IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: Gunflint on Feb 12, 2020, 01:46 PM
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After trudging and catching a nice limit of Lakers, I finally got back to my Snowdog and hitched everything up for the ride home.
BUT, when I started it up I must have hit the throttle and the gas stuck wide open and my Snowdog took off across the lake towing everything and leaving me standing with my mouth open in disbelief. :o
I watched scooting across the ice with my Livescope, camera, Nils Auger, etc. and finally started running through knee-deep snow after it. It could go a couple miles on that lake if it would have gone straight, but luckily it started to veer slightly left. I was running as hard as I could and hit slush but kept on going. After a while the Snowdog and sleds disappeared in a bay to my right. I kept on running, imagining what will happen when it hits a boulder or tree on the shoreline. As I started around the point of the bay, here comes the Snowdog again! Somehow it had glanced off a cedar and that turned in around and it was heading back out of the bay towards the lake.
Luckily, it again veered to the right aiming directly towards the shore. I was just standing there wondering what would happen next. I saw a small miracle. There was an 8 foot opening in the woods with a steep upwards bank. The Snowdog and sleds hit the hole and started uphill, but the before it went 20 feet it hit a boulder and laid over on its side in waist-deep snow. It STOPPED and sat with the throttle still wide-open but not going anywhere.
I finally was able to run up to its track and follow it to the shoreline and hit the "kill switch." I then just sat down with my chest heaving. I disconnected the two sleds and pulled them back to the lake. I spent 30 minutes digging out the Snowdog and getting it turned around. I checked the throttle cable and things seemed normal. Finally, I got it started back up and it was once again my obedient Dog. I was relieved that it actually worked with no apparent damage to either the Snowdog or the sleds and contents! I was also glad not to have to walk another 3 miles back to the cabin across a windy lake.
I got everything hitched back up and started home - grateful that I was in one piece, the Snowdog still worked and I had a limit of lakers to clean once I got back to the cabin.
I debated about sharing the story, but I thought it was more than worth it to give all of you a laugh on me. ;D ;D ;D
Snowdog and sleds safely home.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68/6-A9-FFBC6-1565-4-C1-C-82-F9-912-C9-DD7-FD57.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68)
2 nice Lakers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz/AC3-D69-B8-06-AE-42-A1-A2-DD-5-CDDD4118-DAD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz)
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Wow Man U got lucky ! Glad it worked out for u ...
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Damn at least it was a good outcome!!maybe install a kill switch tether on the dog..a few years back i fixed a old chapparal snowmobile and my buddy was test riding it.well the handle bars snapped off pulling the throttle cables full throttle and my buddy hopped off and watched the sled go into the woods at 75mph then heard a explosion as it smacked a tree.sled was beyond totaled.it hit so hard it popped both sparkplugs out of the cylinders and broke the cylinder bolts clean off.my bud would of been dead if he took that ride!
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Damn at least it was a good outcome!!maybe install a kill switch tether on the dog..a few years back i fixed a old chapparal snowmobile and my buddy was test riding it.well the handle bars snapped off pulling the throttle cables full throttle and my buddy hopped off and watched the sled go into the woods at 75mph then heard a explosion as it smacked a tree.sled was beyond totaled.it hit so hard it popped both sparkplugs out of the cylinders and broke the cylinder bolts clean off.my bud would of been dead if he took that ride!
Wow, that was the sort of thing I was imagining happening while I watched it zooming away. It would have been slower and smaller scale, but a similar outcome. VERY grateful everything is still intact and as good as new. God is good.
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Helpless feeling for sure.i cant imagine watching the snowdog and all your gear going on a solo mission.
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DANGIT Gunflint! I just blew Pepsi out my nose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o :o :o
I could picture the scene perfectly! ;D ;D ;D
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Yakety Sax was playing in my head as I continued to read your tale!
Glad all is still functional and no one got hurt
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LOL can you make a map of the path it took?
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Does the SnowDog have a kill switch? ( turns off if you fall off kind of thing?)
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You should write a book about your stories/ escapades...... ;D
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Glad you, your rig and gear are home safe and sound.
