There’s no way around it; snowmobiling doesn’t come cheap. Owning, riding, and maintaining a snowmobile takes a significant amount of money and might not be for every budget. We are talking about periodic inspection fees, replacement parts, the regular wear-and-tear stuff such as oil changes and tuneups spark plugs, brakes, and tracks.
But here’s the good part — what if I was to say that you can easily bring down your snowmobile annual maintenance costs by getting your hands on a Polaris snowmobile service manual and using the procedures provided by the manufacturer to fix things on your own? All you’ll need is the right replacement parts, a couple of tools, and a little bit of practice, and in no time, you’ll be able to repair your snowmobile and cut on repair shop bills.
Still, it’s essential to note that several parts require more attention than others and more frequent maintenance. If you wish to keep your snowmobile in tip-top shape for the following winter, we have listed some parts you might want to inspect regularly and how much you can expect to have to shell out.
Table of Contents
Check for Track Wear and Tear
Wheels are to cars what tracks are to snowmobiles. A properly tensioned track provides several benefits, including better fuel economy and handling. Not only that, but a well-aligned track also keeps other drivetrain components secure and prevents further damage, lowering your maintenance expenses in the long run.
However, like wheels, tracks also face the test of time and will eventually develop cracks and torn lugs. Delamination, or the separation of the track’s layers, is another common issue and poses a significant safety hazard to riders (if you’ve ever seen a torn track shoot out the back of a snowmobile, you know what I’m talking about here).
As a responsible owner, you should always check for signs of wear and damages in the track before using your snowmobile. Not only is it dangerous but it will also leave you stranded, which can be quite serious with a snowmobile since you’ll usually ride far away from anything.
Also, make sure the track is aligned correctly and tensioned according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Your snowmobile manual will contain detailed figures on these, so when in doubt, have a quick look and make sure it’s all good — better safe than sorry here.
Moreover, a brand new Polaris track usually costs more than $1000 and ensuring it’s properly aligned and tensioned will also make it last significantly longer.
Damaged Ski Runners
Ski runners are an integral part of your snowmobile’s steering system. They are located under the skis and help steer over ice or hard-packed snow. Polaris recommends replacing worn-out ski runners every year for safety reasons; however, that will really depend on the type of terrain you ride on and how often you use your snowmobile.
A typical ski runner, or “carbide skeg,” costs about $60 to $90 (so $120 to $180 for a pair), and that is to be done every year, so make sure to keep that in mind.
Of course, if you don’t use your sled that much, you can always keep the same runners for more than a year, but in this case, make sure to inspect them on a regular basis. If you are not so sure how to do that, get your hands on a snowmobile repair manual and follow the corresponding procedure.
Not so sure where to find one? Head over to eManualOnline! They’ve got repair manuals for pretty much any snowmobile model and they cost significantly less than having your skegs replaced at the dealer.
Drive Belt
The drive belt transfers the engine’s power to the track, basically acting like a driveshaft on a truck. No need to mention that a worn-out drive belt will severely affect your sled’s performance. As a rule of thumb, you should always replace the drive belt before it’s too late, which is of course also true for pretty much any other component. Still, since a broken drive belt will effectively leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere, you’re better changing it sooner than later.
A brand new Kevlar drive belt will set you back about $200, while you can usually find cheaper ones for $80 to $150.
Carbon Cleaner
Using a carbon cleaner effectively increases performance by eliminating excess carbon deposits inside your snowmobile’s combustion chambers.
If, by any chance, you forgot to add carbon cleaner to your tank alongside 92 non-ethanol fuel last year, now is the time. Start by completely draining your fuel tank (or driving until it’s as close to empty as possible), buy a certified carbon cleaner bottle for around $13, and add it to the tank after refueling it.
You might not see or “feel” a difference here, but trust me; it will protect you from a bunch of potential problems down the line — and it’s super cheap anyway.
How to Minimize Maintenance Costs?
Now that we know what the most common issues are with your Polaris snowmobile and the related expenses, here are some tips and tricks to help you keep those maintenance costs on the lower side.
Get a Repair Manual
If you intend to save on maintenance and repairs, a good repair manual is the next best thing after a mechanic. Not only will it show you how to repair your snowmobile and consequently make you save a lot on labor costs, but you’ll also gain a decent amount of knowledge on snowmobile repairs, helping you fix problems when you are stuck in a trail deep in the woods.
All snowmobile repair manuals have a troubleshooting section dedicated to identifying problems and suggesting potential causes. Once you’ve isolated a couple of components to keep in mind, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions to test, repair, and replace any of them.
Still, unless you are a seasoned mechanic, don’t dive into complex overhauls right away. Start with basic maintenance such as oil change and spark plug replacements at first and gradually move on to more extensive repairs with time.
All in all, a trusted snowmobile service manual is a good investment and will pay for itself in no time (usually the first time you don’t need to go to the shop).
Talk to Experts
If anyone knows your Polaris snowmobile, it is a Polaris-certified technician. They are highly trained professionals and know your vehicle like the back of their hands. If you aren’t sure about something, it would be wise to consult them before doing any repair work on your snowmobile. Of course, they usually don’t work for free, but asking for advice or having them do a specific repair once while you watch and take notes to be able to replicate the process later is still much cheaper than breaking up something on your own and doing more harm than good in the end.
When in doubt, ask first!
Stick to the Maintenance Schedule
Regular maintenance is the best way to bring down the repair costs of your snowmobile in the long term. Most owners skipping services and inspections do so thinking they are saving some money, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Neglecting maintenance only puts more stress on your sled, causing parts to wear out even faster. Not to mention that some parts can be repaired instead of replacement when caught in time. Skipping inspections and services will simply make you miss that window and will require the components to be replaced instead.
Last Words
Snowmobiling is fun; there is no doubt about it. However, it’s only really fun if you keep the related expenses under control. It simply makes no sense to break the bank for a couple of hours of enjoyment a couple of times during winter.
Unlike other outdoor winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling costs a lot more. Not to mention that snowmobiles also tend to break down more regularly than skis. Still, staying on top of your sled’s recommended service schedule and performing most of the maintenance work on your own will make the related expenses significantly more manageable.
