How to Change the Chain Case Oil on Your Snowmobile

If you're a snowmobile rider, when winter rolls around, you should always perform some basic maintenance to get ready for the season. One of the most important things to do is change your chain case oil. This is important for two reasons:

1. Chain case oil breaks down with heating and cooling cycles
2. Chain case oil can get contaminated by both water and metal slivers from the chain and sprockets

Simply put, a clean and well-lubed chain means a well-performing sled!

How to change your chain case oil: 

1. To start, place a drain pan/bucket under the chain case drain plug and remove the plug to drain the oil.

2. Next, remove the chain case cover to expose the gears, chain, and inside of the chain case.

3. Once the cover is off you should inspect the gears and chain for any problems. Check for wear and make sure your chain isn’t too loose. Next, spray LOCTITE^® SF 7635™ Pro Strength Degreaser over everything inside the chain case and cover to loosen the oil and metal shavings sludge.

4. Now it’s time to clean. Use LOCTITE^® SF 7611™ Pro Strength Parts Cleaner throughout the inside of the chain case to clean and rinse all the gunk out. Start at the top of the chain case and work your way to the bottom to ensure you get everything.

5. Before you move on to the next step, make sure everything is dry. Luckily, LOCTITE^® SF 7611™ Pro Strength Parts Cleaner dries quickly!

6. Now it’s time to put everything back together. Install both the drain plug and the chain case cover bolts using LOCTITE^® 243™ Blue Threadlocker to prevent the bolts from backing out. Using threadlocker will also provide a seal to prevent oil leaks.

7. Once the chain case is back together, fill it with the manufacturer’s suggested amount of oil and check using the dipstick to confirm.

And that’s it! Not too bad, right? It’s easy maintenance that you should do at least once a season. If you ride a lot, you might consider doing it more often. A clean and well-lubed chain is a happy chain!