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Does the SnowDog have a kill switch? ( turns off if you fall off kind of thing?)
Yes, but I wasn’t on it yet.
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You should write a book about your stories/ escapades...... ;D
This has Patrick McManus written all over it... ;D
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I'm for a deadman switch Gunflint. I've run boats of all kinds for 50 years and never clipped on the lanyard. Until two years ago. I made a maneuver to avoid hitting a careless and ignorant pontoon load of chatty Kathys. I turned back to try to stay inside the channel markers knowing what was outside of them (2 FOW and giant boulders). Next thing I knew I was on the floor of the boat, near full throttle, outside the buoys. I rolled over and slapped at the throttle remarkably before anything was damaged. I was going about 60 when that took place.
It's still sinking in on the "what could have happened" including getting thrown completely out of the boat, wrecking lower unit, hitting/damaging other boaters. I was so, so, so fortunate. Still trust how I drive but you can never rely on others knowing what they're doing. In this case it was the pontoon taking a hard left directly in front of an oncoming craft.
Glad you got your ride back GF. That's right in the same vein as chasing your unanchored shack/sled across the lake in a good stiff breeze.
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Here are some photos I went back to collect.
Where it hit cedar and turned back out.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jL5CbSDm/DA6-AA3-F6-BCE0-4986-A57-D-8-A1-C90-A85167.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jL5CbSDm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JywhZ3pC/83-CDCE8-B-3-A82-4-F9-B-9114-E1-E46-FBD167-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JywhZ3pC)
Hole in the woods that finally stopped it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/68ZWW2tj/ACBE09-D1-16-B9-4766-B8-B2-7670483-BC8-C1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/68ZWW2tj)
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You should write a book about your stories/ escapades...... ;D
You should do a video.
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Holy beezle bubs user error to the max! ;D
There's just something about wearing big mitts and knocking switches and levers with them. I always hate that while I'm driving and my signals or wipers levers are knocked.
If only you had a go pro on. :o
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i cant even lie i laughed so hard when i read this lol
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You know your dog is suppose to on a leash when out in public. Glad it all worked out for you...h2l
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So other than the snow dog running loose with all your gear, how do you like that machine. Been looking at them and think they are a good solution. So beyond put the kill switch tether on before starting up, any other pros n cons you have to report on the snowdog? I really like the idea of not having a trailer to try to park n turnaround, probably get a hitch hauler when I get one. Do you have reverse? I hear that is worth the extra $.
Thanks for the report, glad it all turned, pun intended, out ok.
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So other than the snow dog running loose with all your gear, how do you like that machine. Been looking at them and think they are a good solution. So beyond put the kill switch tether on before starting up, any other pros n cons you have to report on the snowdog? I really like the idea of not having a trailer to try to park n turnaround, probably get a hitch hauler when I get one. Do you have reverse? I hear that is worth the extra $.
Thanks for the report, glad it all turned, pun intended, out ok.
I love the dog. Saves enormous time and wear and tear on an old body. It likes packed trails better than powder, but it can handle powder if need be. Stay clear of deep slush. Reverse is wonderful and worth the money. I can put mine in the short bed of my F150 with the topper on - and still have room for sleds and other stuff next to it. As I stood there watching it race away without me, I was thinking I was going to have to buy a new one - but small miracles happen and it still works great.
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WoW !!! Glad it ended well, could have sucked big time.
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Glad everything turned out ok for you. That's a bad feeling watching something drive away on its own, my snowmobile throttle froze open and I watched as it went down the trail out of sight and then heard the crash in the trees.
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Gratefully, my ending was better than Benny's.
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Thanks for sharing it and yes I did have a heck of a laugh at your expense. On a serious not I'm glad your gear wasn't damaged and would recommend you buying a lottery ticket considering the luck you had during this escapade.
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sounds like u had a great trip ! :clap: ;)2
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I'm sorry if wasn't so funny it would be sad....or is sad it was funny.
And to think people go to the gym and pay for that kind of cardio exercise!
Thank full all turned out well and a great story.
