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18 Snowmobile Terms to Make your Ride Easier

  • 3 min read

You know that snowmobiling is a fantastic way to spend a winter day, but before you jump on your sled and ride away, learn the basic parts of your machine. Knowledge keeps you safe and secure on the machine. Think about it; you don’t jump in your car without knowing what runs the car; it is the same with a snowmobile. Rocky Mountain Snowmobile advises you learn about your machine and they are there to help you. Knowing the names of parts and what they do will be useful in many ways.

 

Snowmobile Terminology

There sits your gleaming new machine. You are so pumped up about jumping on and riding away, but first, walk around your sled and learn about what makes it work.

  • The throttle feeds fuel to the engine. Your engine powers the driveshaft and moves the Simmons Flex skis you have on your machine.
  • Snowmobiles are equipped with an engine stop switch. To activate the switch you need to push the switch down.
  • Handlebars are your main steering mechanism and keep you on the straight and narrow.
  • A windshield protects you and your passenger from the wind and blowing ice or snow that flies up as you ride.
  • Headlights work just like a car and light your path and alert other riders that you are right behind or in front of them. Most snowmobile enthusiasts use their headlights both day and night.
  • The hood of the machine protects and covers the engine and other mechanical components.
  • The engine can either be a two stroke or four stroke engine. Repair is similar to other vehicles, and you must maintain your engine property. Have your engine serviced before you take off on trails. Talk with Rocky Mountain Snowmobile to find out what size engine you have and any maintenance tips they can pass on to you.
  • The hull or tub aids in floatation in deep snow. The hull also protects the undercarriage from rocks or hard ice.
  • Front and rear bumpers help protect against collisions with rocks, trees, and other snowmobiles. Just like a car’s bumper, your snowmobile bumpers can be damaged and need to be replaced. Call Rocky Mountains Snowmobile for front and back bumper parts.
  • Instrument panels are vital. This panel gives you information about your speed, has warning lights and gives you the RPM or revolutions per minute of your driveshaft. Make sure you have your owner’s manual with you when you ride, so you know what the warning lights mean.
  • The skis on your machine glide you along the surface of the snow and steer the vehicle. Ski blades like Simmons Flex skis have stabilizers that are on the bottom of the sled and prevent side-to-side motions. Your Simmons Flex skis are designed to glide over the snow without any hitches.
  • The track on you snowmobile is crafted from strengthen rubber and is wrapped around the rear suspension of your sled. Tracks are driven by the engine and move your sled. Without a track, you would not go anywhere.
  • Rear suspension supports the track as it digs into the snow. Your rear suspension maintains contact with the snow and the suspension supports the rear of your snowmobile. It absorbs bumps and gives you a smoother ride.
  • Look for your shock absorbers. Springs or hydraulics shocks give you a comfortable ride over bumpy snow.
  • When buying a snowmobile from Rocky Mountain Snowmobile, you need to make sure the running boards are in comfort positions. Running boards are located on both sides of your snowmobile. You rest your feet on them, and your feet don’t drag in the snow.
  • Tail lights work just like the tail lights on a car. Keep your rear lights and brake lights in good working condition and carry spare bulbs in your toolkit under your seat.
  • Passenger straps are used to help your passengers have something to hold while riding behind you. Don’t take a passenger if your snowmobile does not have passenger straps or is not designed for passengers.
  • Vehicle Identification Numbers give information about your sled. Don’t chisel off or remove the identification tag. Federal law prohibits the removal of the numbers from a snowmobile.

There are many more parts of the snowmobile that are utilized to make snowmobiling comfortable and exhilarating. Contact Rocky Mountain Snowmobile when you purchase your machine. Go through all the parts and pieces of your machine. Be secure in your knowledge that if anything goes wrong, Rocky Mountain Snowmobile will be there with replacement parts.