Ah, first big snowfall. Pull the cover off the sled and we'll go for a run. Yep, still lots of gas in the tank. Hmm, she's a little balky warming up; must need a good shot down the lake to clear her out. Head for those fish huts on the other side and we'll see if she's still as quick as ever. Hey, what was that noise? Geez, it sure is quiet all of a sudden...

If your summer storage ritual consists of pulling out the key, better budget on an expensive next winter. A snowmobile is a precise piece of machinery and abandoning it to the elements for the next eight months isn't the smartest thing you could do.

But if it's in good shape now, with a couple of spare hours and a minimal investment in tools and supplies, you can prepare your sled for hibernation with confidence that come December, you'll be buying presents instead of pistons.

Here are some pointers from the pros, with thanks for his input to David Hodgkinson; known to all as Chip, he's the wrench in residence at The Machine in Aurora, Ontario.... 

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