Pull the sled over. Missed the previous owner had caught the bulk head on a stump or something. Had broken and patched it with sheet aluminum and rivets. I felt so foolish. A quick tip one way or the other and I would have passed.
Hello Mr. Clarke, my wife and I live in Florida and visited Alaska in March of ‘23 we loved it so much that we plan to move there hopefully by end of this year ‘24? We went on a Snowmobile tour and had a blast so I’ve been looking at sleds ever since… I’m 61 and a former Small Engine Mechanic however it’s obvious that I have never worked on sleds so your video is a very helpful buying guide that I will rewatch again many times. Thank you for your time in making this video. Frederick Tanner 👍😎👍
I spent about 1600 on a new track and studs but I knew buying my machine that a new track was due one tip I suggest to people buying a used machine is be ready to spend money theirs a reason someone is selling it
Great advice. I missed a Whole Lot when I purchased my Yamaha a few years back. I was a noob and I took an old friend that supposedly “knew his stuff” when it came to snowmobiles and he told me that it was all good........ boy was he wrong... I ended up finding that the track was severely torn and unusable, the rear suspension had a broken pivot arm and a bunch of other crap that I overlooked because I didn’t know what I was looking at.... I will say this though, the motor was good and having to fix all of the stuff wrong with that sled really taught me a lot about what to look for in the future and how these things work and I even replaced my old worn out factory suspension with a more modern better performing rear skid. I’ve got a few videos of it on my channel but I still have that sled and it’s still a ripper but if I had known them what I know now, I probably would have not bought that sled. We live, we learn 🤷♂️
Also ask the previous owner about fluids, good to know what brand they have been using and if they can’t tell you right off the bat what brand then that’s a sure sign they haven’t paid much attention to the fluids and therefore overall maintenance.
Great video. Thanks very much. I am 69 years old and a total noob at this whole snowmobile thing. I rode them in the military, but they were newer sleds that were maintained by pros. We just rode them and did the very simple daily maintenance on the trails. A pull start is a great option. I just bought an older ATV. It started and ran great at the sellers home, but when I got it home it wouldn’t start. The battery was completely dead. So I couldn’t even unload it off my trailer. But thankfully it has a pull start and it started second pull. I think this feature is an even bigger ‘must’ on a sled! This video will help me choose a used sled.
The video is amazing in detail, after this I knew exactly what I was looking for, I also ride grey/bruce so I bought a snowmobile that was appropriate for the riding conditions we get, ended up with a 2005, ski-doo mxz 600 S.D.I H.O, really nice sled. And because I watched this video, I got a good sled ready for the winter now, thanks Dave.
Hey Dave, so I just bought my first sled, it's a 2001 Ski-doo Formula 700 in immaculate shape, and I grew up riding snowmobile round my grandmas property so I knew my way around sleds a bit but having my very own to maintain myself is a bit different, and I had to tell you that your videos have helped me navigate the waters of owning and maintaining an old sled! So thanks so much, I have a channel too making outdoors and camping videos and I've just released a video of going out on my new (to me) Ski-doo. Anyways, cheers from a fellow Tuber! Thanks again for all the knowledge you share here!
Greatings from finland! That video is a very good and informative if you are going buy your first sled. When i was buying my 2007 lynx i dont check body and tracktunnel very well...few days after buying i found some crack nearby front suspension on track. Tunnel is aluminium and its can be hard and expensive fix if you dont have aluminium welding macine. Thats my tip and sorry for my bad english :)
I just sold my Polaris 98 XC 600 Was an excellent shape just know it’s about time to upgrade probably gonna wait till next year to get one great video very informative
On the one hand buying in the off season, (Fall for boats, spring and summer for sleds) is a good idea as people want to get rid of them without having to store them, and there tends to be more on the market, the downside is it may be harder to take one for a test ride. Good point thought thanks for watching!
Great tips Dave! I think many buyers look at the cosmetics first and kinda blow off the mechanical, but it's a combination thing. Also being able to work on sleds is important. Some guys don't have a clue how to fix or repair anything, so for those guys, stick to new sleds and have them serviced by dealers. I enjoy you videos as always.
Ah dude thank you for this, it’s a lot nicer being able to watch a patient video like this rather than just goin out and lookin like an idiot on the trails and the marketplace
My present sled was previously purchased new at the dealership from the orginal owner and maintained by them as well. I bought from the dealer pre-covid. Reasonable price and a good service history. No guarantees but good so far.
One item I forgot to walk away with when I purchased my used sled was that of the tool kit. Some new sled searchers may not be aware that a tool kit on the trail is a must to change a belt, fouled spark plug or a pull cord break. If your sled doesn’t come with one there are replacement options available online for purchase, just another expense. Welcome to what proves to be an expensive hobby.
