snowbyte

Never used these machines before, always preferred quiet skiing, snowshoeing, etc. but getting older and the animals are getting wilder in my area. A neighbour is selling something that says yamaha 300 on it and mentioned it was late 70s so this thread seems to be the right venue for my question. He said it has been started a few times over recent years although he now uses a hair dryer to warm it up first. The gas is old so that may explain the hard starting. I didn't ask too many questions yet as I'm still trying to decide if it's a good idea. i have a 50a lot in a snowy hilly part of ontario so it would be useful and fun. I've always been reluctant to get into complicated machines since I'm the worst at maintenance, it's a 5 hour drive home, i get chilled easily (ie. fixing outside), have no outbuilding, I don't have a trailer and the kids are long gone. But if i didn't pay much I suppose i could just let it rot when it quits. I suspect there's still a bit of life left in it although the present owner probably wasn't much on maintenance.

What do you folks think about this / what would you advise. Is this machine generally reliable / easy to fix? How about part availability? Anything to watch out for / what questions to ask the seller? What's a reasonable price? My budget is modest at best. I would probably try to put the thing in the back of my Ford Focus to get it to the lot. The other option that I would want to investigate is getting a 4 wheeler with the track adapters for year round use.

Thanks in advance.

PS. Since this is my first post, the moderator may prefer I make a new thread instead?? Just let me know.

BC_Dan

How much is the person asking? I sold a pair of Enticers (79 & 80) with a small trailer a few years ago for $500. They are pretty durable and fairly simple to work on. They were fun sleds to play around on, hardly any suspension but a really soft, cushion seat. There are parts available, mostly from the snowmobile salvage places such as Al's Snowmobile Warehouse.

__________________
2007 Dragon RMK 700 155", 2008 RMK 600 155", 2006 RMK 600 144", 95 Prowler 550 2-up, 1990 Indy 650, Really OLD AC Cheetah

http://www.avalanche.org/accidents.php

joshkidner

you havnt givin much info... if in rough shape 200 isnt a bad price. these older sleds are pretty simple. parts arnt likely going to be easy to find.

__________________
1987 chasis with 1985 597cc under the hood. Xtra-10, fox shocks, and a whole lotta speed!

smokingcrater

keep in mind that with an older sled, the saying was always 'ride an hour, fix an hour'. And also never go further out than you want to walk back.

__________________
1) 2000 Arctic cat ZR 700, which now thinks it is a 2001 ZR 600 EFI APV w/136" ripsaw. (for sale!)
2) 1995 Yamaha VMAX 600, which now thinks it is a Polaris! (Polaris x10 suspension, Polaris P85 clutch) (for sale!)
3) 2004 Yamaha Warrior
4) 2006 Yamaha Nytro

snowbyte

Thanks for that great input. Quite the list of worries but the thing sits there and looks at me every time I walk the dog on by!!! I swear it winks. He mentioned about $250 which sounds like a reasonable (optimistic ;-) opener. I checked Al's for parts - lots of consumables but few durables. I'll search around for other yards.

BC_Dan

I ordered a front bumper and a cowling piece and a few other things for one of mine from Al's, you had to call to talk to them, they didn't show anything on the web site. It's worth a try..

Good luck!

__________________
2007 Dragon RMK 700 155", 2008 RMK 600 155", 2006 RMK 600 144", 95 Prowler 550 2-up, 1990 Indy 650, Really OLD AC Cheetah

http://www.avalanche.org/accidents.php

RJ Gleason

Often for parts like that you have to either call them or Email a request as they don't list all the used parts for sleds that old.

__________________
Old Cat Rider
'93 Wildcat 700EFI
w/ Comet 108 Pro-4 clutch & 01 ZR skid

'90 Wildcat Project in progress.

Vintage (sorta)
1980 Indy Trail 440 (for sale)
1980 AC Pantera (donor engine to the 90 wildcat)


http://www.dcdrifters.net/


Senior Warden; F&AM Dryden Lodge# 472
http://www.masonicdryden472.org/

Rules of this forum are strictly enforced!

yamadad4

save your money for a set of tracks for your 4 wheeler. if that sled isnt free or cheaper, your throwing good money after bad.

not that thats a bad sled or anything, but based on your own description, it may be more than you want to mess with. used parts are still just as old as the sled your putting them on, and they arent making any new parts anymore.

Phazer36

Sounds like maybe a fixer upper or if you had one of these, this would make a good parts sled. I wouldn't mess around in Ontario with an older sled. I'm sure you could find something a little newer and only needing some minor attention. Sleds are great fun and awesome means of transportation, but you don't want to get stuck in the middle of no place. So as Yamadad said, tracks for four wheeler, or look for a newer year sled. Maybe mid to late 90's.

__________________