Effective December 21, 2010, the Vermont State Police changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Snowmobile Rider in Vermont online course—the official snowmobile rider education course of the Vermont State Police.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your Vermont certification.

Preparing to Ride

Performing Pre-Season Maintenance

Always give your snowmobile a checkup before the season starts. It’s easier to fix a problem while the snowmobile is in the garage instead of waiting until it spoils your fun on the trail.

Consult your owner’s manual for items that may need to be lubricated, tightened, adjusted, aligned, or checked for wear. Key items include:

Brakes
Carburetor
Chain
Clutch
Drive belt
Fuel filter
Handlebars
Lights

Shocks
Skis/Skag bars
Spark plugs
Steering system
Throttle
Track
Windshield

Also be sure to perform all recommended maintenance.

Key Items to Check

Illustration indicating the location of the drive belt on a snowmobile
Illustration of a snowmobile demonstrating track tension
Illustration of a snowmobile showing ski alignment
Illustration of location of spark plugs in a snowmobile

Be sure to consult your owner’s manual before you attempt any adjustments or repairs. Taking your machine to a licensed snowmobile mechanic may be your best bet.

Maintaining a Clean, Quiet Machine

Beyond the pre-season checkup and maintenance, you can follow these suggestions to make sure your snowmobile runs cleaner and quieter.

Use high-grade oil and gasoline, which burn cleaner.
Tune the engine for your altitude, including the proper carburetor jet setting, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Change the spark plugs at least once during the season to ensure efficient fuel burning.
Avoid opening and closing the throttle continuously, which causes inefficient fuel burning and increases emissions and noise.
Don’t tamper with your exhaust pipes as that causes the machine to exceed legal noise limits.