Since my wife won't let me get tracks for my wheeler or a new sled I decided to rip apart my 1996 Indy 500 and make her into an ice fishing beast. In the past 4 years I think I've been trail riding once - I almost exclusively use this sled for ice fishing and I don't think the stock setup is meant to pull a 300lb portable with two 230lb guys on it.
As of now, here's what I'm planning on doing:
Although I am a mechanical engineer by profession and have been fixing all sorts of machines since I was young, I'm still pretty new to working on snowmobiles. If you have any thoughts or or ideas on what I am trying to do please feel free to let me know so I don't screw anything up.
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Starting the tare-down. Lots of penetrating oil used. The steering post was rusted up, I took it out and heated it up and it still wouldn't move - time for a new one.
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Spring tension roller location before.
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Spring tension roller location after the new bracket was installed. If this doesn't work out I can always take the bracket off, move it back to the original location, and get bigger springs. I had the aluminum laying around so I thought I would give it a try.
As of now, here's what I'm planning on doing:
- Drop the skid for a little more clearance. I've run into the problem where I get into deep snow or slush and bottom the sled out before my track can dig down to the ice where the studs can grab.
- Put stiffer springs in the skid or move the tension adjustment rollers up - again, needs to support almost 500lbs without bottoming out.
- Gearing down to a 17T top sprocket and a 41T bottom sprocket. I know that seems pretty steep but I'm not building a race sled, I'm going for a snow tractor. I don't need to go 90mph, 30mph and lots of torque is just fine by me.
- Raise the front end somehow if needed after I drop the skid.
- Build a rack for the back with a hitch and an auger rack for the front.
- Lots of general maintenance since I don't think it has been done for quite some time - clean carbs, grease and clean the skid, clean the clutches and new springs, new fuel, oil, and air lines along with filters.
Although I am a mechanical engineer by profession and have been fixing all sorts of machines since I was young, I'm still pretty new to working on snowmobiles. If you have any thoughts or or ideas on what I am trying to do please feel free to let me know so I don't screw anything up.
Starting the tare-down. Lots of penetrating oil used. The steering post was rusted up, I took it out and heated it up and it still wouldn't move - time for a new one.
Spring tension roller location before.
Spring tension roller location after the new bracket was installed. If this doesn't work out I can always take the bracket off, move it back to the original location, and get bigger springs. I had the aluminum laying around so I thought I would give it a try.
