We all like to save money, right? That’s what this BiteHarder carbide sharpener review is all about. Our toys are expensive and we gear-heads try to save money anyway we can, a good thing no matter how you slice it.
We spend lots of hard-earned cash to buy a sled, outfit ourselves, get the proper registrations, fill the tank with gas, buy a trailer, prep the tow vehicle and on and on it goes… At times it seems like we spend more money and time just to have the tools to get to our destinations, never mind to enjoy the actual ride itself. It’s all for the love of snowmobiling, right? Amen brother.
Carbides Need To Be Sharp
Saving money is great but we still don’t want to install anything that is not best-of-breed or in tip-top condition. Carbide runners are one such item that need to be in prime condition. They have to be sharp, with plenty of meat on the host bar. I have personally spent enough money on carbides since 1969 to sink a small cruise ship!
That said, I’ve always wondered if there was a way for consumers to sharpen their carbides on their ski runners. Sure, the pros in racing had access to a green wheel to sharpen studs and carbides over the years but us average Joes just had to go buy new ones once they were worn or suffered loss in cornering.
Biteharder is one such company that attempts to solve such a dilemma. I’ve seen the ads in the magazines for a few years now so I decided to give my friend Glenn Welch from Biteharder a call and see if we could test these devices and report back to you guys, the bread and butter of the snowmobile community.
Glenn sent me the Professional Series and the consumer grade Standard Series. Perfect timing as I had a set of runners on my sled that had seen better days and we were just ramping up to go to Canada on another saddlebag tour.
BiteHarder Carbide Runner Sharpening Tool Standard Series
I removed the skis from the sled – something you don’t have to do – but I was going to install new skis for testing anyways. It was perfect to use the ski as a vice, so to speak.
I installed the low rpm Standard Series V-shaped wheel in my cordless drill and began to sharpen the carbides. I wasn’t expecting much, after all it was only a cordless drill spinning this thing, but much to my surprise the carbides really did get sharper!
Okay, so let’s clarify, you don’t need to get them razor sharp, that’s for racers only, but raising the center part of the carbide not only increases your cornering precision but increases rider safety on the trail.
One item of note is that there actually has to be carbide there to sharpen. If it’s totally flat and worn down to the host bar then nothing can help you but a new pair of carbides.
The philosophy is much like maintaining a chainsaw. It’s much easier to sharpen a new chain on a regular basis then to sharpen it when it’s totally spent. Regular maintenance is the key here.
Go slow and let the diamond wheel do the work. Don’t press hard on the carbide. Slow and easy gets the job done.
BiteHarder Professional Series
Now onto the Pro Series. This requires a compressor operated die grinder (I call it a whizz-wheel) with a minimum 10,000 rpm rating. With the Pro wheel in the grinder, thecompressor fired-up, and eye and ear protection in place, off I went. Results with the Pro Series were much faster, as expected. The four runners on my Simmons skis were done in record time.
The Pro Series would be good if you had multiple sleds for the family or group of riders, or if your time is too valuable to begin with.
Conclusions
So, do they do the job as intended? I would say a resounding yes is in order here. I found my peace of mind was increased riding down the trails, as I knew my carbides were in the best shape they could be. That’s always a good feeling. Now I’m in the habit of checking the runners more often, another positive.
Some say, out of sight – out of mind, but make no mistake these tiny little hardened wheels are what keep you on the trail and out of the woods!
Hits:
- Comes in a nice plastic storage container
- Consumer Series is all that is needed for the average snowmobiler
- Pro Series is a great time saver and good for multiple machines
- Well made with clear but simpleinstructions
- Consumer Series can be taken on trips
- Small and compact
- Device can be shared among riders
Misses:
- Could be better directions and more handy tips
- Pro Series can be pricey
- Durability of diamonds is unknown at this time
BiteHarder Donates To Snowmobiling
The guys over at BiteHarder have pledged 10% of every online order derived from the Granite State to the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association!
That’s right, if you make an online purchase from biteharder.com and ship it to a NH zip code, they will directly support our trails. Awesome!
Get the best performance from your sled and support snowmobiling in NH when you purchase BiterHarder!
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