He Bought a Smashed up Ski Doo 1200 Without knowing. Let’s fix it. Ski Doo 1200 What Not To Buy!

A follow up video to my buyer’s guide from a few years ago. What not to buy and how to fix it.

[@gnolwob09]

Looking forward to following along. Just bought a 2014 Bearcat 570 fan.

[@Schneids15]

Thanks Colin. Good choice on the bearcat. Those things are a beast.

[@ScottDuRussel]

Schneids - great informational videos... I have a 2010 1200 XR. I pulled the engine and after installing it hooked up the negative wire to the battery and instantly got "COMMUNICATION" scrolling across the screen. This was without lifting the kill switch or hitting the start button to initiate the start sequence. Can you please make a video and very slowly show how to plug back in all the wiring on the 1200 in the IP and behind the handlebars? Slowly step by step how to and where to plug things back in. I have something screwed up plugging things back in I'm sure. Thank you from Michigan

[@martyniner8893]

Those threaded rivets are actually called “huck bolts”, they are not really threads but ribs to better retain the collar. It’s a two piece rivet, the bolt part sticks through the collar then an air operated tool grabs it an pulls it together and snaps off the bolt sticking out

[@Schneids15]

Thanks Marty! Yes i learned that. A great tool to have. It seems the bolts will hopefully be just as strong. Seems like the best route that others have travelled before.

[@oskar3431]

My brother broke his front suspension support and I thought that was bad but this looks like a nightmare compared to that. Will be fun to see the sled all back together :)

[@Schneids15]

Yes. Wow it was a lot of work. We’re working on it now. A lot of work.

[@krissgoldsmith3033]

Way to go Josh

[@Schneids15]

Thanks Kriss! I like boats better than sled’s that is for sure.

[@bro.weaver1282]

Show us all the tools needed to do this job!

[@Schneids15]

Will do! That will be a good video. Thank you!

[@shavedape]

I love your videos and have two 1200s. I'll be removing the 2009's to fix coolant and oil leaks but mostly to replace the stator I think has gone (it will run down the trail and then just dies with the battery drained after just being charged up)....it doesn't seem to be charging my battery while running. I saw your video on removing the engine and correcting leaks and presently am trying to drain fuel from the fuel system without disassembling too much. Is there a way like on old carbed sleds where you just remove a plug somewhere? Probably not. Just trying to get rid of 3 year old gas before bad things happen in there if not already too late. Finally, the 2012 hit something on one side and pushed one ski back but not much.......maybe 1" or 1/2". We're just running it like that as I haven't seen any cracks or bends. It doesn't seem worth all the work if it seems to work fine, if I don't show people or look closely, you can't tell and I only saw it when the stock shock spring was touching the inside of the A arm when compressed. I replaced those with Elka Stage 5's that have smaller DIA spring coil that has more space and doesn't bind.

[@Schneids15]

Hey Brad, yes you could just have a bent lower control arm hopefully. It doesn’t take much of a bend to throw it off 1”. As far as the charging i would guess Stator or voltage regulator. I have a video on testing somewhere in the past few years there. For gas, i’d just pull off the tank and you can drain it by pulling off the fuel inlet. For the rest of the system it is just a line from the tank to fuel rail. You could gravity drain it when apart.

[@shavedape]

@@Schneids15 Yes I watched your stator and voltage regulator testing video back when it first stranded me and will dig it up but need to get a good tester. I recall looking at the A arms for bends but will look closer to see if that's the case (hopefully - otherwise I'll just run it). I was trying to avoid removing the tank which in another guy's video looked like a big job (though not by your standards!) but maybe I'll do that. I siphoned out as much as I could but the siphon hose is old and stiff so curls up and doesn't lay down there in the bottom so sucks air sooner than it should. I was thinking of just idling it once in awhile until it actually runs out of gas but at the price of gas, that's kind of wasteful. Then again 3 year old gas isn't worth much unless the old Chevy will burn it without complaint. The engines still start up and idle smoothly enough which is surprising as its just regular fuel and possibly with Ethanol. Usually regular gas gets the ethanol in it I think so odd that there doesn't seem to be running issues. I would think one problem with doing that is the fuel pump can run hot since they're cooled by fuel but maybe doing this just once is no problem. It will just take quite a bit of engine idling to achieve and maybe better to run it nearby and when it runs out, add some more good stuff and drive it home.

[@shavedape]

@@Schneids15 By 'fuel inlet' on the tank do you mean turning it upside down and dumping out the filler opening/inlet?

[@Schneids15]

@shavedape yes either that, or just let it come out out the fuel cap.

[@owenwheatley4235]

I'm looking for the trap door under the engine for the oil change access. Have a spare one now? Want to sell it?

[@Schneids15]

I’m sure i can grab that. Let me make sure the new one comes with one.

[@owenwheatley4235]

For sure! I believe it does, when I talked to my local dealer. Let me know, as I'm only a few hours away. Thanks! 👍🏻