Hydraulic Drive - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Turk · 12-18-2005, 09:52 PM

Can I get anyone to help me win a bet. (quite substantial I might add) Braggin Rights!

Can anyone tell me if there ever was a Hydraulic drive snowmobile, if so, specifics, like year,make, model, etc. Also, any pictures woulod help!!

Thanks much!!

Keith

**smallengineguy** · 12-19-2005, 05:29 AM

Arctic Cat made ONE model in the early 70's. I'll have to get more info on it for you.

HRKNick · 12-19-2005, 06:36 AM

Q:Name 2 sleds that used a hydraulic torque converter?
A:The 1974 and 1975 Yamaha TL433F and the 1974 and 1975 Arctic Cat VIP both used a hydraulic torque converter, just like your Buick - no drive belt.

Hope that answers your question

Turk · 12-19-2005, 06:37 AM

I thought there was at least one made about that time frame. Let me know if you find the specifics. Its one of those guys that knows everything. I want to make a point.

Thanks for any help

Keith

**smallengineguy** · 12-19-2005, 06:47 AM

I knew about the Cat, but not the Yami.VIP

upersleder · 12-19-2005, 11:05 AM

well after seeing this, i looked in my tell all book, it lists the 1974 artic cat VIP as having a hydraulic torque converter. then go to the yamaha section, lists the 1973 EW643B, 1974 & 1975 TL433F and TW433F as having a hydrokinetic clutch. i can scan a photo of the page listing if that will help. niether shows a picture or how to's for the units.

fr0st · 12-19-2005, 01:41 PM

wow...

never though that existed on a sled... but hey,

im pretty sur no one would have though just 5 years ago that AC would built a 4 stroke turbocharged intercooled sled..

and the technology was there already so this was not a technical question.. more of a choice.. or goverment norms

Fr0st

Turk · 12-19-2005, 09:35 PM

The guy in question has since conceeded that he "might not be right EVERY time".

Thanks for the help guys!!!

Keith

**RJ Gleason** · 12-19-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Turk
The guy in question has since conceeded that he "might not be right EVERY time".

Thanks for the help guys!!!

Keith

Always fun to stop the KNOWITALL with the facts

upersleder · 12-19-2005, 11:37 PM

hell i am pretty "UP" on sleds, and i didnt have a clue they had them!

HYDRAULICYAM · 10-30-2006, 07:55 PM

Found this thread while searching model numbers on google ...
I have a "bunch" of the hydraulic Yams .... 72 EW643 , 73 EW643,
74 TL433 , 74 TW433 , 75 TL433 , 76 PR440 and 77 PR440
I'm near Toronto , Ont ,....the sleds have come from Manitoba ,
WI , MN . VT and PA and all over Ontario .I guess i'm a bit of a
hydraulic nut ...had a 74 since new and still using the orig belt .
I have a number of units from sleds that had rusted out (all were
steel frames) ..they were not fast , but I have pulled a groomer
every year to level some local trails near me only loosing a bit of
dextron.
RON

DUKE · 11-10-2006, 09:02 PM

hey i know what you mean i got a 74' TL433F origanal belt. smooothest riding sled ever.

HYDRAULICYAM · 11-11-2006, 10:02 AM

Hi DUKE.......Still have your sled ??? Mine came with double slider on
a single cog drive ...There seems to be a possibility some were bogie ...
The steel wear wear clip wore out and I reclipped the track by cutting
windows in it . but eventually the I had 7 bars broken in the drive ...
...Stuffed a 75 GPX track and susp in it by welding 2 Doo flanges to
front axle as they used the same cog size ...
..Have I met you before on tyform or acscc or ebay ??....I have a very
nice orig 74 TL that I picked up in Lower PA last month from ebay and
will be taking it to Sledarama show in Peterborough , On....I like
taking something diff each year , even though most people have
never seen a hyd drive except mine up here in Ont . I know only of
4 up here that I don't own ...Either not forsale or I have too many of
that year already.... Antique and Classic Snowmobile Club of Canada 4 Vintage Sled and Snowmobile Collectors
some of my sleds . Antique and Classic Snowmobile Club of Canada 4 Vintage Sled and Snowmobile Collectors
and some more ...
I hope you enjoyed your TL
RON

