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Govpakdlic Pa CRY wf 4 aL 4 SALA 3 ® J ® YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER. 38 SNOWMOBILE BUYING Continued from page 5 dealer? Our suggestion is that you choose him the way you choose your sled. Undoubtedly your interest in snowmobiling has led you into contact with others who enjoy the sport. An ideal way of finding the most reliable dealer i$ to join a club and ask a lot of questions. Snow- mobilers are only too happy to relate their experiences with both machine and deal- er. Generally it doesn't take very long to narrow your choice of dealers down to one or two. Once. you have come up with a number of dealers with good reputations, go and visit their shops. Ask them to show you around, taking special note of the service areas. A good ser- vice area with good equip- ment will save you both time and money over the life of your machine. "When you have found a good dealer, don't be lured away by '"'come-on" ads. You may save a few dollars on the original purchase but exper- ience shows that you'll prob- ably end up a loser. Find a good dealer and give him your business and your loyal- ty. It will save you money. Once you have found a satisfactory outlet. you are halfway to making a good deal. Unfortunately the sec- ond half is sometimes the most difficult. After select- ing the dealer analytically, some customers choose their machines purely on emotion. It is often difficult not to. The machines, new and shiny. - easily lure the novice snow- mobiler into a bad purchase. This is not to say that he will buy a bad snowmobile but that he will buy one that is not suitable to his require- ments. We suggest that you first decidé what engine size you need. In this regard, it is often wise to purchase a good size engine rather than a "'start- er" model. Of course this can ARISE SS PRIESTLY, Pos be taken to extremes. We do 'not encourage a new comer to the sport to buy a racing model as his first machine. However, it may be more satisfactory to "grow" into a maching as your ability in- creases, than to buy a larger model the following year. In our opinion, the best first machine would be in the 325 cc class. These snowmobiles offer between 20 and 30 horsepower and are easy to start and maintain. They also offer versatility. They have enough performance to keep up in the impromptu races and yet are not too muscular to be ridden by _the weaker sex. There are, of course, Stig : conditions. If your kids wil be riding a great deal or you live or plan toride in a highly populated area, a smaller machine may be more what you require. But if you want the utmost in performance you will have to go up to the larger 400 cc plus machines. We do not recommend this for a number of reasons. Obviously it is safer to learn the sport on a more docile machine. Also you pay a high premium for performance. Not only is the initial price higher, but you can expect more problems. Generally the engines that produce over 40 horsepower are hard- er an plugs, more difficult to start and more prone to mechanical failure. If you have to have the hottest model then we cannot dis- suade you but consider your- Port Perry Star Supplement -- Wed., Sept. 25, 1974 -- 7 HOW TO HANDLE SNOW CONDITIONS Deep Snow. Your snowmo- bile was designed to travel across snow under a great variety of conditions, but it does have limitations. If you are traveling in deep snow or going uphill you may find yourself stuck. When this happens, turn the engine off; free the skis by pulling them out and down hill; place rear of machine up hill or on undisturbed spow and ease it out with slow even throttle self forewarned. Another important item to be considered when choosing your new maching is the weight. This part of the specifications is important for two reasons. The first is that a very heavy machine performs poorly due +o its high power-to-weight ratio. The second reason you are going to discover the first time you take your machine out. You are going to get stuck! And unless your wife is a weightlifter be prepared to pull it out of the snow bank yourself. You will also note the weight of the machine loading it on and off the trailer, Lightness with strength is one of the most critical facets of snowmobile design. The light machine is easier to handle under all conditions and it als§ is more buoyant in the snow. There- fore, in choosing your ma- chine check the weight and the means by which it can be pressure; or free the skis by pulling them up and ahead. Stand upright on the running board with your weight on the back of the machine and rock it slowly - the idea being to pack the snow and give maximum track contact and traction. Accelerate with a slow, even throttle pressure. In most cases this will put you back in operation. If it doesn't, be patient. Deep snow can be handscooped out until you are back on the trail. Do not over-exert your- self. Hardpack Snow or Ice. On hardpack snow or ice you must be even more careful. It is very difficult to make a turn and you will need considerably more room to make a stop. Reduced speed is essential to safe operation, under these conditions. Ex- treme care must be taken in making a turn or using your brake, as both of these executed improperly could result in a dangerous spin out. When the going gets easy, take a well-deserved rest and sit for a spell. lifted. Grab handles which appear to be nothing but details in the showroom be- come vitally important on the trail. With the basics of weight and engine size now decided, you should have no difficulty in choosing a suit- able machine. There are, however, other areas of snowmobile design to be considered. Though it is not as critical as the consid- erations previously discuss- ed, the seat of the machine will greatly affect your en- joyment of the sport. If you plan to carry extra passen- gers, make sure that the seat is large enough to allow the driver to control the machine without interference. Make sure that the handlebars fit comfortably and that all the controls can be reached eas- ily. The machine must nol YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER FAST CATS, FAMILY CATS, BIG CATS, LITTLE CATS...CATS GOT 'EM ALL! Arctic's got a Cat to fit everyone. Family machines. racers, snowmobiles for moms, even Cats cut down to kid size. Cats with 250's, 340's, 440's. rotary's, free airs... KENDALL HILLS SALES & SERVICE R.R. 1, Kendal, Ont. 4 miles East otf Highway 115 & 35 at Kirby - 983-5671 you name it. Year ofter year, Arctic's got a Cat with 0 personality just for you. Come in ond see which one you get along with best CAT AFTER CAT, THIS IS THE YEAR £ WV3A W3LIV YVIA Y2L4V YVIA WILIV ¥VIA NX YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER ~ simply fit your purpose; it must fit you. Another part of the ma- chine that takes some thought is the elctric starter. Most small machines are equipped with a recoil-type manual start with an electric starter as optional equip- ment. These usually require little effort and start the machine easily. They also avoid the extra weight of the electric unit. However, if you do not want to subject your wife to such hardships or if you are lazy, the electric start is available for about $100. On the larger models, electric start is often stand- ard equ pen and if it is not, ity t well be worth the extra dollars to purchase the option. It may well enhance your enjoyment of the sport. In this article we have attemped to touch on some of the more fundamental as- pects of snowmobile pur- chasing. The two most im- portant considerations are to purchase a reputable brand from a reputable dealer. Once you have chosen the above you should then look for a machine that is both light and strong. Excess weight is difficult to handle and serves no purpose. Make sure the machine fits you and don't buy too much power. Then get out on the snow and enjoy yourself! This article courtesy SNOWMOBILE ANNUAL Leisure Publications Be certain that your trailer meets state or provincial safety requirements; that the hitch and safety chains are secure and that the brake, - turn indicator and clearance lights all work. LS A lid sine By