Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum - Vintage Snowmobiles http://www.snowmobileforum.com/ en Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:30:23 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/images/snowmobileforum/misc/rss.jpg Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum - Vintage Snowmobiles http://www.snowmobileforum.com/ restoring old trail cat 4000 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51411-restoring-old-trail-cat-4000-a.html Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:50:28 GMT i finally got my 80 trail cat running. No from trying to find parts and what ive been told, is its a hard to come by sled because its the first cat... i finally got my 80 trail cat running. No from trying to find parts and what ive been told, is its a hard to come by sled because its the first cat to have the type of suspension it does. With that said i figure its a good sled to restore and make original. now my questions are how do you clean the parts you cant find replacments for? like the trailing arms on the suspension are rusty, do you sand blast them and have chrome dipped? or is their an easier way? same deal with the engine shroud, its a lil rusty but mostly faded and dirty, is their a special cleaner to use? the front bumber is out of whack, but the belly pan and rest of the body doesnt look damaged at all, but one side of the bumber is about 2 inches from hood, the other side is about 5 inches, hood closes and lines up good, how do i straighten it? i am very interested in restoring sleds and can do the work, just need to know the process and chemicals to use ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles jeffbriggs25 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51411-restoring-old-trail-cat-4000-a.html Polaris Torque-o-Matic parts? http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51337-polaris-torque-o-matic-parts.html Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:05:50 GMT Hi, everyone:

I've sort of given up on finding a Comet Duster for my Polaris Gemini. Since Hoffco went toes-up, it's been impossible to get one for anything resembling an affordable price.

I've found that the Polaris Torque-o-Matic clutches have a reputation for being bulletproof; and are pretty obtainable.... but not with the spring and weights my 250 calls for.

Anyone out there know a source for these parts?

Thanks in advance, -Strato- ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles Stratoman http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51337-polaris-torque-o-matic-parts.html 1981 citation cdi conversion http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51332-1981-citation-cdi-conversion.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:17:07 GMT my 1981 citation 377 has points and condensor can i convert this motor to have a cdi does the crank make a differnce to convert. if i can or i can't can someone explain why not or what do i have to do to convert.
i have identicle motor that's blown but has cdi. please help winters getting closer! ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles fmalott http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51332-1981-citation-cdi-conversion.html vintage Polaris mystery sled http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51305-vintage-polaris-mystery-sled.html Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:41:25 GMT This is an old Polaris I saw behind a garage near were I live..

I can't identify it:

It has a '79 style tunnel, what appears to be an unpainted bellypan, and the decal scheme color pattern is unique from anything else I could find on the internet. Does anyone know what it is?

Sorry I couldn't get any better pictures, the closest I could get to it was like 50 yards away..
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]]> Vintage Snowmobiles JD8345RT http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51305-vintage-polaris-mystery-sled.html Need help with my 82 Yamaha Excel III - motor turns over to a point and then jams http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51289-need-help-my-82-yamaha-excel.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:43:47 GMT I have an '82 Excel III and even though it is almost 30 years old, it is one of my favourite sleds. It is great for beginners and kids and is generally very reliable. At the end of the season last year, we were out riding it and it just shut off all of a sudden. When we tried to start it up, it would not turn over at all. The battery would not turn it over and pulling the pull cord did nothing. I towed it home, dumped a bunch of oil in the cylinders and left it sit.... until now. It will turn over now, but only to a certain point. I can turn the secondary clutch the opposite way as it turns when I turn the key forever... it never jams up. When I turn the key, or pull the cable, or turn the clutch the same way that it wants to go when it starts, it will turn a bunch of times, but then eventually jams up. I can turn it past this point manually, but it feels like there is a lot of resistance after this point. The starter can't go past this point. I have taken the heads off and at least on the top end everything looks to be really good (especially for an '82). I have taken the intake manifold and exhaust manifold off, but I don't know how to get to the bottom end. I'm good with tools, but I am what you would consider an amateur mechanic. I'm okay, but I need a lot of help. Do I need to be getting to the bottom end, or do you guys have any other ideas what it might be. When it shut off, there was no bang or boom, just died, and like I said the pistons and cylinders actually look to be really good. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would really like to get this sled back up and running.
Matt ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles schmitty2000 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51289-need-help-my-82-yamaha-excel.html <![CDATA['79 Polaris Gemini - no spark]]> http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51284-79-polaris-gemini-no-spark.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:37:55 GMT One of my sons has a '79 Polaris Gemini, the twin cylinder model. He ran it for years, then a few years ago couldn't get it to start or turn over at all and let it sit. When they sold there house over in VT, we cleaned the property up because we live closer, and I ended up bringing this old Polaris home.

