I pressure washed mine yesterday, had to get all the mud, seaweeds, and loon shit off of it. If you do the engine, do it with the engine off. Everything else is waterproof.

 

i do it with the engine in then i use the foam brush then rinse and do it to the whole sled the same way. then it dries in the sun and into the garage. looks shiny

 

Be REALLY carefull around decals/stickers. They can shred or blow off so easily sometimes (when you DON"T want them to of course!!). Otherwise, go for it!

 

Put some degreaser on the engine and let it sit for 10-minutes. Stuff a rag in your airbox and avoid spraying around it. I think I use the green tip nozzle and don't spray too close. As snopro31 said let it dry in the sun. I fire mine up after the sun dries it, then fog, and grease her up. A good grease job is important because of the hi water pressure might/will wash grease away. Grease all fittings until no water comes out and you see new grease. That has worked for me very well. I spray the whole engine down with a chemical, oil based, that prevents corrosion. Its 711 and comes in a gold labeled can.

No need to pull the engine unless you're bored and looking at possibly breaking something. :no:

 

all you guys to is plug the airbox and spary away? water wont get into anything in the motor it shouldn't?

 

i pressure wash my sleds every spring, be careful around clutches because you will most likely drive water into the rollers and what, mine goes through a full make over though in the spring so i don't worry about this

 

Just my opinion...sleds were made for use in snow....the more you can keep them away from water, especially pressurized water the better.
I get a bunch of rags and wd 40 or crc equiv. and wipe everything i can to clean the engine bay and chassis best as possible.

 

I pressure wash mine after every trip ... been doing it for years. As discussed, be careful around your decals so you don't strip them off unintentionally. Other than that, nothing to worry about.

 

QUOTE (Too Slow @ Apr 13 2010, 10:42 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5295542

Just my opinion...sleds were made for use in snow....the more you can keep them away from water, especially pressurized water the better.
I get a bunch of rags and wd 40 or crc equiv. and wipe everything i can to clean the engine bay and chassis best as possible.[/b]

word to the wise snow is water. therefor to keep it away from water you need to ride in a desert.

 

QUOTE (snopro31 @ Apr 13 2010, 01:05 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5295581

word to the wise snow is water. therefor to keep it away from water you need to ride in a desert.[/b]

Understood... but its frozen water which has less effect or none at all of washing out various places where lubrication ought to be all the time.
I did some testing years ago riding in warm slushy conditions oppose to very cold dry snow dust type conditions.
In the warmer slushy conditions the chassis took a beating...the idlers were shot not to mention the shocks and any of the arms and linkage that pivot were full of water even after they had been greased before riding.
After equal riding time in sub-zero conditions...it was just the opposite.

 

Although i may do this with my sled when its together. I was talking that I want to pressure wash my tunnel/chassis and engine bay (everything under hood motor wise is already pulled, seat is off). As like the belly pan, bulkhead, inside tunnel on top tunnel, and make it look new.

But id like to pressure wash the outside of my motor too......

and i would grease it all right after pressure washing.

And i guess more people pressure wash there sleds than i though!!!

do you guys use a high pressure small hole end or the opposite?

 

QUOTE (Too Slow @ Apr 13 2010, 10:42 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5295542

Just my opinion...sleds were made for use in snow....the more you can keep them away from water, especially pressurized water the better.
I get a bunch of rags and wd 40 or crc equiv. and wipe everything i can to clean the engine bay and chassis best as possible.[/b]

I completely submerged my Indy 500 every weekend for the last month. Weird thing is I think it's running better now.

 

QUOTE (Too Slow @ Apr 13 2010, 02:49 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5295661

Understood... but its frozen water which has less effect or none at all of washing out various places where lubrication ought to be all the time.
I did some testing years ago riding in warm slushy conditions oppose to very cold dry snow dust type conditions.
In the warmer slushy conditions the chassis took a beating...the idlers were shot not to mention the shocks and any of the arms and linkage that pivot were full of water even after they had been greased before riding.
After equal riding time in sub-zero conditions...it was just the opposite.[/b]

I have no trouble with rusting or anything when washing. the only rust is from branches and salt.

I find the opposite of you in snow conditions. In slushly snow I go slower BUT I find it lubes better and is way easier to get out compared to the hardpack.

 

Yes, cover the air box inlet and spray away. Use a tip that allows the heavy mist water spray. It's perfect. After you're done run it until warm. This will clean standing water fron the primary clutch and other areas. I have done it for years. You can wash the whole sled like this.

 

QUOTE (snopro31 @ Apr 13 2010, 08:52 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5295856

I have no trouble with rusting or anything when washing. the only rust is from branches and salt.

I find the opposite of you in snow conditions. In slushly snow I go slower BUT I find it lubes better and is way easier to get out compared to the hardpack.[/b]

Have you checked your idler wheels? Its not the issues of rusting or ability to ride...its a problem of areas that should have grease all the time not having any once water blows it out.
My guess you don't ride a lot of miles between your maintenance periods to notice things like the idler wheels running dry....try riding in the wet slop a couple thousand miles a year throwing rooster tails of water and let me know what you think.
I find the chassis of my sleds requiring far less service if only ridden in cold dry snow conditions opposed to the warm slushy conditions found here.

 

personally i never hose down my sleds a bucket of warm slightly soapy water and a couple of towels can clean everything up awesome

 

QUOTE (Too Slow @ Apr 14 2010, 09:05 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=5296179

Have you checked your idler wheels? Its not the issues of rusting or ability to ride...its a problem of areas that should have grease all the time not having any once water blows it out.
My guess you don't ride a lot of miles between your maintenance periods to notice things like the idler wheels running dry....try riding in the wet slop a couple thousand miles a year throwing rooster tails of water and let me know what you think.
I find the chassis of my sleds requiring far less service if only ridden in cold dry snow conditions opposed to the warm slushy conditions found here.[/b]

I did at the start of the year and they were fine.

But I won't be checking again as Im ordering a new sled friday

 

Yes i did, go for it. you can pressure wash your sled!

 

Someone went digging into the archives to find this one .... wow! Originally posted in 2010?!?!

Joined a snowmobile web site and this is the best thread they could come up with to make their first post................ :rofl:

 

Did it when i modded my 87 indy 400....had to get the bulkhead good and clean for strengthening the welds so it'd be race ready. All the ifs components, drive train, and skid were removed first.

 

Someone went digging into the archives to find this one .... wow! Originally posted in 2010?!?!

 

And too slow was still around to chime in:lol::bc2:

 

Well last few seasons with crappy conditions power washing sled has been much needed