Hi Group,
I'm looking at buying a snowmobile and am thinking about a used sled. How do you get comfortable with buying a used sled? Is there a rule on miles you don't want to go over. I'm looking for a 04-06 800 and have seen sleds with up to 6000 miles. Seems like allot to me but the price looks good. I also see allot of sleds with modifications which I think I want to stay away from.
What else would you test?
Any advise is appreciated.
Freeborn
Full Version: Need advise on buying a used sled
more miles make them cheaper. make sure that the bulk head is straight. check the track carefully, they are expensive.. I would saty away from engine mods because of reliability. good luck
Usually with high miles you may see a loss of engine compression and the sled may need a new set of rings and perhaps new seals, gaskets, or pistons. Depending on how hard the sled was driven you can never really know the condition. Try to find someone who stored the sled in the winters and has a good history of any repairs. Engine rebuilds can be reasonably priced as long as you don't need to replace the crank..
First thing to check is compression. Next is the track.
AFter that, just try and talk to the owner and get a feel for what theyve done and how theyve maintained it...
If an 04-06 had 6000miles on it, I would recommend staying FAR away from it. My 03 I purchased last year only had 1200miles on it... 2-3k would be average. Most people start doing preventative rebuilds areound 4k from what ive noticed...
AFter that, just try and talk to the owner and get a feel for what theyve done and how theyve maintained it...
If an 04-06 had 6000miles on it, I would recommend staying FAR away from it. My 03 I purchased last year only had 1200miles on it... 2-3k would be average. Most people start doing preventative rebuilds areound 4k from what ive noticed...
Where are you at?
I have a 05 800 mxz with e-start with less than a 1000 miles for sale and my buddy is selling his 06 800 144 summit with about 2000 miles.
My wifes 05 is excellent and comes with 1 1/4" ripsaw, powderhound skies, riser and handgiuards. She just got a e-tech so it has to go.
The summit has been gone thru by my friennd and I and it has a team clutch set up well. I rode it last weekend and its runs well. My friend wants a XP summit, but needs to sell his 06 to help pay for it.
Otherwise, I look at the plugs, track wear, ski wear, condition of the clucthes and belt. You can usually get a feeling pretty quick if how well the sled was maintained. A compression test is a good idea.
Snowtech did a arctile a few years ago on inspecting used sleds. It was well written. I looked for it on their site and ddn't find it. Anyoe have a copy?
I have a 05 800 mxz with e-start with less than a 1000 miles for sale and my buddy is selling his 06 800 144 summit with about 2000 miles.
My wifes 05 is excellent and comes with 1 1/4" ripsaw, powderhound skies, riser and handgiuards. She just got a e-tech so it has to go.
The summit has been gone thru by my friennd and I and it has a team clutch set up well. I rode it last weekend and its runs well. My friend wants a XP summit, but needs to sell his 06 to help pay for it.
Otherwise, I look at the plugs, track wear, ski wear, condition of the clucthes and belt. You can usually get a feeling pretty quick if how well the sled was maintained. A compression test is a good idea.
Snowtech did a arctile a few years ago on inspecting used sleds. It was well written. I looked for it on their site and ddn't find it. Anyoe have a copy?
QUOTE (800revxp @ Dec 11 2008, 01:37 AM) 
Where are you at?
I have a 05 800 mxz with e-start with less than a 1000 miles for sale and my buddy is selling his 06 800 144 summit with about 2000 miles.
My wifes 05 is excellent and comes with 1 1/4" ripsaw, powderhound skies, riser and handgiuards. She just got a e-tech so it has to go.
The summit has been gone thru by my friennd and I and it has a team clutch set up well. I rode it last weekend and its runs well. My friend wants a XP summit, but needs to sell his 06 to help pay for it.
Otherwise, I look at the plugs, track wear, ski wear, condition of the clucthes and belt. You can usually get a feeling pretty quick if how well the sled was maintained. A compression test is a good idea.
Snowtech did a arctile a few years ago on inspecting used sleds. It was well written. I looked for it on their site and ddn't find it. Anyoe have a copy?
I have a 05 800 mxz with e-start with less than a 1000 miles for sale and my buddy is selling his 06 800 144 summit with about 2000 miles.
My wifes 05 is excellent and comes with 1 1/4" ripsaw, powderhound skies, riser and handgiuards. She just got a e-tech so it has to go.
The summit has been gone thru by my friennd and I and it has a team clutch set up well. I rode it last weekend and its runs well. My friend wants a XP summit, but needs to sell his 06 to help pay for it.
Otherwise, I look at the plugs, track wear, ski wear, condition of the clucthes and belt. You can usually get a feeling pretty quick if how well the sled was maintained. A compression test is a good idea.
Snowtech did a arctile a few years ago on inspecting used sleds. It was well written. I looked for it on their site and ddn't find it. Anyoe have a copy?
Sorry for the late response but I live in Bloomington, MN. The 05 800 sounds like a possibility. What are you asking for it?
QUOTE (freeborn @ Dec 16 2008, 09:09 AM)
Sorry for the late response but I live in Bloomington, MN. The 05 800 sounds like a possibility. What are you asking for it?
If you didn't catch it, I'm in Alaska. Any way $5500.00 for her sled is a good deal if you have a way to ship it.
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