Great point. My sleds both came with original toolkits intact. The one on the 670 was showing its age, so I found a new old stock one. One of the first things I bought. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great Video, David. My wife and I are new to sledding and purchased a '99 Ski Doo Formula III 800 and a '04 GSX 600 HO SDI. I think we got pretty lucky with both sleds. I had watched multiple "watch before you buy a used sled" videos but really didn't know what I was looking at when it came time see them in person. Both sleds have fresh rebuilds and the only problems so far were a hot running engine on the formula caused by air bubbles in the cooling system and a couple fried fuses on the GSX. I wish I would have asked about fluids on both sleds and pulled the 800 over a couple times when the engine was cold...not the easiest pull. We enjoy all your videos.
Great video David. I think another great idea for your channel would be exploring suspension adjustments to suit your riding and body size. Just the basic ones that the manufacturer gives you like the front shocks and the center and rear skid adjustments and how they affect the ride.
Great video for first time buyers..check your carb boots aswell.i just bought a 600 rev ho and the boots looked good but they were cracked!.could of been a costly mistake. Hi president reving when stoped is a sign of it running lean.enjoy watching your video's. Cheers
just starting to look for my first. i have ridden twice in my life but am really new to the sport (moving from Texas to Alaska has played a roll in this one) amd i have no clue what i am doing. i will learn gowever. thanks for the information
Great video , I have a formula 500 deluxe, great sled besides it had coolant leak and was smoking like crazy, just needed the head gaskets replaced, thank god easy fix 🥳
i’m getting ready to check out two sleds one is a 2000 rmk 700 and a 2003 ski doo summit 800 and a dive on drive off trailer for $4000. they both start and run great and both clutches have been rebuilt. a few things minor wrong with them but hoping i make a good purchase. now i have a good idea what to look for. I have ridden snowmobile’s for several years, but never own one. so i have no idea the maintenance and what to look for. youtube for the win. thanks for the video..nice sled btw.
well on my sled 1997 polaris 600 xlt triple 3800 km did have cracked gasket on carbs saw that while cleaning it and it had rust on the fuel meter track is mint it had spark on 2 cylynders except midlle it ran good so not bad of a sled for 1300 dollars i didnt check it to well but i got lucky these things are beasts
Thanks for the tip. I did miss the fuel gauge not working properly when I bought mine. Not sure how I could have known though because it's stuck on 3 bars, so unless I would've ridden it for a while I wouldn't have noticed. Snowmobiles mechanics are pretty simple and nice to learn from though, so it'll be a nice little project to try to change the fuel sensor
My first sled was a 2002 Arctic Cat ZR800, It had the extra gear in the chaincase for reverse. The reverse gear would always blow out and cause bigger issues, so i ended up just removing the reverse. Now i have a 2018 Polaris Switchback Pro-S 800 and have only ever had one small issue with it. ive put on 8000kms since 2018 and its still going strong
I didn’t really miss anything when buying my sled I bought it off my uncle so he made sure everything was good, he did inform me though that the starter gear for electric start was shredded and that’s something I wish I would of waited for him to fix but the pull start works just fine, I have the gear just need to get it installed.
Not hard. Depending on how damaged it is you should replace sooner than later. If it’s badly damaged or missing teeth it can throw the primary out of balance. Thanks for watching and sharing.
Years ago I bought a ski doo safari 388 and it ended up having a bad crank side bearing that also caused a vacuum leak .Wouldn’t start good hot but ok cold. Didn’t know better, do now. Thx for your informative video.
@@MyOldSled Well the tech that found that just turned it over real slow and you could hear the balls in the bearing rattle. Now I would let one warm up good then let it sit a bit and see how it starts hot. I know there is lots of fancy tests you can do but was young and foolish and like you said don’t buy the first one you see. Thx
Bought a used 2010 Yamaha 4 stroke from a dealer he got as a trade in. Sled looked good, average mileage, inspected it pretty much like in this video except a compression test, which could have helped me. Rode it around the dealer lot a bit and it was fine. It also needed a track (pulled through studs) but the price reflected that. Brought it home, swapped the track and then the surprise, it's blowing coolant out the overflow whenever it was worked hard. Just easy riding it was fine but as soon as it was pinned, it blew coolant. Yeah, it needed a head gasket and the valves adjusted. Probably the dealer didn't even know it was one of those weird cases. It wasn't a huge job but just time consuming.
Hey Moose. You’ll never catch everything, unfortunately. the one thing I don’t remember if i mentioned is checking the coolant reservoir can sometimes catch head gasket issues. (Black staining excessively dirty)
Things I caught buying my first sled: One of the hand warmers didn't work. Front suspension didnt spring back up when pushed down. What I missed was that at heavy throttle it hit a wall. Turns out the reeds were bad and power valves stuck.. hard to test that much in the summer.
Great tips check to see wiggle in a arm bushings they shouldn't wiggle their not hard to replace but you will need to wrench I would not worry about bearings as they do need to be changed regularly and should be checked and changed in the fall
Seller was trying to start the sled, pushed primer a few times and couldn't start. Wetted the plugs he said and changed them and started. I didn't realise sled carburettors were leaking i.e. they are wetting the plugs all the time, even without primer. I should have walked away, but then again it was pretty cheap.
