Maggot snowmobile thread

[CallMeAl]

Have seen a bunch of cheapo bias ply tires blow out, so we always replaced ours with radials immediately. The higher speed limit on them and better reliability seemed worth it for the marginal increase in cost.

Agreed. I was chewing through a pair of the shitty Carlisle 4 plies every season and a half. Finally upgraded to some class E Kendas for an extra $30ish per side last year and they are hardly showing any wear.

[sklar]

Got my first sled last winter (2014 Summit 800), and started to figure it out.
I want to get a second sled solely for accessing my property, which is up a groomed forest service road.

When I'm looking at cheap sleds (under $2k is the criteria), what should I be on the lookout for?
There's a huge range of what's available, from 80s to early 2000s. Any makes/models to look for or avoid in particular?
First thought is just find something that looks like it was decently cared for and doesn't have a million miles on it.

Okay, so here are some options I found locally.
Any yays or nays?

- 97 Polaris fan cooled trail
- 2001 mountain cat
- 2002 skidoo 500 has reverse, electric start
- 97 polaris 500 liquid cooled

[SirVicSmasher]

Okay, so here are some options I found locally.
Any yays or nays?

- 97 Polaris fan cooled trail
- 2001 mountain cat
- 2002 skidoo 500 has reverse, electric start
- 97 polaris 500 liquid cooled

Hop on marketplace. I would think you can by a low mile early 00s Rmk for 12 to 1500.
I've got several buddies that ride those and do pretty well

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[Cruiser]

^^^ My 02 rmk 800 has been remarkably reliable despite my constant mistreatment. Plus it's a hoot to ride on the groomed trails cuz it really wants to do 100mph pretty much all the time. It's always daring me to go faster. Sometimes I oblige.

[sklar]

Someone a page back said avoid early 00s RMKs, lol. Classic sled advice.
I found a clean looking Polaris Indy XLT for like $1100, think I’m going to snag that.

[BCMtnHound]

We have a couple mid-90’s Indy lites that are still going strong. They are loud, smelly, gutless, flat suspension, and only good on packed trail. But those old fan-cooled engines just won’t quit. We use them during the shoulder season when running sections of gravel is likely, or when the trails turn hard with no soft powder to cool the newer summits and rmk’s. They are far more forgiving on the newbies than the newer sleds that are built to steer from the track and not the skis.

[CallMeAl]

Someone a page back said avoid early 00s RMKs, lol. Classic sled advice.

That was me. Google "RMK 800 crank bearing failure". There is a big bearing fix kit that resolves the issue but it'll cost you big bucks unless you do it yourself.

But like Cruiser said, they are fun as hell to ride...pretty sure my 03 Vertical Escape is the fastest sled I've ever owned.

[LHutz Esq]

Someone a page back said avoid early 00s RMKs, lol. Classic sled advice.
I found a clean looking Polaris Indy XLT for like $1100, think I’m going to snag that.

Watch the vintage efi. (Ours is a '95)

When it works it works fine - but you need a good battery in good health for it to operate at all and it can get finnicky

So, if it is going to sit outside much, be prepared to keep bringing the bat inside. We were still purchasing a new one every year/other year.

Ours didn't even last on the charger that well.

[Falcon3]

Any info on a 2006 SkiDoo Summit X 800? From what I can find it looks like a solid sled, I’m getting tired of ski touring the same 3 spots in N. Idaho and a sled would open up a ton more touring in the Selkirks and Cabinets.
So my use would be mostly snowed in forest roads, and up to WA pass from Manama. It’s got 4500miles and they want $1200.

[John_B]

^thats a good price for most anything that runs. High mileage as you probably know so it could last you 5 years or it could blow up the 3rd time you use it.

[skisurfmirth]

For what it’s worth the 2006 was maybe the best year of that REV platform. A buddy has one with a 800cc 162 track and it’s fast and powerful but is very hard to roop with compared to sleds 10 years newer.


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[SirVicSmasher]

For what it’s worth the 2006 was maybe the best year of that REV platform. A buddy has one with a 800cc 162 track and it’s fast and powerful but is very hard to roop with compared to sleds 10 years newer.


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Shit my Canadian buddy from Winnipeg takes his 04 places I can't believe

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[skisurfmirth]

Those ditch bangers are pretty good eh?


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[Cruiser]

It ain't much but the season has started in the central swatch

[Cruiser]

I love the smell of two stroke in the morning

[SirVicSmasher]

It ain't much but the season has started in the central swatch

Fantastic

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[Truckee Joe]

Okay, so here are some options I found locally.
Any yays or nays?