Not being familiar with snowmobiles at all, I dragged it over to a buddy of mine who is. It's pumping fuel just fine, we just can't get any spark at all. We've tried bypassing the ignition switch, so we guess that's not it. What would be the next thing to check? My guess is wiring short, bad connectors, etc. Should I buy a new condenser and coil, or is there something else particular to these snowmobiles it might be?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Frank ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles frank_a http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51284-79-polaris-gemini-no-spark.html 1980 Polaris TXL Indy http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51231-1980-polaris-txl-indy.html Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:02:20 GMT Okay, so i found a 1980 Polaris TXL Indy for $300. It has high miles, but a rebuilt engine last year...The track only moves when you lift the back... Okay, so i found a 1980 Polaris TXL Indy for $300. It has high miles, but a rebuilt engine last year...The track only moves when you lift the back end off the ground...but im thinking new plugs and check the oil right? Should I go for it? I really like these sleds... ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles zgierach http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51231-1980-polaris-txl-indy.html 1973 yamaha 292 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51175-1973-yamaha-292-a.html Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:24:34 GMT hi, i aquired my older gs 250 a while ago and i really liked the way it was built, it was easy to work on and it was very simple. i looked around on... hi, i aquired my older gs 250 a while ago and i really liked the way it was built, it was easy to work on and it was very simple. i looked around on kijiji and i found a similar sled : a 1973 292, im not sure of what the model is but it is identical to my gs 250. i was wondering what make of engine it is (maybey jlo?) and if it would be good to buy. thanks ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles 76gs250 http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51175-1973-yamaha-292-a.html 1972 Ski Whiz http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51108-1972-ski-whiz.html Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:48:26 GMT found a sled on CL. its a 72 Ski Whiz 400. According to the ad it starts 1-2 pulls, has new lines and filter, new belt, newer track, all lights work.... found a sled on CL. its a 72 Ski Whiz 400. According to the ad it starts 1-2 pulls, has new lines and filter, new belt, newer track, all lights work. He wants 300 for it but also says that cash talks:D

my question is how are these things? Reliability wise? top speed? it it worth the buy? im gona use it as a learner sled for my 9 year old sister(she can somewhat ride my 700, but its too heavy for her and the fact that it can hit 120 does not make me feel all cozy inside)

thanks for any input ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles Ilya K http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51108-1972-ski-whiz.html 1977 Jag 3000 Rebuild http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51075-1977-jag-3000-rebuild.html Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:02:06 GMT Hey guys and girls, I am attempting to rebuild my engine. It is my first time doing anything like this so i have a couple questions. Do i have to... Hey guys and girls, I am attempting to rebuild my engine. It is my first time doing anything like this so i have a couple questions.
Do i have to get a a pro to split the crank case and do whatever is requiered?
Do i need new shims or can i use the old ones?
Should i replace the bearings?(1900 original miles)

I got 2 seals with my rebuild kit so i thought i might as well put them in in the engine is already apart. Also i did drop a some debris of gasket so i want to make sure it is clean.

I am putting in new pistons and rings. The shop manual says to deglazed with a cylinder hone. Is this necessary? I thought the cylinders has some kind of coating so wont this wreck it?

Thanks in advance, i really appreciate it. ]]> Vintage Snowmobiles ACanadian http://www.snowmobileforum.com/vintage-snowmobiles/51075-1977-jag-3000-rebuild.html