Before I had my own snowmobile, there were many things I didn’t know existed, but were needed. Snow scrapers, commonly known as “ice scratchers,” are one of those essential accessories.

Thanks to the great generosity of Kimpex, I had the chance to try the carbide ice scratchers – short suspension, at the end of last season. I was very pleased with the test. Let me tell you about my experience.

The ice scratcher is an important part of keeping your snowmobile running smoothly. The tips dig through hard snow and ice, breaking it into powder and throwing it toward the rear suspension. This snow powder creates an essential cooling effect on the heat exchanger and engine. This prevents parts from melting due to the heat or the engine from exploding! 💥

It is especially recommended to use scratchers on long rides, but also on early morning rides, as the snow hardens during the night.

There are different types of scratchers.

1. Metal scratchers are affordable and easy to use, but they lack flexibility and break when the snowmobile rolls backwards.
2. A cable scratcher is more flexible and durable. It doesn’t need to be moved when moving backwards, so it won’t get stuck or break.

I had the pleasure to try this second type of scratcher!

The installation

This was my first installation experience. First I had to remove my old snow scratchers which were worn out and unusable. How fortunate that I had to remove the old ones, because it allowed me to see where I needed to install the new ones. Otherwise, let me tell you, I probably wouldn’t have found the spot on the first try.

In fact, the hardest part was uninstalling the old ones, which were almost welded shut from years of corrosion. But with the right socket, 13 mm in my case, and a good old pair of vice grips, it took me more than 15 minutes to uninstall the old snow scratchers on both sides.

Installation is not rocket science either! You just have to screw the bolt at the end of the scratcher. But be careful! The threads are reversed to prevent unscrewing during the ride. By the way, Kimpex provides a small bottle of “Loctite” to make sure the scratchers are solid on the machine.

Once the scratcher is bolted on, the angle must be adjusted to ensure that it makes good contact with the ground, but does not touch the track. All in all, you can count on another 15 minutes for the installation.

While you’re at it, it’s also a good time to do a quick inspection of a few components, such as the track, the wheels, the sliding ramps, the suspension, etc.🔎

Spring conditions

I was more than satisfied with the Kimpex ice scratchers. I had the chance to try them in spring conditions, the time of year when snowmobiles heat up the most. I rode along roads where there was not much snow and my engine stayed at the desired temperature.

Although the site recommends these scratchers for a machine with 2 inches or less studs, I have 2.5 inch studs and have been very pleased with their performance.

They are very flexible and versatile. I’m the kind of person who can take them out and forget to put them in when I don’t need them anymore and let me tell you, they are very durable. They’ve survived climbing into a pickup truck bed, a concrete slab, curbside paths, etc. I’m telling you, they’ve seen the worst of me! The carbide ice scratchers are not snaggy or cumbersome. I am very happy with this test.

Once again, a big thank you to Kimpex for this wonderful discovery!