I live in a U.S. state that requires me to Title my sleds. I always ask the seller if they have a clean Title, or if they aren't required to have one, are they willing to get a bill of sale notarized. It is one way to weed out sleds that may have a checkered past as far as ownership transfers are concerned. There is nothing worse than paying cash for a sled and then find out it has been stolen and you have to surrender it with no recourse for a refund.
About to buy a used sled and was looking for some extra tips on what to look for and I noticed we have the same 4 wheel. 2008 Honda Rancher? Thank you!
I missed a collision that my 2016 Renegade had, had a few parts replaced but some parts of the e module were broken and the left spindle was stretched and throwing off the suspension geometry
Bought and old zrt triple and when I took it apart noticed it had bulkhead damage, it was a shame to part out that sled because it was a really clean piece
totally didn't know about a Diamond drive in the 08 Artic Cat I bought and the fluid change. Worked out ok, but wasn't expecting it or having to change it. The dealer said, "it was ready to ride."
My best friend just put a new track on his sled and it cost him $1800 installed with 96 studs. I didn't pay that much for my old 99 formula so checking the track is very important
Kind of lucked out really, bought 2 yamaha apex, one was double the miles but twice the maintenance and brand new track, paid a bit more for the second but it had a lot less miles.. and maintenance wasnt as good, a lot of wheels were non-replacable bearings and two inner ones were actually completely delaminated.... but both are proving to be great machines, did all the oils, pulled both skids and did all bearings and have proven relkiable
@@MyOldSled Not sure why i told you all that actually! That comment had no point, except maybe that when buying used you never know what you're going to get even if you look it over quite well... and even then can get surprised.
Exhaust leaks.... 2001 MXZ 600 has tin and fiberglass wrap around it which holds moisture... hence rust hole in expansion chamber... had to have it welded.
Hi LotF. Thats a good tip, I almost included it but it's kinda specific and some sleds you can find a pipe for relatively easy, while others, not so much. Always on the look out for a good pipe for my 670 for the same reason.
Super video David, I think I lucked out with my 2003 Ski Doo Legend 600, this might sound odd but check the length of the machine and will it fit on your trailer. I have a 6 X 10 enclosed trailer and my machine just fits.
Great video, I watched the first video when I bought my first sled in the summer of 2020. I checked the condition of the skegs my GSX has two on each ski, all 4 missing. But the bolts showed on top. Yup, ran them down through the ski bottoms. So got money off for that. Excellent topic.
Ah what a shame. So sorry to hear that. Other than the track, which was torn on a trailer, and little things like a fuse carrier, mine has run pretty well. $4000? I didn’t even pay that for both of my sleds! What did you have done?!
Ouch. Hope you didn't pay for the first rebuild! Your '06 500f isn't the same as my '05 SDI 600, but its still a solid reliable runner, well reviewed in all categories. Can't imagine having that much trouble. Sorry you haven't enjoyed it. Good luck, hope you figure it out.
Mine had a bad primer (leak) which lead some real headaches trying to start it. Once I switched the primer, it worked as expected. Keep an eye out for leaks (gas lines, oil line, break line, crank case, … )
Sry I was just stepping out when I was responding. You will probably find the keyway showing some wear and changing it may reduce it, but slop in the rotor is totally fine, even 1/4" in or more. Just the fact thats its keyway instead of splines, plus the fact that its a chain...you don't want it fixed.
When I bought a snowmobile for my girlfriend I noticed it had pretty loose steering (Handlebars move but skis stay still). No big issue just some joint or bearing that needs replacement, right? Well turns out there is a joint that needs replacing, and it's mounted under the engine so you actually have to pull out the entire engine to replace it. Very annoying. Sled is a Polaris Fusion from 2006.
@@MyOldSled idk tbh... i rode it empty by accident, and when we took it home it wouldnt want to start, so suspect some junk was pulled through the fuel lines...
I have bought 3 used sleds and the most important tip is: NOT to go buying a sled while being drunk or hungover. I did that with 2nd sled I bought. Sled looked really good and I was like: I'll take it! Ended up putting 3k euros into the sled.
2 stroke v 4 stroke is a whole video on its own. Both engine types have their pros and cons. 4-stroke engines run more consistently and efficiently and generally last longer than 2-stroke engines, 2-stroke engines are lighter and faster than 4-strokes and are easy to work on. Dealer vs private? I dunno a dealer is easer to go back on if you have a problem and in my experience are less likely to stick you with garbage, they generally stay away from older busted up stuff. They are also more expensive.
@@MyOldSled I wasn't trying to say carbs are bad. If you don't know how to adjust them and work on them like me I should have considered buying Efi 4 me.
Most important thing about carburetors is to have them synced I've seen too many people call me crying because they cleaned their carbs in the fall took it out on the first snowfall only to find out that they blew up a cylinder because it was running to lean due to not enough fuel and oil going to that cylinder this takes sensitive fingers and usually a friend to snap and pull the throttle
Would like to add to this. Any snowmobile that has 4000 to 5000 miles on it and all the bearing have not been changed stay away from it unless you know you have to change them. Lose a drive shaft bearing on the trail is not good but also costly. Especially if the bearing wears out the housing . Another rule to this is if the machine has low mileage but not been run for years you can bet the bearing is shot.
