2 skis to be removed and my helper ready to work
From the outside, it seems that my two skis will only be needing a fresh coat of paint. At first glance, they each have their carbide runners, and the former owner also had a pair of sway control correctors installed. In theory, this is a good omen.
By removing the runners, I was able to remove the sway control correctors and gain direct access to the base of the skis. Very quickly, it was evident to me that there would still be a lot of work to do — many challenges and much learning. Here is what I found: Number 1, the runners need to be changed; Number 2, the correctors are entirely worn out; Number 3, the skis are so worn that we can actually see through them … A choice needs to be made; replace them or redo them completely? Kimpex offers, in their catalogue, a replacement ski that is almost identical to the original ones. Be careful, though, if you order some since there are two models, narrow and wide. In our case, we need the narrow sports model designed for the trail.
Upon reflection and since no challenge is too big for us, I will try to save the existing skis. The first step will be to rebuild the bottom by welding a full plate to the length of each of the skis. Then, it will all need to be painted. In this rebuild, I decided to refurbish the external parts such as the skis and suspension arms with some powdercoat for greater durability. The rest of the internal components will be sandblasted, primed, painted and finally, a layer of transparent lacquer will be applied.
Narrow PRS ski of origin before refurbishment
Narrow Kimpex replacement ski 08-342 model
Ski before disassembly
Small plastic cap removed to access the carbide runner’s bolt
Rubber ski covers removed
Discovering of damage
The best of the 2 skis…
Will the runners also need to be replaced?
Better already! The plates underneath have been welded. We only need to sandblast it all
After several weeks of waiting, the results of the powdercoat are incredible. The layer of paint is really thick, and the finish is deep and as shiny as a mirror. For the carbide runners, I used factory Ski-Doo models found on eBay at a very competitive price. 15 US $ for the set, before delivery. For the final touch, I managed to find ski caps as well as new rubber boots of origin (NOS: New Old Stock) on the Web. The ones on the snowmobile were either torn or twisted.