So something like this would be in order.
https://www.amazon.com/BikeMaster-ATV-Tether-Kill-Switch/dp/B007BKPYV2
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It's not very nice to laugh at the misfortunes of others but it sure seems to be human nature. I know I laughed. It brings to mind the old YouTube video of the guy sweeping up in
the elephant enclosure and loses track of the fact that he's right behind the elephant when she decides to have a squat and suddenly gets the guy's head jammed up her butt shoulder deep. He's pounding on her backside trying to get her sphincter to let go which she finally does but not for 7-8 seconds. Pretty funny but I'm glad it was him and not me.
When some misfortune falls to my lot I try to ask myself, "is this worse than having my head stuck up an elephant's butt?" So far, the answer has always been "no". May you find that's also the case with the runaway Snowdog.
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It's not very nice to laugh at the misfortunes of others but it sure seems to be human nature. I know I laughed. It brings to mind the old YouTube video of the guy sweeping up in
the elephant enclosure and loses track of the fact that he's right behind the elephant when she decides to have a squat and suddenly gets the guy's head jammed up her butt shoulder deep. He's pounding on her backside trying to get her sphincter to let go which she finally does but not for 7-8 seconds. Pretty funny but I'm glad it was him and not me.
When some misfortune falls to my lot I try to ask myself, "is this worse than having my head stuck up an elephant's butt?" So far, the answer has always been "no". May you find that's also the case with the runaway Snowdog.
Everything turned out wonderful. Nothing broken or injured.....Life is good!
It would have been a VERY funny video if it had been recorded. ;D
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It is great to have a misfortune and be able to laugh, "life is good" and in the correct light, you know that it is not the worst thing that can happen. I enjoyed the story thanks for sharing. :icefish: :icefish: Now get back to relaxing. :tipup:
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Gunflint it appears as though the ice Gods had your back. Great story with a happy ending
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Has your blood pressure gotten back to anywhere near normal?? :flex: :thumbsup: ;)2 :whistle: :bow:
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That would suck to have to chase down!
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Glad you made it out alive! This is why we all need gopros.
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Glad you made it out alive! This is why we all need gopros.
no kidding. lol
glad it wasn't worse for you and sustained injury's!
how fast can a dog run anyhow?
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no kidding. lol
glad it wasn't worse for you and sustained injury's!
how fast can a dog run anyhow?
About 20 mph, which is far faster than I do.
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Gunflint, just a heads up this is a known problem with the snowdog. I have this happen to me and many others do as well. It seems if moisture builds up on the engine and if it gets really cold it will take off. Before starting mine I check a little lever that the throttle spring attaches to below the gas tank. Left side of the machine if you a sitting behind it. It only moves about a 1/4", but if it doesn't move at all then I know the dog will take off. If I'm out on the lake I usually just start and stop it several times to build up engine heat and it will work. I sprayed it down this year to prevent moister and so far so good, but it really hasn't been in the conditions to test it out.
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Gunflint, just a heads up this is a known problem with the snowdog. I have this happen to me and many others do as well. It seems if moisture builds up on the engine and if it gets really cold it will take off. Before starting mine I check a little lever that the throttle spring attaches to below the gas tank. Left side of the machine if you a sitting behind it. It only moves about a 1/4", but if it doesn't move at all then I know the dog will take off. If I'm out on the lake I usually just start and stop it several times to build up engine heat and it will work. I sprayed it down this year to prevent moister and so far so good, but it really hasn't been in the conditions to test it out.
It would be no problem if I would have attached the kill-switch lanyard. I am going to be a bit more careful.
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Gunflint, you're a brave man for sharing, thanks for the story.
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Gunflint, this is quite the story and I would never have thought that would have happened. Why does Wylie Coyote and the Roadrunner come to my mind as you are running after it?? Glad it came back all in one piece!
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What type of throttle does that unit use? Thumb control like a sled? Glad to hear you didn't lose your gear or run someone over.
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What type of throttle does that unit use? Thumb control like a sled? Glad to hear you didn't lose your gear or run someone over.
Hand lever with a cable to the actual throttle at the Briggs and Stratton motor.
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So it has a tether kill switch and it wasnt being used?you will now but you couldve learned a harder lesson first.
