snowmobiles

[LHF2019]

That's faster then I would've thought.... I also think off the start a bike is no match but ya deep snow you don't get near these kinda speed... I find snowmobile speedo are way off in general and there are so many variable even between the same sled, so these are more approximation then anything else but sound about right to me...

I always said after 100 mph nothing changes just takes longer watching the needle climb.

 

[Patches]

I always said "nothing good happens after a hundred"

 

[al3]

Deer for all seasons:

The only real disappointment with the 4110 in the background was its inability to lift vintage sleds "the long way" (with fork tines running under the running boards). Just doesn't have enough ompph to do it with snowmobile's engine weight located that far out from the pivot pin. Put the sleds on pallets and lifted the short way. Made stacking the sleds on the 2nd tier of a garage platform a bit of a workout.

 

[Rockbadchild]

nice collection

 

[ArlyA]

Not a fast sled seen here. That is me operating it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Not a fast sled seen here. That is me operating it. View attachment 2173203

is that a scandic Arly ?

 

[Rockbadchild]

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on expedition or a scandic...

 

[D'oh]

I'm not sure which way you mean "Lead". Were they always out in front, or a lead weight like you use for fishing? I do recall that they were one of the first liquid cooled sleds, although the JD Liquifire was right behind them.

Edit; I just answered my own question.
From this site;

1974 Mercury Sno-Twister

When the history of snowmobile racing is written there will be a select few sleds that will be recognized for totally dominating the competition. The 1974 Sno-Twister was just such a sled. It arrived at the time when Mercury Marine had decided to go racing after manufacturing sleds that had...

www.snowtechmagazine.com

This thread has gotten me to search out vintage sled sites and articles, and brought back some good memories.

My Nemesis was a 340 Sno Twister at Radar Runs

After graduating from a 1980 3500 Citation, to a 1979 300 Enticer, I wound up Twisting Wrenches at a Doo Dealership, bought a 1981 7500 Blizzard in a box.

Found a Doner 1980 354 Rotax, nicely Craved and Polished (Bosch Ign) and started working on it for Radars Runs. The Polaris Dealer's Tech had a 76 340 Sno Twister, and it would be me and him at every run. The thing looked like it weighed 1/2 of the Blizzard and was probably short 10-15hp, but it was quick, especially on Colder days.

I recall, leading 1 event most of the day. Putting down a run 3 mph faster than he could get, and before the track got chewed up. Close to the end he beat me by 2 mph.

I went over and asked "Where did that come from?" He said "I dropped 5 Sizes in Main Jets" A Rotax wouldn't have even started, (pun, but they liked Rich)

 

[IndyIan]

I never got into snowmobiles but I always wanted to challenge my friend to a drag race against my CBR. Problem was finding parallel road and field long enough for the challenge.

Stock 800 or 1000 sled? With perfect grip the sled might win the 100 yrd dash, but after that it should be all bike. Big engine drag sleds are a whole different thing though, those are quick!

 

[skipmarcy]

Our one & only snowmobile we had in my childhood back in CT in the '60s was a 1964 Larson my father bought/traded for. It had an 18 hp 2 stroke. It was tough to get it going good with me and my friend Jim on back if the snow was deep. I used to pull him around the pastures on his snow skis until he snagged a looped piece of barbed wire one time and face-planted badly. During warmer weather I jury-rigged some lawn mower wheels in place of the skis and we rode around the field out back some but it wasn't comfortable and the wheels didn't last long either.

 

[LHF2019]

Stock 800 or 1000 sled? With perfect grip the sled might win the 100 yrd dash, but after that it should be all bike. Big engine drag sleds are a whole different thing though, those are quick!

I can't remember. This would have been at least 15 years ago. I just remember we talked about it since I rode my bike year around. Sounded like a fun challenge.

