What Are Scratchers on a Snowmobile?

When the trail is super hard and icy or you're crossing frozen water bodies without much snow on them, there's a chance your sled can overheat, particularly liquid cooled sleds - so scratchers are a must-have. They scratch the ground while you're moving, sending nice icy flakes up into the tunnel to help cool the engine and also into the track to lubricate the important things, namely your hyfax.
These are the ones I am using on this sled: amzn.to/2RjKNdF

[@neilp3427]

I agree 100% they work for lube and as a bonus for cooling. I have digital temp gages on my sleds and and scratchers can make the difference between riding or not in hard pack. At least 20 degrees cooler running scratchers, either spring type or cable type. If you ride behind another sled in your group, you can smell the Hyfax melting when there's little to no lube. Scratchers are no gimmick.

[@sweetvelocitybps]

Ain't that the truth! I hear ya on the burning hyfax. I know someone who had their track bind up going down a lake because of it and it did a LOT of damage!

[@quincee3376]

Too gimmicky imho.

[@sweetvelocitybps]

The video or the actual scratchers? They are a LIFE SAVER! I put them on the sled because there wasn't enough snow for lubrication or the heat exchangers, icy conditions basically. That little bit of metal on hard pack makes enough dust to save me from overheating or doing damage.

[@quincee3376]

@@sweetvelocitybps ok.

[@neilp3427]

I agree 100% they work for lube and as a bonus for cooling. I have digital temp gages on my sleds and and scratchers can make the difference between riding or not in hard pack. At least 20 degrees cooler running scratchers, either spring type or cable type. If you ride behind another sled in your group, you can smell the Hyfax melting when there's little to no lube. Scratchers are no gimmick.

[@sweetvelocitybps]

Yep, I know exactly what you mean about being able to smell it when behind another sled. Scratchers name a huge difference!