A little harder for a new buyer to spot, but good tip. I should have changed mine out when I replaced my track. Oh well another project for the summer.
Have to disagree a little on the importance of a compression test. Never buy a used sled without doing one. I have been burned multiple times buying sleds that seemingly ran and drove fine, but the engine was down on compression and on its way out. If the owner doesn't want you to compression test it, walk away.
Hi Brandon, like I said, its definitely a good idea, and I pointed out why. Im sure hundreds of thousands of sleds change hands every year between people who have no idea what it is or how to do one. There are also a lot of owners who have their sled maintained at a dealer and never touch their sleds, and just may not want a stranger removing plugs. Get what you’re saying though. Sorry to hear you’ve been burned.
Also, if you don't know what you're doing, and you just go by some of the advice I was given about the values you should see, you'd never buy a sled. I figure most people who know how to check compression would understand why I said it's a good idea anyway.
@@MyOldSled I guess that's a good point about sleds that have only been touched by the dealer. I suspect age of the sled would also have a lot do with it. The sleds I buy are all 20 years old or more. It's mainly DIYers buying sleds that old so doing a compression test is more expected
Ideally you’d do a compression test, leackdown test, pull the chain case apart, check for vacuum leaks etc etc but not very realistic…I’m thinking of the average joe, ie me 6 years ago. Great points though thanks!
A few things I’ve picked up buying my sleds. POST CREDIT SCENE :)Post your own tips here.
Pull the sled over. Missed the previous owner had caught the bulk head on a stump or something. Had broken and patched it with sheet aluminum and rivets. I felt so foolish. A quick tip one way or the other and I would have passed.
Hello Mr. Clarke,
my wife and I live in Florida and visited Alaska in March of ‘23 we loved it so much that we plan to move there hopefully by end of this year ‘24?
We went on a Snowmobile tour and had a blast so I’ve been looking at sleds ever since… I’m 61 and a former Small Engine Mechanic however it’s obvious that I have never worked on sleds so your video is a very helpful buying guide that I will rewatch again many times.
Thank you for your time in making this video.
Frederick Tanner 👍😎👍
Thanks Fredrick. Good luck with the move!
I spent about 1600 on a new track and studs but I knew buying my machine that a new track was due one tip I suggest to people buying a used machine is be ready to spend money theirs a reason someone is selling it
Whoa, one of the best and most informative videos I've seen! Thanks for taking the time to to put this video together.
Great advice. I missed a Whole Lot when I purchased my Yamaha a few years back. I was a noob and I took an old friend that supposedly “knew his stuff” when it came to snowmobiles and he told me that it was all good........ boy was he wrong...
I ended up finding that the track was severely torn and unusable, the rear suspension had a broken pivot arm and a bunch of other crap that I overlooked because I didn’t know what I was looking at....
I will say this though, the motor was good and having to fix all of the stuff wrong with that sled really taught me a lot about what to look for in the future and how these things work and I even replaced my old worn out factory suspension with a more modern better performing rear skid. I’ve got a few videos of it on my channel but I still have that sled and it’s still a ripper but if I had known them what I know now, I probably would have not bought that sled.
We live, we learn 🤷♂️
Yep, live and learn! Thanks for watching.
Also ask the previous owner about fluids, good to know what brand they have been using and if they can’t tell you right off the bat what brand then that’s a sure sign they haven’t paid much attention to the fluids and therefore overall maintenance.
Good tip Adstuart..I guess some owners will always have their machines serviced by the shop and may not know what they use, but still a good idea.
Great video, very informative and helpful, we can always learn something new. Thanks
Great video. Thanks very much. I am 69 years old and a total noob at this whole snowmobile thing. I rode them in the military, but they were newer sleds that were maintained by pros. We just rode them and did the very simple daily maintenance on the trails. A pull start is a great option. I just bought an older ATV. It started and ran great at the sellers home, but when I got it home it wouldn’t start. The battery was completely dead. So I couldn’t even unload it off my trailer. But thankfully it has a pull start and it started second pull. I think this feature is an even bigger ‘must’ on a sled! This video will help me choose a used sled.
" I don't have to explain myself" LMAO I love that line Dave, great video
:) Thanks for watching Reid.
The video is amazing in detail, after this I knew exactly what I was looking for, I also ride grey/bruce so I bought a snowmobile that was appropriate for the riding conditions we get, ended up with a 2005, ski-doo mxz 600 S.D.I H.O, really nice sled. And because I watched this video, I got a good sled ready for the winter now, thanks Dave.
Hope its a good season for you
Hey Dave, so I just bought my first sled, it's a 2001 Ski-doo Formula 700 in immaculate shape, and I grew up riding snowmobile round my grandmas property so I knew my way around sleds a bit but having my very own to maintain myself is a bit different, and I had to tell you that your videos have helped me navigate the waters of owning and maintaining an old sled! So thanks so much, I have a channel too making outdoors and camping videos and I've just released a video of going out on my new (to me) Ski-doo. Anyways, cheers from a fellow Tuber! Thanks again for all the knowledge you share here!