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Gunflint,
I'm so glad you weren't hurt and all your gear is in one piece!
The SnowDog is no joke. I ALWAYS use the brake when starting. That is, even when I have to use choke, I depress the brake, fold the handle forward, engage the choke, and then hit the starter. Once the motor is warm, I then flip the choke off and fold the handle back. I do not release the brake until I am in the sled.
The brakes are not great. I'm on my second set. And, I don't think this set will last the season. But, that unit is a scary SOB without brakes. It almost bucked me off three or four times last year.
Be safe!
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Hand lever with a cable to the actual throttle at the Briggs and Stratton motor.
So it's a fixed throttle like a lawn mower, set it and forget it type thing? I'd swap that for a sprung twist grip or thumb lever for sure.
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No. It has a hand lever throttle with a spring return.
Something obviously froze or stuck.
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To be clear...IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR!!!
I screwed up and did not use the kill-switch tether that comes as standard equipment.
That is the reason that I thought twice about posting the story (it was my fault). I was the goon left staring at a running Snowdog.
But, I thought the laugh for the group at my expense was worth the obvious fact of informing everybody on Ice Shanty that I can be pretty stupid sometimes.
Plus, I don't think anybody here was surprised by that fact. ::) ::) ::)
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Gunflint, have you gotten with the manufacturer about this problem?? It sounds like several others have experienced the same thing??
I think that it was my fault. I could certainly have prevented this from happening several ways. But, I am glad it turned out so well.
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Helpless feeling for sure.i cant imagine watching the snowdog and all your gear going on a solo mission.
I've had dreams like that but I'm in the back seat of a car and can't get to the steering wheel and brakes!
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It may be your fault for not using the kill tether, but what caused the throttle to get stuck wide open?
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It may be your fault for not using the kill tether, but what caused the throttle to get stuck wide open?
I was manual starting it (pulling the cord) with mittens on and I think I hit the manual throttle lever near the rip cord. I am not sure, but it still was preventable. I don't plan on posting this story twice! ;D
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To be clear...IT WAS OPERATOR ERROR!!!
I screwed up and did not use the kill-switch tether that comes as standard equipment.
That is the reason that I thought twice about posting the story (it was my fault). I was the goon left staring at a running Snowdog.
But, I thought the laugh for the group at my expense was worth the obvious fact of informing everybody on Ice Shanty that I can be pretty stupid sometimes.
Plus, I don't think anybody here was surprised by that fact. ::) ::) ::)
I'm confused? Did the throttle stick or was it operator error? I get that you didn't clip your tether but if there was nothing wrong with the equipment like a frozen/bound throttle you shouldn't need a tether just standing there with the unit idling.
For what its worth, there's nothing wrong with admitting failure or laughing at yourself... It's how most of us learn, glad you shared.
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I was manual starting it (pulling the cord) with mittens on and I think I hit the manual throttle lever near the rip cord. I am not sure, but it still was preventable. I don't plan on posting this story twice! ;D
Oh, gotcha... there is a suicide throttle on it, just not normally used...
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Got a chuckle out of this, glad all ended well. Evey time I start my homebuilt one, I look ay the bright red tether, safely clipped to the handlebars. One day I'll be writing the same story.
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Gotta Ban those freekin' things. They're deadly! ;)
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After trudging and catching a nice limit of Lakers, I finally got back to my Snowdog and hitched everything up for the ride home.
BUT, when I started it up I must have hit the throttle and the gas stuck wide open and my Snowdog took off across the lake towing everything and leaving me standing with my mouth open in disbelief. :o
I watched scooting across the ice with my Livescope, camera, Nils Auger, etc. and finally started running through knee-deep snow after it. It could go a couple miles on that lake if it would have gone straight, but luckily it started to veer slightly left. I was running as hard as I could and hit slush but kept on going. After a while the Snowdog and sleds disappeared in a bay to my right. I kept on running, imagining what will happen when it hits a boulder or tree on the shoreline. As I started around the point of the bay, here comes the Snowdog again! Somehow it had glanced off a cedar and that turned in around and it was heading back out of the bay towards the lake.