DUKE · 11-11-2006, 10:40 AM

hi . yes i do still have my TL and it runs

Mine has sliders no boogies. im not sure what the millage is but it still has origianal track. I dont think i have talk to you before but nice meetin you. I got my TL433 from my grampa last year (im 14) lol we had to do some work to the carbs but other then that she was good. I do have 1 majoir problem the gear selector on mine is busted and somebody has made it to always stay in drive. This makes starting it really hard. well good talking to ya. o by the way your going to have to add 5 that you dont own in your list

HYDRAULICYAM · 11-11-2006, 12:29 PM

I got mine when I was 18 (new) , 50 now ..the trick to NOT breaking
the anchor/pivot bolt off the housing is....when cold , start it in neutral ,
warm up , kill engine and just as its about to stop pull in the lever , then
restart the engine in gear ......I have some that came wired in gear,
another has a spring pulling it in ....the dentent inside should hold the
shaft in neutral or in drive position without use of wire ....
I suggest you cut off the restraining wire and try with out it ....
..pull it out to start up cold , warm it up , and push it in as you kill
the engine , then restart it ...only needs to be in neutral when eng is cold.
The 74 seems to have a diff diameter pulley/recoil system and I (having
a bad back ) find the newer (75-77) much easier to pull , even engaged
cold ......I pull the air box cover off and splash a bit of premix into the
carb to get running each year since the 74 is such a heavy pull recoil .
After its sucked its fuel up , and stays running I shut it off and reinstall
the cover .(don't want to suck in any screws) . A primer might help a
lot ..
you can always email me or find me in acscc.com site as well
I expect your on the other side of the border somewhere , as their
seems to be more hydraulics in USA ..(except the 6 I got this year)

RON

DUKE · 11-13-2006, 03:46 PM

Hi again, i guess i should have specified what wrong with my trany. A gear has been stripped in side someone took it apart and "jury riged it" to make it work only in drive. As for starting my air box has small crack im it i spray in some winnys carb cleaner and she fires up haha not sure if thats good for it but o well i hope to get it out this year last year i put on like 400miles not to bad for speed around 65mph on icey road. O by the way i live in Canada. talk to you later

HYDRAULICYAM · 11-13-2006, 05:10 PM

Your sled must have had the extra idler wheel kits , most do , otherwise
the first and only time I wound mine out , the sliders melted to the track
and I skidded down the road right side up until I stopped ., dragged
it into the ditch and kicked it full of snow to cool the rails .
....The wheel kits were added and then it just wore the nylon on the
leading sloped edge. and 65 mph is probably pretty accurate as mine
showed near 70 when it was new ..
...Unless you have freshened up the crank seals , I wouldn't go for
the speed record often ...Yamaha autolube can only save you so much.
It keeps pumping oil with rpm where a regular mix sled , the oil stops
when you snap the throttle off (no gas , no oil ).
....When your done with it , let me know , or if you need any major parts.
I have a parts 74 TL sitting in the woods near Thunder Bay that I need
to bring home sometime . Rusted out and seized but complete .
Have Fun
RON

MANIAC998 · 11-19-2006, 06:18 PM

Ron! What's going on ?! If you don't remember me, I was the one that picked up a very nice TW433 last year, and with your help, got it running real well. Was just wondering if your offer on purchasing one of your windshields is still valid? I'll be in Toronto for the World Supercross Dec 2nd, so I thought I'd try and get in touch with you. Let me know either way. Hope to hear from you! Mitch "Maniac" Marks

HYDRAULICYAM · 11-20-2006, 08:12 PM

Hi Maniac Marks ...I left a private mess for you ...You must google
your model # to have found me here ....Got the windshield , just have
to figure out the "how" part .....Outside rush hour times , late evening ,
I can be from CN tower to home in 45 / 50 min ...about 35 miles ..
but sometime 404 at 401 can be slow or stopped ..on a week day .
I have a nice sled to work with from each of the 7 models now , I just
need to get enthused about points and condensors and a bit of body
work ...It's taken the aquistion of 21 sleds to do it and about 5,500
mile this year alone ...I don't even want to think about the gas other than
I filled up in USA as much as possible ,,,about 3/4 price after convert $
and gallon to litre .
...Good to here from you , I hope to meet you in DEC
Hydraulic RON

DUKE · 12-11-2006, 09:19 PM

hey ron it's duke again i was out on polaris 500 the other day and figured there was enough snow to get my old yamaha out.i got her out and running didnt take much to start few pulls and good old winny's carb cleaner

took it for a spin to the bush and back a couple times still works good. kinda suck now because are snow is all melted. well just thought i'd let you know cya
scott