HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1973-11-21, Page 12Ile—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEAFQRTH. ONT. NOV 22 1973
Pressure ais on for snowmobile regulation
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If you're a resident of thej
snowbound woods • that shrill!
noise you just heard roaring'
across the backyard was not a:
Boeing 747.
It was probably just your
Jieighbor tooling across your
property on his new snowmobile.
OP Judging from the rising chorus
of complaints from municipal
officials throughout the nation,
thousands are quite happily
violating traffic, property, and -
who knows - maybe even speed
laws with their k machines.
'And that, of course, means
problems. After all, if you were a
public official, facing annual
re-election, just how would you go
about regulating something as,
Before a new snowmobile can
perform at its best, it requires
proper conditioning. Engineers
report that carelesS break-in of a
new engine is one of the leading
causes of snowmobile problems.
Ten to 15 hours of operation
at part-throttle is the key to
good performance thereafter.
Snowmobile operators who run
their brand new machines at full-
throttle run the risk of damaging
engines.'
A second cause of snowmobile
engine problems, particularly in
the ignition system, is using the
wrong spark plug heat range.
However, specialized kinds of
operitiqn may dictate Using
specially-designed spark plugs.
For example, a snowmobile that's
mostly operated at full-throttle,
such as racing, needs a spark
plug of a colder heat range to
withstand higher operating tem-
peratures. A snowmobile that's
run at lower speeds, such as
trail riding, 'needs a plug of
hotter heat range to prevent pre-
mature plug fouling.
For machines running in a
variety of conditions standard-
design plugs are recommended.
Other tips for efficient,
operation of snowmobile engines
include making certain, fuel and
Cross-country
trails are
now on
Crown land
• A number of cross-country
trails have been established on
Crown lands by the Ministry of
Natural Resources to accom-
modate snowmobilers who prefer
this kind of prepared and marked
trail development. '
These trails, located in areas of
relatively heavy snow Over, are
,established to' supplement the
trails developed in provincial
parks and the many other trails
marked by snowmobile chtbs,
winter resorts and prl-,ate land-
Owners.
There is no charge for the use
Of these trails which include
parking areas, and rest stops at
convenient intervals provided
"'with fireplaces, tables, toilets and
!gathige dontainerS: Many of the
trails are marked with reflective
signs' permit Safe night. travel,
Please sign the' trail regist ers at
g the parking areas. A supply of
t trail guid maps is plated at these
11 trait
Every week mote and more
People discover Whit, mighty jobs
are accomplished by 10w' cost
gx_obitor Want Ads: Dial 5t7 ,
0240.
popular with the whole family as
the snowmobile?
Stiff rules weighed
Delicate business, this. But
look out, snowmobilists.
Regulation is coming. In some
communities, you may even have
to buy a license for the 40-or-so•
m.p.h. machines.
No one knows the total number
of snowmobiles on the loose, but
it may well be reaching gigantic
proportions. According to
Armand Hauser, vice-president
in charge of marketing for
Kielchaefer Mercury Company,
which builds some five models,
perhaps as many as half a million
machines have been sold by some
60 companies. Industry officials,
says Mr. Hauser, are already
talking about sale of 350,000 this
year,
"There must be hundreds of
them here," sighs. Forrest White,
police chief at Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich. "Sometimes I wonder if
these people ever sleep. They just
ride around the clock.' Our
switchboard is constantly being lit
up with complaints after mid-
night."
Backyard buzzing
An indignant advertising man
from Pewaukee, Wis., on Lake
Pewaukee, says that not so long
ago he and his wife were,
awakened one cold midwinter
night by a shrill buzzing sound in
They call it "Toy Soldier" and
it's a fun suit . . shown here
in regal purple with red and
white contrast 'stripes on top,
arms, legs, cap.
4' PRE:sem r
Or SAIFir
VOill!fy 4! J.04
Y0401 A/'4) y'j
their backyard.' `?We Couldn't
believe it," he snorts. "It
sounded like a motorboat putter-
ing past the bedroom window.
Now believe Me, that's a funny
feeling lat& gnight. Hearing
what sounds T a motorboat
chugging thiatigh your backyard.
MOU/nfaidattempt
"It tintiedu'fbilt to be our
middle-aged neighbor in his new ,
snowmobile. He zipped past the
bedroom, past the kids' room and
then raced the thing right off our
dock onto the icy lake."
Snowmobile enthusiasts have
been known to do even wilder
things. '
Like the New Englander who
decided to scale 6,228-foot Mt.
Washington in New Hampshire.
He didn't quite make it. In fact,
he fell off the mountain at the
thousand-foot level - and survived„
the fall.
Scores of municipalities - such
as Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth,
Minn., and Menomonee Falls,
Wis. - are contemplating stiff
regulations governing snow-
mobiles.
"We're particularly interested
in regulating the increasing
number of snowmobile races
taking place around here," says
Frederick- Gottlieb, village com-
missioner of Menomonee Falls.
The town is located on.
Milwaukee's northwest border.
Pressure in Milwaukee
At least seven suburban
governments in Greater Mil-
waukee are urging the state
Legislature to adept a stiffer
statue for snowmobiles. The
present statute permits .snow-
mobile travel on 'highways only
when the. driver is making a
crossing.But other t
hibition that youngs
age 12 not drive
highways, there is, no
who may operate the
The law carries a ma
of $50 for violation.
The state laws s
Wisconsin st atue - are
violated.
One enterprising f
Gilead, Maine, for ex
been kncwn to scoot
three-mile highway
farmhouse to his
snowmobile.
Raiders push a
Besides 'policing th
citizen, law officials
communities— have
problem: "snowmobile
Many people who own
isolated rural areas
usually blocked off b
severe winter snowdri
considered relatively s
noW - are being hit by v
thieves riding right
crests on their machin
Still, problems asi
officials secretly admit
just 'as enthused a
"snowmobile revolutioi
man on the street.
"What can't you
them," laughs a city o
Minnesota. -"You can
them or work with the
power companies an
companies do all the t
You can use them for
for trapping, for rac
carrying gr oceries and
into isolated areas. You
aid stranded a.utomobi
ists with the darn thi
"But brother, if we
control, the drivers.!"
Break in engine
with special care
lubricant lubricant are mixed thoroughly
and correctly.
Both fuel and oil should be of
the quality the manufacturer re-
commends for the engine.
Mixing ratios of oil to fuel
should be followed exactly.When
mixing the elements, make
certain they are warm. The
mixing should be done in a se-
parate container, and then poured
into the vehicle's fuel tank.
Placing unmixed fuel and oil
directly into the tank is an invi-
tation to trouble.
Before operating your snow-
mobile this winter, have your
dealer perform the following
..basic maintenance:
1. Inspect the track for proper
tension.
2. Clean and adjust the car-
buretor to manufactuer's specif-
ications.
3. Adjust the timing to
manufacturer's specifications.
4. Clean the gas filter.
5. Check the exhaust ports to
see that they are not plugged
with residue.
6. Check all drive belts for • wear.
'7. Check the spark plug wire
and the spark plug boot for signs
of deterioration and tightness of
connection.
8. Install a new spark plug of
the recommended type for the
engine an operating conditions.
Do not overtighten or damage to
the threads in the head will
result.
9. If your engine has a
battery make sure the
electrolyte level , is up. Also
-check battery cables and posts
for condition and tight connect-
ions.
10. Spare spark plugs should
be kept in a clean container or
Wrapped in rags to 'prevent oil
and dirt fronl contaminating the
plug's surface.
EIOA.SK1
E "E B C
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