Luckily, it again veered to the right aiming directly towards the shore. I was just standing there wondering what would happen next. I saw a small miracle. There was an 8 foot opening in the woods with a steep upwards bank. The Snowdog and sleds hit the hole and started uphill, but the before it went 20 feet it hit a boulder and laid over on its side in waist-deep snow. It STOPPED and sat with the throttle still wide-open but not going anywhere.
I finally was able to run up to its track and follow it to the shoreline and hit the "kill switch." I then just sat down with my chest heaving. I disconnected the two sleds and pulled them back to the lake. I spent 30 minutes digging out the Snowdog and getting it turned around. I checked the throttle cable and things seemed normal. Finally, I got it started back up and it was once again my obedient Dog. I was relieved that it actually worked with no apparent damage to either the Snowdog or the sleds and contents! I was also glad not to have to walk another 3 miles back to the cabin across a windy lake.
I got everything hitched back up and started home - grateful that I was in one piece, the Snowdog still worked and I had a limit of lakers to clean once I got back to the cabin.
I debated about sharing the story, but I thought it was more than worth it to give all of you a laugh on me. ;D ;D ;D
Snowdog and sleds safely home.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68/6-A9-FFBC6-1565-4-C1-C-82-F9-912-C9-DD7-FD57.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68)
2 nice Lakers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz/AC3-D69-B8-06-AE-42-A1-A2-DD-5-CDDD4118-DAD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz)
Nothing personal, but you had me laughing... I know it sucks, but it is kind of funny ( maybe not to you) anyway, glad you and your self musher are OK and no worst for the wear... time to install a boat style kill switch to that bad puppy.. again, sorry for laughing and glad you are OK... ( PS, I though I was the only one stuff like that happened too)
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Glad it all worked out but for some reason it's always funny when it happens to someone else. Just saying
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This has Patrick McManus written all over it... ;D
Totally.......... :woot: :woot:
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Nothing personal, but you had me laughing... I know it sucks, but it is kind of funny ( maybe not to you) anyway, glad you and your self musher are OK and no worst for the wear... time to install a boat style kill switch to that bad puppy.. again, sorry for laughing and glad you are OK... ( PS, I though I was the only one stuff like that happened too)
No, I DID think it was funny, after it was all over. What would have been the most funny wouldn't have been a video of the Snowdog going solo. The video of my face watching it disappear would have have been precious.
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Wow what a story, I can't imagine the feeling watching all of your gear sail off in the distance and there isn't anything you can do about it!
Glad everything worked out and thanks for sharing.
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Great story telling! While I was reading, I could put myself in your shoes and I was thinking "it's kinda funny, but it's kinda not if it ends in disaster" LOL I'm glad it all worked out and you could chalk it up to another one of life's "learning the hard way" lessons. Thank you for sharing for others to learn from as well!
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Your story had me rolling, and I could imagine myself in the same situation. Glad it turned out the way it did. Good lesson for you and everyone else on the Board. Thanks for being brave enough to share.
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I didn't read all the posts on this thread and maybe somebody else already mentioned this. I learned this tip when I bought my first snowmobile back in 1971. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, work the throttle from off to full throttle at least 3 times before EVER starting the machine. It MUST work freely with no sticking. If not, do NOT start the machine until you find and fix what is causing the sticking. I do this religiously to this day.
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That's a knee slapper...
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I have the same dog and saw this exact thing happening and gave it some thought. The kill switch lanyard is mounted up on the handlebars and is not long enough or barely long enough to be working the pull start or the choke after it fires up. I use the electric start on the bars and always have the lanyard at least in my hand with the brake set. After it starts and warms a little I have to hop out of the sled to lever the choke off before taking off. I added about a foot to the lanyard so I can still keep it in my hand, around my wrist or even cinched to my belt.
I did have to install a different kill switch because the junk one it came with has a red rubber plug that kept popping off while running. The new one has a plastic key type gadget like what outboard motors have.
Glad you didn't have any real issues but I can just see with my luck and on a busy lake the dog with sleds mowing down lots of other guys traps or blasting through a few flip shanties. Lucky you were on a quiet lake with not much to hurt but your own gear and machine. Lesson learned Gunflint so always have the teather and add an extra foot to the cord so you can move around the machine.
