Retro sled 340 Merc - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

silversurfer · 08-08-2006, 11:12 PM

I just bought up a 76 Merc 340 RS. I'm thinking of doing a bit of vintage oval racing. I know the RS isn't THE sled to have, but at least I can get a taste.

I'm picking it up tomorrow. Previous owner says it needs some work on the suspension.

Hope it's not too bad ( I got it pretty cheap).

Cheers,
Bill

**RJ Gleason** · 08-09-2006, 12:56 AM

You sure that wasn't a S/R instead?
My book only shows a 340 S/R with a kohler k340-2AX engine (338cc) Walbro (WDA50) carb with the Salsbury 850 clutch, the sled was built in '75 and sold to '76.

silversurfer · 08-10-2006, 01:31 AM

Yep - you're right. It's my dslyeckisa... ...anyway I brought it home tonight.

It'll need a lot of cleaning. It starts. It needs new rails for the slides (and maybe some other bits down there). I kow I shouldn't be excited about a 30 year old relic, but I am.

Any of youse guys ever ride one of these? How are they for that era?

Thanks,
Bill

silversurfer · 08-10-2006, 01:33 AM

BTW - RJ - a friend of mine just got done putting together a basket case Jag 1982? I think. He keeps up with most of the modern sleds on the trails. Just not as comfy a ride.

**smallengineguy** · 08-10-2006, 07:06 AM

That's true, you can make these little sleds scream and they are so much lighter than the new ones. I've seen a 70's Ski Doo with an SC3 suspension in it. Nice!!

**RJ Gleason** · 08-10-2006, 10:47 AM

Some of those Merc's had a unique drive system. One sprocket down the center and lugs (internal drive) on the outside set.

silversurfer · 08-11-2006, 09:55 AM

...actuallly my friend put together a '83 El Tigre' from parts He has an '80 in boxes also for a future project.

I think my Merc is going to need some suspension parts too BTW.

**smallengineguy** · 08-11-2006, 10:26 AM

Looks like one of them funky Lowriders...

silversurfer · 08-11-2006, 01:31 PM

Yeah, right now it's a drag sled.

silversurfer · 12-20-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ Gleason

You sure that wasn't a S/R instead?
My book only shows a 340 S/R with a kohler k340-2AX engine (338cc) Walbro (WDA50) carb with the Salsbury 850 clutch, the sled was built in '75 and sold to '76.

Hi RJ, I'm getting a "parts" sled this weekend. The seller says the hood is black though. This link shows 3 engines available for 2 years of production. I'm hoping I can just swap the running engine into the lifeless body. :-) Frankenstien.

Here's a link to model identification.

Mercury Snowmobile Model Identification

While I was looking for that I found a gentleman that has a '75 340 SnoTwister for sale too, but it's a tad high for my budget... He's thinking between $1200 and $1800.

cheers,
Bill

**RJ Gleason** · 12-21-2006, 09:25 AM

Sno-Twister, cool.

If it was the liquid cooled, that was one fast racer.
Even the free-air was very fast.

If you can get him to come down any on the price (less than $1000), I'd go for it. Those are hard to find vintage racers. There were not that many built.

silversurfer · 12-21-2006, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the advice on the sno-twister RJ . Still too much for my budget right now.

...against forum policy to post email addresses? I wouldn't want to do that to him anyway...

anyone interested, email me and I'll send you back his email He's in Niles Michigan - FYI.

**RJ Gleason** · 12-21-2006, 04:08 PM

If you post an email address, spell it out so the web crawlers can not find it, but a person reading it can use it.
Get his permission first though.

ac bigbore · 12-21-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silversurfer

Thanks for the advice on the sno-twister RJ . Still too much for my budget right now.

...against forum policy to post email addresses? I wouldn't want to do that to him anyway...

anyone interested, email me and I'll send you back his email He's in Niles Michigan - FYI.

Passed on several assorted mercs- waiting to find a nice
Twister under 2 grand. I'm interested.

silversurfer · 12-22-2006, 11:48 PM

http://www.snowmobileforum.com/photo...to=168&cat=500

test

silversurfer · 01-04-2007, 12:49 AM

Well, I pucked up a 440 S/R parts sled - engine siezed. The suspension maoununting holes don't line up so I'll have to put in new ones. I'm at a standstill right now. (And here I sit pissing with the computer). My middle son wants to race and there is a category he can race in Gleason WI. I have a ton of work to do to get this thing track worthy.

ac bigbore · 01-06-2007, 11:07 PM

Sled is basically sound. Engine had 125 psi on pto side, 65 on magneto side. Pulled head and jug on mag side. Had a Wiseco piston that lost its ring pin. Piston has lots of markes on the top and some nasty gouges down the side and a hole in the top above where the pin was located, and the
jug will need repair and replating. I'll need to really clean
up the crankcase in case the pin is down there somewhere. Hopefully the crank is ok, but I have that covered with a
$200 exchange available if needed. Also found new hood and
original decals and seat. Purchased at the low end of the
1200-1800 range listed. Haven't pulled the skid yet, but
it looks like it is all there and correct. I don't plan on a 100% restore, since I may race it a little, but I think I'll have it to maybe an 80% restore for about 2 grand, my target
dollar.

silversurfer · 01-10-2007, 08:43 AM

Cool - glad it worked out :-)

silversurfer · 09-10-2007, 11:54 PM

Swapped the suspension into the 340, now I just have to fiddle with the carb and get the brakes adjusted etc.

silversurfer · 10-28-2007, 11:13 PM

...the 340 S/R is up and running. Now all we need is some snow to test her out. Sounds really nice.

I have a couple of things I still need to take care of. One is a new set of carbides on the skis. Does anyone know if these skis were the same on any other old sleds like motoski etc. for cross referencing? I'm going to use the skis from the '75 - they're in much better shape.

Pulled my two Polaris trail sleds today too. I've got some preseason adjustments to take care of. Maybe a seat for the Storm too.