 

[airbiscuit]

Our one & only snowmobile we had in my childhood back in CT in the '60s was a 1964 Larson my father bought/traded for. It had an 18 hp 2 stroke. It was tough to get it going good with me and my friend Jim on back if the snow was deep. I used to pull him around the pastures on his snow skis until he snagged a looped piece of barbed wire one time and face-planted badly. During warmer weather I jury-rigged some lawn mower wheels in place of the skis and we rode around the field out back some but it wasn't comfortable and the wheels didn't last long either.

My cousin had a Larson. Great looking machine, but unreliable.

 

[mulitweed]

View attachment 2152928
In the "I'm going to fix it someday" category... This was the last new sled which my father bought, a 1973 Panther 400. He gave it to me about 25 years ago. I ran it until it started running poorly, plus the track was tired and you don't just go out and buy a 126x17" track.
I have the old leopard skin seat as well as a new windshield stored in my shed.

would be a nice one to restore

 

[Jstpssng]

would be a nice one to restore

It really won't take much, every so often I go out to it and pull the starter rope to make sure it still turns over. I am no mechanic and parked it because I couldn't figure out what was going on. I now realize the condenser was getting weak. I need to get it under cover so that it stops deteriorating... working on a building this weekend. At this point all suspension bearings probably need to be replaced but the biggest problem will be finding something for a track.
And maybe ditch that Walbro carb for a Mikuni.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Everybody made snowsleds back in the '70s. Evinrude, Johnson, Mercury, all got into the game. Plus there were hundreds of smaller companies which either failed or merged with somebody else. Now there are only two remaining; Polaris and Bombardier.

The John Deere was liquid cooled if I remember correctly.

Liquid Fire I recall. Friends had a couple of 440’s.
My 2000 Mach 1 triple triple and my 2020 850

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Whats considered vintage these days? The newest sled I had was a 2001 SRX 700, wish I hadn't sold it, that thing was FAST! I grew up riding late 70's and early 80's Yamahas though. Started with an Artic Cat Kitty Cat when I was like 5 then a Yamaha Sno-Scoot then a Yamaha Bravo 250 in my teens. Doubt I will ever get back into sleds though, they are just way too expensive now days.

My very not stock 98 SRX was hands down the best and fastest (135 mph) sled I ever owned. I should have kept it.

 

[mulitweed]

It really won't take much, every so often I go out to it and pull the starter rope to make sure it still turns over. I am no mechanic and parked it because I couldn't figure out what was going on. I now realize the condenser was getting weak. I need to get it under cover so that it stops deteriorating... working on a building this weekend. At this point all suspension bearings probably need to be replaced but the biggest problem will be finding something for a track.
And maybe ditch that Walbro carb for a Mikuni.

vintage sled site is good for info, lots of parts for sale there too

 

[Hay Dude]

I just want a used sled that runs good. Not worried about winning races or high performance. Snow around here is pretty rare, so when it hits, you have to be ready to roll, not wrenching.
Well-used sleds are typically problems. Mine would run great in the garage, then when the snow fell, it would need something, even if the fuel was non ethanol and fresh.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Only rode a snowmobile once outside of Breckenridge,CO on a tour. WHAT A HOOT!! Sadly most of my adult life took me in the opposite direction of the snow. But I can easily see how fun it would be to spend a day out on the trails with good buddies, using the sled to haul firewood out of the bush, taking it out to the ice shack for a day of fishing. Seems like for most of you though this climate change has not been kind to the sport. Seems like a frivolous thing to store all year for one or two good rips a season.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Only rode a snowmobile once outside of Breckenridge,CO on a tour. WHAT A HOOT!! Sadly most of my adult life took me in the opposite direction of the snow. But I can easily see how fun it would be to spend a day out on the trails with good buddies, using the sled to haul firewood out of the bush, taking it out to the ice shack for a day of fishing. Seems like for most of you though this climate change has not been kind to the sport. Seems like a frivolous thing to store all year for one or two good rips a season.

yes they are, for my area because of the swamp, creek and rivers we are limited to where or how far we can go on a quad, the combination of winter and snowmobile open the horizon up for use.