Hey thanks Alexis. Glad they helped you out.
another great video - sage advice for anyone looking to buy a used sled
Thanks for another great video David!
Thanks Allan!
Greatings from finland! That video is a very good and informative if you are going buy your first sled. When i was buying my 2007 lynx i dont check body and tracktunnel very well...few days after buying i found some crack nearby front suspension on track. Tunnel is aluminium and its can be hard and expensive fix if you dont have aluminium welding macine. Thats my tip and sorry for my bad english :)
Hi Henrik! Your English is better than my Finnish! Don’t feel bad, it’s easy to miss cracks! I hope you can fix it.
Very comprehensive. Thanks, love the videos!
Thanks LR. Glad you liked it.
I just sold my Polaris 98 XC 600 Was an excellent shape just know it’s about time to upgrade probably gonna wait till next year to get one great video very informative
Buy one in spring that's best time
On the one hand buying in the off season, (Fall for boats, spring and summer for sleds) is a good idea as people want to get rid of them without having to store them, and there tends to be more on the market, the downside is it may be harder to take one for a test ride. Good point thought thanks for watching!
Great tips Dave! I think many buyers look at the cosmetics first and kinda blow off the mechanical, but it's a combination thing. Also being able to work on sleds is important. Some guys don't have a clue how to fix or repair anything, so for those guys, stick to new sleds and have them serviced by dealers. I enjoy you videos as always.
Thanks SK!
Thanks for the video!
I wish I saw that before I bought my sled
Hey oo. Glad you liked it. What did you buy? Miss anyting?
Ah dude thank you for this, it’s a lot nicer being able to watch a patient video like this rather than just goin out and lookin like an idiot on the trails and the marketplace
Thanks speck. Glad you,liked it.
All good advice Dave...Thanks.
Glad you liked it Ger.
My present sled was previously purchased new at the dealership from the orginal owner and maintained by them as well. I bought from the dealer pre-covid. Reasonable price and a good service history. No guarantees but good so far.
Never a guarantee with a used machine, but when a sleds well maintained they run for years. Thanks for watching and sharing.
One item I forgot to walk away with when I purchased my used sled was that of the tool kit. Some new sled searchers may not be aware that a tool kit on the trail is a must to change a belt, fouled spark plug or a pull cord break. If your sled doesn’t come with one there are replacement options available online for purchase, just another expense. Welcome to what proves to be an expensive hobby.
Great point. My sleds both came with original toolkits intact. The one on the 670 was showing its age, so I found a new old stock one. One of the first things I bought. Thanks for watching and commenting!
awesome video,,have owned lots of sleds,,from ski-doo's--cats--yamaha,,,all were reliable,,and never let me down,,--if its well cared for,,buy it,,,
Thanks Daryll.
Hey David great tips on the used sleds loved it keep up the great work keep them coming .
Thanks Scott. Just finishing a new one.
HEY David good to see you thanks for the new video
Hi John. Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Solid advice.
Great Video, David. My wife and I are new to sledding and purchased a '99 Ski Doo Formula III 800 and a '04 GSX 600 HO SDI. I think we got pretty lucky with both sleds. I had watched multiple "watch before you buy a used sled" videos but really didn't know what I was looking at when it came time see them in person. Both sleds have fresh rebuilds and the only problems so far were a hot running engine on the formula caused by air bubbles in the cooling system and a couple fried fuses on the GSX. I wish I would have asked about fluids on both sleds and pulled the 800 over a couple times when the engine was cold...not the easiest pull. We enjoy all your videos.
Oh thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoy them. Congrats on the new sleds. I hope you guys have lots of fun with them.
Great video David. I think another great idea for your channel would be exploring suspension adjustments to suit your riding and body size. Just the basic ones that the manufacturer gives you like the front shocks and the center and rear skid adjustments and how they affect the ride.
Thanks Chris. In the works :)
Great video for first time buyers..check your carb boots aswell.i just bought a 600 rev ho and the boots looked good but they were cracked!.could of been a costly mistake. Hi president reving when stoped is a sign of it running lean.enjoy watching your video's. Cheers
Hi Kodiak sorry for the delay in response. Good tip.
Great video thank you
just starting to look for my first. i have ridden twice in my life but am really new to the sport (moving from Texas to Alaska has played a roll in this one) amd i have no clue what i am doing. i will learn gowever. thanks for the information
Love Texas! Alaska looks beautiful. Yes, you will learn. Thanks for watching.
Great video , I have a formula 500 deluxe, great sled besides it had coolant leak and was smoking like crazy, just needed the head gaskets replaced, thank god easy fix 🥳
hi Benjamyn! Yep, great sled. Lots of times it's something simple. Actually it's kind of fun learning to fix things on these older sleds.
i’m getting ready to check out two sleds one is a 2000 rmk 700 and a 2003 ski doo summit 800 and a dive on drive off trailer for $4000. they both start and run great and both clutches have been rebuilt. a few things minor wrong with them but hoping i make a good purchase. now i have a good idea what to look for. I have ridden snowmobile’s for several years, but never own one. so i have no idea the maintenance and what to look for. youtube for the win. thanks for the video..nice sled btw.