Gam
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I have the same dog and saw this exact thing happening and gave it some thought. The kill switch lanyard is mounted up on the handlebars and is not long enough or barely long enough to be working the pull start or the choke after it fires up. I use the electric start on the bars and always have the lanyard at least in my hand with the brake set. After it starts and warms a little I have to hop out of the sled to lever the choke off before taking off. I added about a foot to the lanyard so I can still keep it in my hand, around my wrist or even cinched to my belt.
I did have to install a different kill switch because the junk one it came with has a red rubber plug that kept popping off while running. The new one has a plastic key type gadget like what outboard motors have.
Glad you didn't have any real issues but I can just see with my luck and on a busy lake the dog with sleds mowing down lots of other guys traps or blasting through a few flip shanties. Lucky you were on a quiet lake with not much to hurt but your own gear and machine. Lesson learned Gunflint so always have the teather and add an extra foot to the cord so you can move around the machine.
Gam
Thank you for the information. I thought about you.
I don’t want to post this story a second time. ;D
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After trudging and catching a nice limit of Lakers, I finally got back to my Snowdog and hitched everything up for the ride home.
BUT, when I started it up I must have hit the throttle and the gas stuck wide open and my Snowdog took off across the lake towing everything and leaving me standing with my mouth open in disbelief. :o
I watched scooting across the ice with my Livescope, camera, Nils Auger, etc. and finally started running through knee-deep snow after it. It could go a couple miles on that lake if it would have gone straight, but luckily it started to veer slightly left. I was running as hard as I could and hit slush but kept on going. After a while the Snowdog and sleds disappeared in a bay to my right. I kept on running, imagining what will happen when it hits a boulder or tree on the shoreline. As I started around the point of the bay, here comes the Snowdog again! Somehow it had glanced off a cedar and that turned in around and it was heading back out of the bay towards the lake.
Luckily, it again veered to the right aiming directly towards the shore. I was just standing there wondering what would happen next. I saw a small miracle. There was an 8 foot opening in the woods with a steep upwards bank. The Snowdog and sleds hit the hole and started uphill, but the before it went 20 feet it hit a boulder and laid over on its side in waist-deep snow. It STOPPED and sat with the throttle still wide-open but not going anywhere.
I finally was able to run up to its track and follow it to the shoreline and hit the "kill switch." I then just sat down with my chest heaving. I disconnected the two sleds and pulled them back to the lake. I spent 30 minutes digging out the Snowdog and getting it turned around. I checked the throttle cable and things seemed normal. Finally, I got it started back up and it was once again my obedient Dog. I was relieved that it actually worked with no apparent damage to either the Snowdog or the sleds and contents! I was also glad not to have to walk another 3 miles back to the cabin across a windy lake.
I got everything hitched back up and started home - grateful that I was in one piece, the Snowdog still worked and I had a limit of lakers to clean once I got back to the cabin.
I debated about sharing the story, but I thought it was more than worth it to give all of you a laugh on me. ;D ;D ;D
Snowdog and sleds safely home.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68/6-A9-FFBC6-1565-4-C1-C-82-F9-912-C9-DD7-FD57.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NyPYfJ68)
2 nice Lakers.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz/AC3-D69-B8-06-AE-42-A1-A2-DD-5-CDDD4118-DAD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKDBZfLz)
Hahahah that's funny. My buddy has built a few home made snowdogs well we use the predator 6.5 from harbor freight . One of.our buddies comes over to see how we are building them and goes home to build one well he gets it all together and forget it loosen the throttle as they bolt it down tight so it doesn't get damaged in shipping. Well when they bolt it down its wide open well when they started it up first time it it took off out of the garage wide open doing a "wheelie" out buddy chasing it down it was hilarious
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lucky day..I guess the tether will be hooked up next time before you start it lol..
I just had to rescue my neighbour with his snow dog on Nipissing last week..he blew his secondary clutch trying to pull his shack..he was stranded good..good thing he knows me or it would have been a long walk back..lol