Preparing to Ride

Performing Pre-Season Maintenance

Always give your snowmobile a checkup before the season starts. It’s easier to fix a problem while the snowmobile is in the garage instead of waiting until it spoils your fun on the trail.

Consult your owner’s manual for items that may need to be lubricated, tightened, adjusted, aligned, or checked for wear. Key items include:

Brakes
Carburetor
Chain
Clutch
Drive belt
Fuel filter
Handlebars
Lights
Shocks
Skis/Skag bars
Spark plugs
Steering system
Throttle
Track
Windshield

Also be sure to perform all recommended maintenance.

Key Items To Check

Be sure to consult your owner’s manual before you attempt any adjustments or repairs. Taking your machine to a licensed snowmobile mechanic may be your best bet.

Illustration indicating the location of the drive belt on a SMB

Illustration of an SMB demonstrating Track Tension

Illustration of an SMB showing Ski Alignment

Illustration of location of Spark Plugs in an SMB

Maintaining a Clean, Quiet Machine

Beyond the pre-season checkup and maintenance, you can follow these suggestions to make sure your snowmobile runs cleaner and quieter.

Use high-grade oil and gasoline, which burn cleaner.
Tune the engine for your altitude, including the proper carburetor jet setting, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Change the spark plugs at least once during the season to ensure efficient fuel burning.
Avoid opening and closing the throttle continuously, which causes inefficient fuel burning and increases emissions and noise.
Don’t tamper with your exhaust pipes as that causes the machine to exceed legal noise limits.

Vermont State Police

Course Overview

Course Chapters

Review Questions

Testing

Other

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Official snowmobile safety course for Vermont snowmobile riders last modified: April 16, 2008
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