Studs Won't Leave Snowmobilers Out in the Cold.

Snowmobiles are used in extreme temperatures. Indeed, it's not uncommon for snowmobile drivers to be out in temperatures of -40 F. Such temperatures, combined with extreme vibrations, can put a lot of stress on the bolts used to assemble snowmobile engines.

Polaris Industries Inc. (Minneapolis), a manufacturer of snowmobiles and personal watercraft, is familiar with the problem. Subzero temperatures were causing mounting studs to fail in the company's 700-cubic-centimeter reciprocating snowmobile engines. Joints that were tight at operating temperatures of up to 200 F became very loose at very low temperatures. This was especially true of joints with long clamp …