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Snowmobile help

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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
Hey, I have a Polaris indie 500 efi from the 90's that I got for free. it as been sitting in a field for a few years but I want to try to use it to backcountry ski. Does anyone have any tips on getting it to start? Thanks
Nov 19 2012 7:31PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
well first of all, if the sled has been sitting outside in a field for a few years your going to have a ton of things to go through.
Does it have spark, pull the pul lstart, with the spark plugs out. Do they get spark?
Does it have fuel?
The carbs are prob all gummed up and will need to be cleaned. They prob need new floats, and a rebuild.
Does the motor have compression? Do a compression and leak down test.
Honestly, if its been sitting for a while, and doesn't start, chances are it will need a ton of parts to make it worthy of taking in the back country. Not to mention the track is probably dry rotted out.
Better get your credit cards ready.

Nov 19 2012 7:42PM
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Guggs
Posts: 189 - Karma: 386

First off ik you wanna try and use it for back country but if that includes any kind of steep or deep snow that sled is going to be a bitch! They were very heavy sleds with short tracks. getting it started is the easy part. If i were you i would wanna go for as much weight loss on the sled as possible and then maybe invest in a track extension. that being said ill give you a quick run down as to getting it running.

fisrt: Gas!!   gas degrades after time so its important to clean the tank lines and most important the carbs. easy to do cheap and should be done every year.

second: please check spark plugs nothing makes a bad sled like dirty gas/carbs and fouled plugs.

If those two things dont get the sled goin check your electronics. such as the switches!!!!!!! yes they do go bad.

And If these few steps dont work for you to get it running there may be a bigger problem such as pistions and rings that would be a total rebbuild of the engine costing $$..

My freind bought a 03 prox 440 and we are in the middle of a total rebuild and restore cost him with sled 2000$ not bad but it came with jets from 0-120000 ft and weights

finally if this sled doesnt have an elevation kit and you wanna ride high alttitude get the damn kit!!!!! otherwise the sled is gunna go BOOM!!! i can gaurente.

If you have any questions PM me or post your Q's here please :) and have fun

Nov 19 2012 7:44PM
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skicast
Posts: 15 - Karma: 21
Get yourself a Ski-Doo. :)
Nov 19 2012 7:52PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
Leave that fucker in the field. Save up to buy a mountain sled if you want to sled backcountry, your cheapest option would be an old pre-rev summit or early 2000s rmk. Or ideally a rev (04-07 style skidoo summit).

Unless you just want to get drunk and hammer some trails.
Nov 19 2012 8:31PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
Dang, you guys are fast...It is electronically fuel injected so no carbs or altitude issues. So far I have replaced the steering column, greased all the zirc fittings and cleaned out the gas tank. This sled is and always will be a beater, I have no problem with that. I have a special gas adative that should help. I also have coolant. I still need to check the oil. Is there anything else that needs to be done before I jack it up and try to turn it over?

Also I guess I should have clarified what I mean by backcountry. No, I will not be scaling high mountain peaks in exposed areas.(yet) I merely want to not have to hike up when we go to our small local mountain. This video shows what we did last year. https://vimeo.com/37646498 we would be in the same area just not walking. So hopefully this sled will work for that.

Thanks for the quick responses, I will post tomorrow night after I try to start it up
Nov 19 2012 9:48PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3597 - Karma: 3,895
That shit won't get ya anywhere but stuck in the BC.
Nov 19 2012 9:49PM
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NotoriousS.K.I
Posts: 57 - Karma: 27
Suck a FAT DICK, no one cares about snowmobiles...
Nov 19 2012 10:35PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
Thank you kind sir...
Nov 19 2012 10:38PM
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NotoriousS.K.I
Posts: 57 - Karma: 27
fuck you, you hipster
Nov 19 2012 10:39PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
Say what? snowmobiles are supper mainstream, skinning is not, although it is still cool.
Nov 19 2012 10:43PM
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NotoriousS.K.I
Posts: 57 - Karma: 27
HIPSTER. PIECE. OF. SHIT.
Nov 19 2012 10:47PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
So update...I need a fuel pump relay before it will start, I am considering either buying one off ebay or rewiring it so that it will fit a car really... Thoughts?
Nov 25 2012 6:42PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
So it's working, thanks a bunch for the help NS!!!
Dec 8 2012 1:02PM
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FroesenSkeeze
Posts: 638 - Karma: 673
That's an awesome place to rip. Pretty jealous of that. But ya, I live on the prairies and sled tow-ins and transportation are great. Those older Polaris' do not die either. Too bad Polaris makes shitty new sleds, but oh well. Anyway, good luck on getting the snowmobile running so that you can save your legs for skiing instead of hiking!
Dec 8 2012 1:10PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5065 - Karma: 42,823
Haha, Ya its nice to have a mountain close to town, I guess we just kind of take it for granted sometimes. Finally got it going this morning so now all we need is some snow to fall!
Dec 8 2012 3:54PM
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