Nice. Congratulations! Hope you get a ton of snow!
Always check the compression on the sled as well
If you have a compression tester and know what you’re looking for it’s always helpful. Thanks for watching.
Another great video Dave, thanks
Thanks Robert!
well on my sled 1997 polaris 600 xlt triple 3800 km did have cracked gasket on carbs saw that while cleaning it and it had rust on the fuel meter track is mint it had spark on 2 cylynders except midlle it ran good so not bad of a sled for 1300 dollars i didnt check it to well but i got lucky these things are beasts
Think you covered it pretty good 👍
Thanks Jeremy!
grt info im goin to see one today.....on ur atv that windsheild, can u tell me where it attatches, the bars or elsewhere, my bars have no room....ty
Thanks for the tip. I did miss the fuel gauge not working properly when I bought mine. Not sure how I could have known though because it's stuck on 3 bars, so unless I would've ridden it for a while I wouldn't have noticed. Snowmobiles mechanics are pretty simple and nice to learn from though, so it'll be a nice little project to try to change the fuel sensor
More likely the gauge itself. Try moving the float with a piece of wire.
@@MyOldSled I'll give that a try! Thanks, love your videos! Keep'em coming
My first sled was a 2002 Arctic Cat ZR800, It had the extra gear in the chaincase for reverse. The reverse gear would always blow out and cause bigger issues, so i ended up just removing the reverse. Now i have a 2018 Polaris Switchback Pro-S 800 and have only ever had one small issue with it. ive put on 8000kms since 2018 and its still going strong
Nice sled. Glad its worked out. Thanks for watching.
I didn’t really miss anything when buying my sled I bought it off my uncle so he made sure everything was good, he did inform me though that the starter gear for electric start was shredded and that’s something I wish I would of waited for him to fix but the pull start works just fine, I have the gear just need to get it installed.
Not hard. Depending on how damaged it is you should replace sooner than later. If it’s badly damaged or missing teeth it can throw the primary out of balance. Thanks for watching and sharing.
Always run the vin!
That’s not necessary if the vin on the machine matches the vin on the ownership.
Years ago I bought a ski doo safari 388 and it ended up having a bad crank side bearing that also caused a vacuum leak .Wouldn’t start good hot but ok cold. Didn’t know better, do now. Thx for your informative video.
Thanks Farmmark..ok, test time. What would you do differently now? I know what I’d do to detect vacuum leaks, not sure how a seller would feel…
@@MyOldSled Well the tech that found that just turned it over real slow and you could hear the balls in the bearing rattle. Now I would let one warm up good then let it sit a bit and see how it starts hot. I know there is lots of fancy tests you can do but was young and foolish and like you said don’t buy the first one you see. Thx
Bought a used 2010 Yamaha 4 stroke from a dealer he got as a trade in. Sled looked good, average mileage, inspected it pretty much like in this video except a compression test, which could have helped me. Rode it around the dealer lot a bit and it was fine. It also needed a track (pulled through studs) but the price reflected that. Brought it home, swapped the track and then the surprise, it's blowing coolant out the overflow whenever it was worked hard. Just easy riding it was fine but as soon as it was pinned, it blew coolant. Yeah, it needed a head gasket and the valves adjusted. Probably the dealer didn't even know it was one of those weird cases. It wasn't a huge job but just time consuming.
Hey Moose. You’ll never catch everything, unfortunately. the one thing I don’t remember if i mentioned is checking the coolant reservoir can sometimes catch head gasket issues. (Black staining excessively dirty)
good advice
Glad it was helpful!
Things I caught buying my first sled:
One of the hand warmers didn't work.
Front suspension didnt spring back up when pushed down.
What I missed was that at heavy throttle it hit a wall. Turns out the reeds were bad and power valves stuck.. hard to test that much in the summer.
Absolutely. There’s only so much you can check…
Great tips check to see wiggle in a arm bushings they shouldn't wiggle their not hard to replace but you will need to wrench I would not worry about bearings as they do need to be changed regularly and should be checked and changed in the fall
Seller was trying to start the sled, pushed primer a few times and couldn't start. Wetted the plugs he said and changed them and started. I didn't realise sled carburettors were leaking i.e. they are wetting the plugs all the time, even without primer. I should have walked away, but then again it was pretty cheap.
I live in a U.S. state that requires me to Title my sleds. I always ask the seller if they have a clean Title, or if they aren't required to have one, are they willing to get a bill of sale notarized. It is one way to weed out sleds that may have a checkered past as far as ownership transfers are concerned. There is nothing worse than paying cash for a sled and then find out it has been stolen and you have to surrender it with no recourse for a refund.
Get caught with it is 1 out of 10 .
Do you have experience with this? Sounds pretty far fetched.
About to buy a used sled and was looking for some extra tips on what to look for and I noticed we have the same 4 wheel. 2008 Honda Rancher? Thank you!
