Things You'll Need:
- Flashlight
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Step 1
Study magazine articles and reviews to find what model of used snowmobile you would like to buy. Find a friend who has snowmobiling experience who can help you find a good used model.
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Step 2
Walk around a sled you might purchase. Look for cosmetic damage. But also look for other signs of serious wear and tear or even of past crashes. See if the skis, the body and everything else line up. A crashed snowmobile typically has something that is out of alignment. This is true no matter how good the repair work was.
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Step 3
Look at the skids and track for signs of wear. Expect normal wear on a used snowmobile, but if one ski shows more wear than the other, there may be a problem with the snowmobile.
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Step 4
Check the brakes. The calipers should work easily. Use the flashlight to look at how much brake pad remains. Also check to see the condition of the rotors. The brake fluid should be amber colored and clear. Remember to check the brake lines as well.
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Step 5
Find out what kind of fuel the snowmobile uses. Also find out if the owner kept Sta-bil or a similar product in the snowmobile to keep the gasoline from separating when not in use.
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Step 6
Start the engine cold. It should start easily as long as you use the proper starting procedure. The owner should be able to tell you how to do that.
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Step 7
Take the snowmobile for a test drive if possible. If you haven't had snowmobile training yet, let your experienced friend test drive the snowmobile. Make sure all systems, including the lights, are operational as you run the snowmobile.
