Sunk my sled 2 nights ago, not a good ending to a fine day.

[wienerwater]

Sunday , my buddy and I were out for the day, had a great time and he mentioned another route home. There were tracks from about a week before, so what little new snow was not an issue to follow them. My RX1 had just under half a tank of fuel and he was a little less, but no worry since he cached 2 gallons at the main trail we would rejoin. About 8 kilometers/5 miles,from the main trail, I followed him through a small meadow along a twisting narrow creek. He crossed and I noticed the ice crack to the far left, but it looked good still, NOT!! Only about 6-7 feet wide, I broke through, the skis at least parked straight up against the other bank, and I went in. It must have been 5-6 feet deep. The end of the track was still on the one edge, so it stayed up, and I pulled myself along the running board and off the rear bumper to get out. We were screwed, and he was almost dry of fuel and about 2 hours of daylight left, 15 miles from the truck. We decided to take the fuel from my sled and transfer to his. Here's something you might want to remember- take one of the clear tygon vent hoses off the top of the carbs (there is 2, I assume vent hoses?) The black rubber coolant overflow hose off the coolant tank, and it slides into the other just right. It gave me enough hose to syphon gas to my water bottles, and transfer to the other sled. My boots were filled with water, but my Yamaha gear actually kept me dry! My team gloves were frozen outside solid, but my hands stayed perfectly warm (I fell in a second time when the ice edge broke off again!). We made our way out, got the stashed gas, and left my sled overnight. I went out yesterday with the help of 6 great guys, 2 come-alongs, and it was out. The ski tips and bumper were about a foot under water,but the carbs never sucked in any before I shut it down.The track, clutches,brake was a solid ice mass, and couldn't get the track to turn no matter what, so we piggy-backed it backwards off another sled, and it's home and thawed out now. I had a little water in the oil, since the oil tank was underwater all night ( had a slight lean to the right in the water) Cleaned and dried all electrical, drained the oil, just fighting with the damn filter now to get it off and all should be good (I hope!!) Sorry but no pics of this one, it would have been a poster, the other guys were impressed!!
The hardest part of it all? Telling your wife! Hahahaha (good thing I didn't use her new Nytro that she wanted me too!)

 

[pro116]

Sorry for you bad luck.Make shure you drain the chain case oil and coolant system too.