the track, slides, bogie wheels and skis over good. Sleds that have missing lugs or tears in the track should be avoided. 

I come from the ~1k sled world (sold them at this point though....) All 2 stroke, I had Arctic cat EFI (440 IIRC) it was decent, slow but reliable. And a Ski Doo Summit 600 (pre Rev chassis), that one ripped. Both were 121 ish track so didn't do great in deep stuff, no reverse, but fill the oil, keep a spare belt and go. Both were early 90's had heated grips but no electric start. 

I started looking a bit again.... I'd go longer track, 600+cc and 2 stroke. I want a ski shuttle machine.

Modern snowmobiles chew up snowmobile trails, modern snowmobiles also ride really nice over chewed up snowmobile trails as they put you in a motocross style position (Ski-Doo Rev and newer). If the plan is to trailer to where there is snow and ride trails spend some more money to get on a modern sled that will make the most of that and leave your back intact at the end of the day.

If you are just looking for something to bomb around the farm on then your options above will be great. Fan cooled is simple and reliable but there is a big difference power wise at the same CC to a liquid cooled sled. Track condition is important, they are replaceable but aren't cheap.

Lots of good advice above including buy an ATV unless you get lots of snow, like actually get snow and it doesn't all melt in between snow falls. I'm in Southern Ontario and there have been quite a few years where the trails go in and never open during the season.

Check parts availability on any older sled.  Getting hard to find parts for some of the older (pre 2007) sleds.

Definitely don't buy one that has been "hopped up".  Usually a grenade with the pin pulled.

So I finally got to ride one the other day. Wow, those things can MOVE!! It was a $500 30ish year old Polaris 400 and a 15 year newer 500cc. It was like a jet ski but with better acceleration and similar braking  

I like that you can kick the tail out with the throttle or the brake; that’s my idea of a good time. Doing 100mph on one would be SUUUUUPER sketchy though; at maybe 35 in the lot it was a little floaty. 

We got enough snow down in Lansing this year that it would have been drivable on the church’s ten acres for the past few months, but my kids sure aren’t at the right age for it! They loved being pulled behind on a sled but 2 cycles are too loud and smelly for them right now. 

I could definitely see spending <$800 on one, plus helmet, and having a great time here and there!

In reply to P3PPY :

Just like cars the ski alignment and suspension settings can affect the handling a lot. Properly adjusted they are nice and stable at higher speeds.

Incorrect toe adjustment or worn steering linkage with hard pack/icy condition can get spooky as speeds climb. 

The rear suspension has a forward and rearward adjustment. One is for rider weight and the other is for snow condition. It will vary the amount of pressure on the skis and change steering effort as well as whether they push or dig in in a corner. 

I'd stick with air cooled for simplicity and weight, and oil injected machines to help minimize the oil smell from the 2 strokes. Different brands have different sounds and you may find some more tolerable for the kids than others, especially if you stick with something that is a touring type of sled, rather than performance.

In reply to No Time :

Thanks for the info! It was about as worn as I expect a running sled could get, so I’ll have to remind myself that I haven’t seen it all yet.