Melting snow/ice from tunnel and skid? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

meburdick · 01-01-2013, 07:40 PM

Hi, all. I've actually be able to get out and ride this season, and I'm finding that I have a bit of an issue...

During the rides, I pick up snow in my skid and tunnel (normal). Some of it will start to melt and then freeze on the sides of the tunnel (no big deal). When I park the sled on the trailer at the end of the day, however, there will be some more melting of snow and quite a bit of ice ends up in the skid, in the tunnel, and on the track.

Yesterday, as a precursor to going riding today, I put a 1500 watt quartz heater inside the trailer (did I mention that it's a 10' clamshell?) and let it run for about six hours. It served its purpose and allowed me to knock the large hunks of ice off and ensure that nothing was going to keep the track from spinning.

I'm wondering what folks do to get the ice and snow off of their machines in these kinds of situations? The quartz heater is not a good long-term solution, or viable for when the temps drop down significantly. Bringing the machines into the garage is not always viable either. It also isn't safe to run them on extension cords because they pull about 12Amps of power.

Anyone have a safe way to either heat the trailer or the skid or something so that the track doesn't freeze to it?

mxz700brp · 01-01-2013, 07:48 PM

I no u said bringing them into the garage isn't always an option but i can say that i bring mine into the garage after i ride and the next day ther its no ice/snow build up on my sled..my garage is not heated either.

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meburdick · 01-01-2013, 07:55 PM

Mine is also not heated, and snow would melt off in 36 hours max (typically closer to the 18-24 range). That is one way to get it done, but would currently require that I take out the tractor (which I won't do unless I'm actively using it) or move something else of significant size. My garage is filled with "stuff", not cars. So, it isn't easy to simply make room for it.

mxz700brp · 01-01-2013, 08:03 PM

Im not sure then. Im still a newbie in the snowmobile word....id find a way to make room or build yourself a cheap shed to get it out of the weather.

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meburdick · 01-01-2013, 08:07 PM

It's not that it's "in the weather" as it's inside of an enclosed trailer. It's just that it isn't someplace warm enough to allow the snow to melt. Bringing it into my garage, like yours, would suffice since it's attached to the house and is typically never below about 45 degrees. A shed, since it's not attached to the house, won't get any residual heat. So, it will be only marginally warmer than the surrounding air.

I'm struggling with this... Last year, since I wasn't riding, the sled stayed in the garage - but it was buried in the back. This year, I have the 54" snowblower attachment and my portable generator stored where the sled was last year. There's two pallets of firewood in the garage as well, along with the kids' bikes, a small gas-powered snowblower, the push mower, shovels, the log splitter, and the Deere 2520 tractor.

mxz700brp · 01-01-2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meburdick

It's not that it's "in the weather" as it's inside of an enclosed trailer. It's just that it isn't someplace warm enough to allow the snow to melt. Bringing it into my garage, like yours, would suffice since it's attached to the house and is typically never below about 45 degrees. A shed, since it's not attached to the house, won't get any residual heat. So, it will be only marginally warmer than the surrounding air.

I'm struggling with this... Last year, since I wasn't riding, the sled stayed in the garage - but it was buried in the back. This year, I have the 54" snowblower attachment and my portable generator stored where the sled was last year. There's two pallets of firewood in the garage as well, along with the kids' bikes, a small gas-powered snowblower, the push mower, shovels, the log splitter, and the Deere 2520 tractor.

Lol...

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yamadad4 · 01-01-2013, 08:14 PM

the ice and snow will eventually fall off on the next ride. before moving the sled lift the rear and drop a few times then make sure it moves freely before burning your belt. lifting the rear end and spinning the track is a safe bet.

meburdick · 01-01-2013, 08:22 PM

I keep the sleds on the trailer, propped up by the rear bumper with a block of wood. When I'm trailering out somewhere, I drop the skids down onto the deck and strap the rear bumpers to some D-rings I mounted at the back of the trailer and I take the boards with me.

It sounds like I could just prop the rear end up after it has warmed up a little and goose the throttle a few times to spin the track before I back it off the trailer and be good to go? What are the chances of there still being some ice or something up inside the tunnel that would drag on the track?

Rczr600rider · 01-01-2013, 08:38 PM

Once the heat exchangers warm up any ice that might rub on the track should melt pretty quickly.

meburdick · 01-01-2013, 08:43 PM

On the Edge, do the heat exchangers run the entire length of the tunnel? On the Evolved, they're under the running boards, and I have a good idea of how much impact they'll have there...

What about ice in the skid? Any dangers there?

**BC_Dan** · 01-01-2013, 08:46 PM

you could always stop by a coin-operated car wash and blast most of the snow off before you get home.. I've done that before. Works well and doesn't take long.

Edge coolant lines go on the edges of both running boards to the rear heat exchanger. Big chunks of ice are a concern, that's why it's a good idea to knock off most of it at the end of the ride.

meburdick · 01-01-2013, 08:48 PM

I had considered that, but wasn't sure if I would be making any progress since the skid at that point would be completely cooled down (no residual heat left in the exchangers) and I would be adding water to it.

yamadad4 · 01-01-2013, 09:37 PM

spent the last five days doing what i described without an issue. basically riding, parking the sleds in the trailer at night, knocking what i can off prior to the next ride, spinning the tracks and off again.

i have been doing it that way for years. you can do a visual for larger chunks existing in the track or skid, most blow out when the track spins. my sled has exchangers similar to the polaris style, but with the snow eliminators build up isnt an issue.

perhaps a quick run on hard pack prior to loading would eliminate most the larger chunks along with a suspension drop or two.

meburdick · 01-01-2013, 09:46 PM

Sound good. Loading is in the parking lot, mostly plowed and no powder. Just what's built up from the ride.