BEST Vintage Snowmobile Recommendations - Page 2 - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

WhistlePig · 02-25-2009, 10:02 PM

I think we will run with the Polaris for now - taking turns riding with Dad (and adding a speed governor for solo rides) - and then keep our eyes open for a smaller Lynx, Panther, One-Lung Ski Doo or Yamaha or two through the Spring, Summer and Fall that we can bring to the vintage rides.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I'm sure I'll be back here asking about fixes soon enough!

W.P.

rlester · 02-25-2009, 11:14 PM

is to put a hose clamp under the throttle. THen you can give them half or three quarter throttle depending on how you orient the clamp, and depending on how fast you want the kids to go. Read that trick in an old ski-doo magazine from the 70's.

Ryan

Muzzy5688 · 02-25-2009, 11:30 PM

if your looking for a sled for your son i would suggest an early 70s to early 80s arctic cat or yamaha parts aren't to hard to come by if your looking for used parts and if you have to get them brand new they aren't too expensive but i wouldn't go with anything over a 440 i have a 73' 400 panther and it does about 45 50 mph maybe which really isn't to bad and it's a pretty good running sled has electric start and it's light but not too light. I also had a 344b yamaha it had a high and low range on it was a pretty nice sled also had an electric start option always ran great pretty quick for the size of the engine I also had a 74 cheetah not a bad running sled either and early to late 80's el tigres aren't bad sleds nice and light and great running sleds i think that all these sleds would be decent sleds to look into for a ten year old if you could find them around which i'm sure you could. Oh and the smaller early 90s jags weren't bad little sleds besides the weight they were sort of heavy for the size of the sleds. but good luck finding him a sled and i hope he can learn to enjoy it as much as the rest of us do.

**RJ Gleason** · 02-25-2009, 11:31 PM

Those JDX series are a bullet proof sled, easy to work on too and with a few tweaks are a decent ride for a beginner.

WhistlePig · 02-26-2009, 12:28 PM

It looks like I might have a deal for the 1981 Kawasaki Drifter 440 as well.

I posted some questions in "general discussion" about it, but the color does not match the 1981 Kawasaki brochure. I don't really care too much, but does it look to you like this has been painted or if it might be a different year?

Looking for ideas on repairing the seat, putting in the correct gauge and possibly adding a cheap backrest.

I hope to bring this to a vintage sled run next year. And also keep eyes open for a smaller sled as mentioned above. 3 sleds would carry my whole family on trail rides. Thanks for all your help!

WhistlePig · 02-26-2009, 12:51 PM

I like that idea of a hose clamp for a "Governator". I am thinking I will try different sizes to get the right amount of stoppage.

Great info everyone! I am kind of rushing into this, but it is actually going to make my wekkend cheaper - and more fun - than paying to take the kids skiing at Spirit Mountain.

Everyone get out and enjoy the snow that's about to hit us!

W.P.

articcatbill · 02-26-2009, 02:15 PM

Looks like it is an 80:

80 Kawasaki

But like you said probably doesn't matter much, won't affect trade in value in 10 years or so

dsnow122973 · 02-27-2009, 07:02 PM

Nothing runs like a Deere, that's where I started.

catfan · 02-28-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlester

is to put a hose clamp under the throttle. THen you can give them half or three quarter throttle depending on how you orient the clamp, and depending on how fast you want the kids to go. Read that trick in an old ski-doo magazine from the 70's.

Ryan

idk if my dad knew about that or just did it cuz he's a good thinker when it comes to this stuff... but the hose clamp really works well... cuz when i was growing up and first stsarted riding at the age of 5-6 he put taht on the charger 400 so i couldnt hurt myself on a solo rides.

WhistlePig · 03-01-2009, 11:46 AM

Double tap.

WhistlePig · 03-01-2009, 11:47 AM

We had a great weekend on the new (?) sleds!

The Kawasaki started on the first pull when the guy dropped it off, I stopped it, started it and ran it a little bit and then I promptly pulled one spark plug wire boot off after the guy left. I jury-rigged a spark-plug setup, but I will need to find some NGK parts (hard to find in Cloquet, MN on a Saturday). It ran pretty well, but would only hit around 40-50 mph - which is perfect.

It will need work, but it's a great sled to just leave at the cabin. My rigged-up spark plug wire finally gave out, so it ran for a little while on one plug and I assume got very flooded. I got the plug wire back on, let it sit and started it up for some more running and the same thing happened. By then I got tired of pulling the starter, so I dragged it home with the other snowmobile. I can see the value of getting a smaller "vintage" snowmobile

. I will clean it up over the summer with real tools, the right parts and temperatures above 10 degrees.

The Polaris is in great shape. It is a 1983 Indy 600, but it has an Indy 400 seat and front-end. So it looks newer - almost brand-new. It started out the weekend by running great in idle, but only going about 100 feet under load. Uh-oh. I let a bunch of the old gas run out for an hour or two. The next morning, it started right up and drove all day. That is a nice sled. Not exactly "vintage", and it goes a bit too fast, but the kids were pretty careful with it. They are still too young to drive away from where I can see them. The "hose clamp governor" will be going on that sled.

My wife even drove them around a bit. I think we'll be getting her a "non-vintage" sled for next year to get her out on the trails with us and so we can go on a longer ride with all 5 of us.

I am still going to look out for a smaller old Ski-Doo, Yamaha or Artic Cat between now and next Fall. I am taking a look at those John Deeres this week as well, but I probably will not get them if anyone else is interested. He also has a matching factory John Deere trailer.

Thanks for all your help! I will post some pics.

**RJ Gleason** · 03-02-2009, 09:28 AM

Good times!!!
I can see it now, Whistlepig is going to have a whole stable full of vintage sleds.

WhistlePig · 03-02-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Good times!!!
I can see it now, Whistlepig is going to have a whole stable full of vintage sleds.

Yes -- There is certainly a danger in that.

The problem is that I also have a BOAT habit. Snowmobiles now keep that going through the winter.

Here are some pics. My daughter on the Kawasaki, My son and daughter on the Polaris and my two daughters on the Polaris.

Tons of fun!!! These three are definitely going to learn small engine repair.

**RJ Gleason** · 03-02-2009, 12:50 PM

Nothing wrong with that, it can become a good paying career too.
Teach them young and it will help them all the rest of their lives.

eddiemoneyfan · 07-22-2009, 03:19 PM

Hello,
My brother, friends and I have over the years got those free-to-$50 deals on sleds. We enjoy just getting them to run to beat 'em up in the yard. The best combo we've found for better reliability is>

CDI ignition (no contactor points. Most engines needed flywheel removal to adjust them)
Fan cooled engines (Early water cooled engines weren't the best)
Single cylinder (Twins are good too as long as they have decent carburetion)

We've had 6 total of the 80-82 Ski Doo Citations. The 1982 on up single (2500) and the SS were the best. No problems ever with the oil injection. The Moto Ski Mirage series are exactly the same just orange.

A '78 Yamaha Enticer 340 was dropped off at my farm. This is the best beater sled. Simple design. Previous owner had problems with the oil injection system and gas now is premixed. Has held up to alot of abuse. Is real lightweight and doesn't hardly ever get stuck.