Let It Snow!

Preparing for the first ride of the season on your Vintage Snowmobile..

It’s that time of year again, when the jack-o-lanterns will soon give way to the gourds and cornstalks, and over the next month, the first twinkle of Christmas lights will begin to appear in the neighborhood. We wake up to frost on the grass and remainder of fallen leaves, and the first snowflakes begin to fly as the frigid air whistles though leafless tree branches. Some find this time of year depressing, the end of summer, the sunny warm days long gone. My mind, however, has already shifted to the excitement of the upcoming snowmobile trips of the season, and my dreams consist of speeding down the snow-covered trails in northern Michigan under a frigid blue sky. Our focus now is getting our snowmobiles ready for the upcoming winter season, and beginning to look into new areas and trails to explore.

Typically it’s a good idea to have somewhat of a head start on ensuring the sleds are ready to go. Working on anything outdoors in 20 degree weather is no picnic, unless of course you have the luxury of a heated garage or barn. Our goal is to be ready in the September/October timeframe, or at least have an understanding of what we need to accomplish to be ready for the first trip.  We ride vintage Kawasaki sleds, a 1978 Invader and a 1982 LTD, both two strokes.

Here are several areas to check before heading out on your first trip of the season:

• Tune up – Replace spark plugs, fuel filter.

• Replace the drive belt. (Carry the old one on the sled as a spare.)

• Inspect the wear bars on the skis, replace if excessively worn.

• Check the track tension and overall condition, replace if necessary.

• Check brake pads for excessive wear.

• Check brake and throttle cables, lubricate if necessary, check for any fraying.

• Ensure all lights are in working condition.

• Check and lubricate steering linkage if needed.

• Check suspension for broken or weak springs, ensure parts move freely.

One of our annual traditions is to make the trip up to New Lothrop, MI for the A-1 Snowmobile Show and Swap. Hosted by Dianne and Bill Miller of A-1 Upholstery on the first weekend of November, a harvested field several miles west of I-75 becomes home to a sea of trucks and trailers carrying sleds and sled parts for sale, from vintage to late models. We look forward to spending the day walking the aisles of trailers loaded with snowmobiles, old and later models, and tables of parts. You never know what you might find. And for those who have spent many a season out on the trails, the snowmobiles of days gone by are sure to bring back some memories.  This swap meet marks the start of the season for us, snow or not, and gets us in the spirit!

Now, the first winter storm is looming and you receive the news you’ve been waiting for: a substantial amount of snow is on its way! You’ve gone over your machines to ensure everything is in mechanical working order, now there are a few things to keep in mind before heading out.

• Carry spare parts. Spark plugs, spare drive belt, bulbs. Especially with vintage sleds. Your local dealer may not have in stock what you need in a pinch. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to research ahead of time where the local dealers are in proximity to where your trails are. It might just save your weekend!

• Ride with a friend, and carry a three-hook tow rope (two hooks on one end, a single hook on the other). If one sled breaks down, your friend can tow you back to the trailhead. A three hook tow rope will pull the sled evenly by both skis, not just one. Looping a rope through both skis will cause them to pull inward and could damage the steering.

• Obviously, always tell someone your intended route, carry a map of the area and though this is likely the norm and not the exception, carry a charged cell phone. Make a note of the fuel stops along the way.

• Make sure there is a flashlight in your standard tool kit, if you are caught after dark and also dress for the falling temps that come with nightfall.

Upper and Lower Michigan is home to over 6,200 miles of designated snowmobile trails that wind through State of Michigan forests, three national forests and many acres of privately owned lands. Michigan is one of only three states that offer a large system of interconnected snowmobile trails. More than 150 grooming tractors are used by more than 65 grant program sponsors to groom the 6,200-mile trail system.

It’s been said that planning a trip is almost as fun as the trip itself. For more information on trails and amenities, a wealth of information including trail maps and current trail conditions can also be found at the websites listed below.

Michigan Interactive
http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobile/snowmobiling.html.

State of Michigan
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

http://www.trailreport.com/

It will continue to amaze me how fast time goes by and that before I know it, it will be time to take down the Halloween decorations and begin the winterizing tasks around the house. I find joy however, in the fact that for me, the end of summer does not mean the end of fun. The days of sipping ice cold lemonade will soon turn to days of sipping hot mulled cider on my porch, as I smile at the dark winter clouds on the horizon, thinking,   “Let it snow.”