I have a couple of videos with it
I missed a collision that my 2016 Renegade had, had a few parts replaced but some parts of the e module were broken and the left spindle was stretched and throwing off the suspension geometry
Bought and old zrt triple and when I took it apart noticed it had bulkhead damage, it was a shame to part out that sled because it was a really clean piece
totally didn't know about a Diamond drive in the 08 Artic Cat I bought and the fluid change. Worked out ok, but wasn't expecting it or having to change it. The dealer said, "it was ready to ride."
So much hype about that when it came out. I think they’ve gone back to a chain now. Thanks for watching.
Ok that one made me laugh. Great information though, thanks Dave
Thanks H&J!
My best friend just put a new track on his sled and it cost him $1800 installed with 96 studs. I didn't pay that much for my old 99 formula so checking the track is very important
Definitely! Thanks for watching
Kind of lucked out really, bought 2 yamaha apex, one was double the miles but twice the maintenance and brand new track, paid a bit more for the second but it had a lot less miles.. and maintenance wasnt as good, a lot of wheels were non-replacable bearings and two inner ones were actually completely delaminated.... but both are proving to be great machines, did all the oils, pulled both skids and did all bearings and have proven relkiable
Glad to hear they worked out well. Thanks for the comment
@@MyOldSled Not sure why i told you all that actually! That comment had no point, except maybe that when buying used you never know what you're going to get even if you look it over quite well... and even then can get surprised.
Thats fine, you were sharing your experience. Thats the point. Thanks for commenting.
I would strongly suggest checking condition of heat exchanger excessive wear would indicate bad suspension and show how much the owner cared about it
Not a bad tip. Heat exchangers can take a beating for sure.
Great video again ! Have you been riding a lot this season ? Cheers from Quebec !
Been out a few times. Busy with a few things hopefully out tomorrow
Exhaust leaks.... 2001 MXZ 600 has tin and fiberglass wrap around it which holds moisture... hence rust hole in expansion chamber... had to have it welded.
Hi LotF. Thats a good tip, I almost included it but it's kinda specific and some sleds you can find a pipe for relatively easy, while others, not so much. Always on the look out for a good pipe for my 670 for the same reason.
I feel for loose and sloppy handlebars this indicates that the owner did a whole lot of tugging or jumping of the machine handlebars should not wiggle
Super video David, I think I lucked out with my 2003 Ski Doo Legend 600, this might sound odd but check the length of the machine and will it fit on your trailer. I have a 6 X 10 enclosed trailer and my machine just fits.
Not odd at all. Especially if you’re looking at a long tracked machine. Thanks for watching!
Great video, I watched the first video when I bought my first sled in the summer of 2020. I checked the condition of the skegs my GSX has two on each ski, all 4 missing. But the bolts showed on top. Yup, ran them down through the ski bottoms. So got money off for that. Excellent topic.
Glad you found it helpful. Congrats on the new sled. Get to ride it much?
I bought a 2006 ski doo like yours last year haven’t put more then 200 kms on it and spent over 4000 in fixes hasn’t even run long enough to sell.
Ah what a shame. So sorry to hear that. Other than the track, which was torn on a trailer, and little things like a fuse carrier, mine has run pretty well. $4000? I didn’t even pay that for both of my sleds! What did you have done?!
It’s had two rebuilds and two stators tons of electrical stuff and still doesn’t run right trying to figure it out.
Ouch. Hope you didn't pay for the first rebuild! Your '06 500f isn't the same as my '05 SDI 600, but its still a solid reliable runner, well reviewed in all categories. Can't imagine having that much trouble. Sorry you haven't enjoyed it. Good luck, hope you figure it out.
I bought a 1996 mxz 670 few years ago and it took me a while to get used starting it with a primer
Hi Scott. Flooded it a lot right?
@@MyOldSled oh yeah, lots of fouled plugs till I figured it out.lol
Welcome to the club!
Mine had a bad primer (leak) which lead some real headaches trying to start it. Once I switched the primer, it worked as expected.
Keep an eye out for leaks (gas lines, oil line, break line, crank case, … )
Hi Rob. I had a leaky primer line this year as well. Not much fun to fix in freezing temps. Thanks for watching.
Check the brake disk. Mine has lots of play. Had it for a few years so it’s probably wore. But something to check
Hi Luke. There is a fair bit of play (turning, not in and out) in the break rotor.
@@MyOldSled yup same as mine. Going to have to fix mine this summer I hope it’s just the key in the key way
No, i mean some play is normal.
Sry I was just stepping out when I was responding. You will probably find the keyway showing some wear and changing it may reduce it, but slop in the rotor is totally fine, even 1/4" in or more. Just the fact thats its keyway instead of splines, plus the fact that its a chain...you don't want it fixed.
When I bought a snowmobile for my girlfriend I noticed it had pretty loose steering (Handlebars move but skis stay still). No big issue just some joint or bearing that needs replacement, right? Well turns out there is a joint that needs replacing, and it's mounted under the engine so you actually have to pull out the entire engine to replace it. Very annoying. Sled is a Polaris Fusion from 2006.
Ah what a shame, sorry that happened. Did you get it fixed yet?