- 97 Polaris fan cooled trail
- 2001 mountain cat
- 2002 skidoo 500 has reverse, electric start
- 97 polaris 500 liquid cooled

I have owned all these sleds except the cat. All Polaris fan cooled are bombers, will run forever. The Polaris has a problem with voltage regulation, I have found. It just can't keep headlights from burning out. I have change the regulators many times and still same problem. After the headlights the hand warmers stop working as well.

I had a 01 ski doo 500 that commuted like a dream to my cabin. Track didn't have any grip but would rock the trail and ride like a drifter all the time. I would still have it but Union Pacific hit it with their snowcat and bent the frame.

I now use 14 Polaris 550 indys to commute. Got them for cheap from a snowmobile tour company that was updating there fleet. Has 6000 mi on it but my last 550 had 10000 on it and still ran when I gave it to my neighbors kid. Runs good 2 up seat with cargo rack. Wife really likes the electric start. I think if I can put a 2" track on it then it would really do much better in deeper snow.

[east or bust]

About 2 years ago I acquired an AC 1M 570 that needed a bit of work from a fellow maggot. Just so happens one of my current neighbors was an AC mechanic for like 20 years. He replaced the rear tunnel, fixed transmission, and a couple other tune up items. It’s mint:





While I was over there chatting he offered to sell it back to me for $1700. He also mentioned he’s got a 2004 AC 1M 900 that is his wife’s sled. Said it’s too much power for her and she wants a smaller sled, and she’s going to downsize. He said it’s pretty tricked out and only has a hair over 1000 miles on it. He wants $3500 for it.




I’m continuing to do some research, since I really don’t know shit about what vintages of sleds hold their value. My neighbor said both sleds have pretty bomber engines, and he’d make me a deal if I bought both. Does that sound like a decent proposition? I’m really interested in that 900 to expand bc options.

ETA: I like the idea of having the 570 as an option for my GF or visiting friends/family. Which would make bundling the two a more attractive option.

[pano-dude]

About 2 years ago I acquired an AC 1M 570 that needed a bit of work from a fellow maggot. Just so happens one of my current neighbors was an AC mechanic for like 20 years. He replaced the rear tunnel, fixed transmission, and a couple other tune up items. It’s mint:





While I was over there chatting he offered to sell it back to me for $1700. He also mentioned he’s got a 2004 AC 1M 900 that is his wife’s sled. Said it’s too much power for her and she wants a smaller sled, and she’s going to downsize. He said it’s pretty tricked out and only has a hair over 1000 miles on it. He wants $3500 for it.




I’m continuing to do some research, since I really don’t know shit about what vintages of sleds hold their value. My neighbor said both sleds have pretty bomber engines, and he’d make me a deal if I bought both. Does that sound like a decent proposition? I’m really interested in that 900 to expand bc options.

ETA: I like the idea of having the 570 as an option for my GF or visiting friends/family. Which would make bundling the two a more attractive option.

The 900(actually an 860) is a piston eater unless jetted really rich. There was an efi edition that was better.
I had one, would pull your arms off but heavy.

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[east or bust]

Just confirmed his 900 has EFI, so there’s that.

Not sure if it came with it or he installed it aftermarket.


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[simple]

Stoked to be back on the sleds

[whipski]

It ain't much but the season has started in the central swatch

SnowDrifters work day?

[Cruiser]

Nah, just me and the kids fooling around since there was enough coverage on the road to get up to the alpine tunnel turnoff. I love meadow skipping when it's deep but in the meantime it's still a hell of a lot of fun to bury the throttle on a good straightaway.

[SnowMachine]

Any info on a 2006 SkiDoo Summit X 800? From what I can find it looks like a solid sled, I’m getting tired of ski touring the same 3 spots in N. Idaho and a sled would open up a ton more touring in the Selkirks and Cabinets.
So my use would be mostly snowed in forest roads, and up to WA pass from Manama. It’s got 4500miles and they want $1200.

I had a '08 as my first sled. It got me where I wanted to go. Heavy, but it worked. My '11 was leaps better (and not stock), but for that price I wouldn't hesitate. I do think that in that era the RMK was the better big mountain machine.

[BCMtnHound]

Sled loaded into the bed of the truck for the season. I think this is one of the earliest she’s been run up the ramps.

Still need to bring her to the shop and do some pre-season maintenance, but slapped the battery in, put a couple gallons of premium fuel in the tank, and she roared to life without hesitation.

Reports of about 1.2m at tree line cabins locally. Still low tide for roosting in the rhubarb, but looking forward to a trail run soon.