Content Source: 2020 550 Indy 144 Owner’s Manual (9929781 R01) > Maintenance Chapter

IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle.Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

Click the CONTENTS link above for the Table Of Contents, or download a full PDF of the Owner Manual in the Owner Support area of Polaris.com

Winter Ride Preparation

Preparing a snowmobile for in-season service is basically performing some of the summer storage procedures in reverse order.
  1. Move the snowmobile outside to a well-ventilated area. Raise the rear suspension up, off the ground. Remove the engine compartment side panel and hood.
  2. Prep the primary and back up (secondary) for winter use. It is recommended the belts be washed with a solution of warm, soapy water and allowed to air dry.
  3. If the snowmobile is equipped with electric start or a PIDD on-board battery, remove the battery from the battery tender and re-install it back into the battery box. Follow the owner’s manual for battery installation procedures.
  4. Verify the spark plugs are installed and torqued. Re-install the spark plug wires.
    NOTE
    Verify you hear an audible “click” when pushing the spark plug caps down onto the spark plugs. This ensures the plug caps are seated properly.
  5. If you placed dryer sheets inside the engine compartment, remove them.
  6. Using clean and dry shop towel, wipe down the exhaust pipe , silencer, and clutch sheaves.
  7. Install the primary drive belt onto the clutches with the “Polaris” writing readable from the outside of the snowmobile.
  8. Install the back-up (secondary) drive belt into the belt holder.
  9. On the carbureted snowmobiles, turn the fuel shut-off valve to the ON position.
  10. With the track suspended up, off the ground, follow the track tension adjustment procedure as outlined in your owner’s manual.
  11. Start and run the engine. Allow the engine to run for at least 15 minutes. Occasionally “blip” the throttle to rev the engine.
    NOTE
    The exhausted may emit more smoke than usual as the fogging oil is burned out of the engine.
  12. While the engine is running, verify there are no coolant leaks (on liquid cooled engines). After engaging the throttle a few times to spin the track, verify the track is aligned with the slide rails.
  13. Turn off the engine. If the track requires, re-align the track at this time.
  14. After adjusting the track or allowing the engine to cool down. Add coolant to reservoir bottle if required.
  15. Re-start the engine and allow it ti run for another 15 minutes. After 15 Minutes, shutoff the engine and allow the exhaust pipe to cool.
  16. Remove and discard the spark plugs. Install new spark plugs into the engine. Obtain two more new spark plugs and install them into the spark plug holders or storage bag.
  17. Inspect the ski wear bars/carbides. Now is the time to replace the wear bars if damage if found or carbides are worn.
  18. Add Carbon Clean to the fuel tank.
  19. Log onto www.ridecommand.com and download the latest TRAILS PIDD update files. Update the PIDD (if equipped) with the latest TRAILS update file.
  20. Grease the rear suspension grease zerks with Polaris Premium All Season grease just enough to push out any water that may have accumulated in the suspension pivot points.

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