Even though uninsulated, do you ever heat that shed you're in? my 24x24 is uninsulated but man be nice to melt the sleds off sometime!!!
I have a small space heater but plan to insulate. Thanks for watching!
Check to make sure it's paid for.
Yes a lean check on anything newer is a good idea
i bought a 800 boondocker 2012 lynx, newly rebuilt by a shop, and riden in by previos owner, and it blew up in my ownership after 4 hours of riding
Oh man sorry that happened. Did you find out why?
@@MyOldSled we opened it up, and selling it as a repair object, ended up buying a newer 2017 boondocker instead:P
But why did it blow up?
@@MyOldSled idk tbh... i rode it empty by accident, and when we took it home it wouldnt want to start, so suspect some junk was pulled through the fuel lines...
I have bought 3 used sleds and the most important tip is: NOT to go buying a sled while being drunk or hungover. I did that with 2nd sled I bought. Sled looked really good and I was like: I'll take it! Ended up putting 3k euros into the sled.
Lol that is a good tip crnfcs! Thanks for watching!
do you recommend a 4 stroke or a two stroke dealer or private owner thanks
2 stroke v 4 stroke is a whole video on its own. Both engine types have their pros and cons. 4-stroke engines run more consistently and efficiently and generally last longer than 2-stroke engines, 2-stroke engines are lighter and faster than 4-strokes and are easy to work on. Dealer vs private? I dunno a dealer is easer to go back on if you have a problem and in my experience are less likely to stick you with garbage, they generally stay away from older busted up stuff. They are also more expensive.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Lynx Snowmobiles are acceptable too cuz their made by BRP, the manufacturers that make Ski-Doos.
Bought a 2005 MXZ 600 Adrenaline with electric start and reverse high miles $1500
Congrats. Hope you have a great time with it.
Oil pump was stuck open on my 800 ho 2005 i just thought it was normal for that year and older model to smoke like that
Most two stroke sleds will smoke, some more than others. Usually once you’re riding it should stop.
What is consider high mileage for a sled that is 99 and 01
Hi Jimmy, I did address mileage in the latter half of this video.
Is a 1998 Skidoo Grand Touring 583 2up decent ?? 3k on it.
If it’s been looked after yep it’s a good sled
First ....with an 04 600 SDI!!!
Hi Twin. Thanks for watching.
@@MyOldSled ever think about doing an SDI oil consumption video? Like a how to tell if you are using enough oil or not enough on an oil injection?
If they did a engine rebuild make sure they dint use silicone
I missed the careful consideration of weather I should get efi or not, and I didn't :(
A lot of guys have carbs and love their sleds. Thanks for watching.
@@MyOldSled I wasn't trying to say carbs are bad. If you don't know how to adjust them and work on them like me I should have considered buying Efi 4 me.
No worries didn't take it that way at all KC. Guess I'll have to do some carb videos!
@@MyOldSled That would be awesome! I will look forward to it :)
Most important thing about carburetors is to have them synced I've seen too many people call me crying because they cleaned their carbs in the fall took it out on the first snowfall only to find out that they blew up a cylinder because it was running to lean due to not enough fuel and oil going to that cylinder this takes sensitive fingers and usually a friend to snap and pull the throttle
Would like to add to this. Any snowmobile that has 4000 to 5000 miles on it and all the bearing have not been changed stay away from it unless you know you have to change them. Lose a drive shaft bearing on the trail is not good but also costly. Especially if the bearing wears out the housing . Another rule to this is if the machine has low mileage but not been run for years you can bet the bearing is shot.
A little harder for a new buyer to spot, but good tip. I should have changed mine out when I replaced my track. Oh well another project for the summer.
Have to disagree a little on the importance of a compression test. Never buy a used sled without doing one. I have been burned multiple times buying sleds that seemingly ran and drove fine, but the engine was down on compression and on its way out. If the owner doesn't want you to compression test it, walk away.
Hi Brandon, like I said, its definitely a good idea, and I pointed out why. Im sure hundreds of thousands of sleds change hands every year between people who have no idea what it is or how to do one. There are also a lot of owners who have their sled maintained at a dealer and never touch their sleds, and just may not want a stranger removing plugs. Get what you’re saying though. Sorry to hear you’ve been burned.
Also, if you don't know what you're doing, and you just go by some of the advice I was given about the values you should see, you'd never buy a sled. I figure most people who know how to check compression would understand why I said it's a good idea anyway.
@@MyOldSled I guess that's a good point about sleds that have only been touched by the dealer. I suspect age of the sled would also have a lot do with it. The sleds I buy are all 20 years old or more. It's mainly DIYers buying sleds that old so doing a compression test is more expected
Ideally you’d do a compression test, leackdown test, pull the chain case apart, check for vacuum leaks etc etc but not very realistic…I’m thinking of the average joe, ie me 6 years ago. Great points though thanks!
Lol my 900 kills me to pull over
See? Was I wrong? :) Thanks for watching.
haha. Learning from your own mistakes is stupid. Always learn from others peoples mistakes😂
No, failing to learn from your mistakes is stupid ;) thanks for watching.
Good decision on not buying a new one.