the snowmobile thread

[Jstpssng]

Those old machines sure were a lot of work! A good night of riding was 50 miles, 1 belt and two sets of plugs. A bad night was walking out of the woods with a flashlight!

Our first machine was a new 1966 Arctic Cat with an 8hp 4stroke Kohler. (How my parents got that, along with the tote sled, under the Chrismas tree in the living room, I'll never know!!) A long ride was to see my grandparents... about a 1/2 mile ride.

 

[ByronBob]

1996 Yamaha V-Max 600 DLX

This is a 2 up sled I picked up a few years ago for a few grand. Mint sled but boy does it suck gas.

Also have a Ski Doo Touring E LT 2 I bought new. Back then this little 377cc machine new was $3999. I have over 5k miles on this sled with the original belt still in it. Never had a problem with it.

My son's 7. I'll be shopping for him soon too. I ask myself like a lot of people why bother owning a snowmobile. I guess I love it too much to give up. When the conditions are mint it's just a day of fun.

 

[JimR]

Those old machines sure were a lot of work! A good night of riding was 50 miles, 1 belt and two sets of plugs. A bad night was walking out of the woods with a flashlight!

The only time I ever wore out a belt was if the vari-drive wasn't working properly. I do agree that they were a lot of work to keep the suspension underneath right.

 

[K7147]

Was out most of today on the sled. Refuse to ride on the crowded weekends with the "crazies"! We still need more snow!
Here is a picture of the present ride. We split riding time between New England and Canada.

Ken

 

[escavader]

All I have right now is my father's old '73 Panther. (I wanted a classic sled.) It ran good 2 years ago but hasn't been started since. I fear a few issues on startup, at the very least the 34 YO track is toast. If I can get it running I'll be riding it to (NOT in) the OneLunger race in Turner next month.

So Alan, is your sled a Summit for climbing those mountains? Glad to hear you are getting some riding in. Considering this winter and last, a lot of businesses are really hurting.

HI,
My sled is a 99 formula z 583,ive done a few mods to.My friend dave rides a polaris 700 mt machine[longtrack].I usually can go anywhere he can ,only because of the weight difference and 7 years of knowing this machine like the back of my hand.7000 miles without a problem,lots of maintanance,18 miles per gallon [trailriding].This has been an awesome sled,i could buy a new one ,but i love this one.Ive climbed BLACK NUBBLE,several times[proposed wind mill tower site] crocker mt,parts of BIGELOW.Hurricane and PHILLIPS in weld spotted in RANGELYvery top OF COBURN IN THE FORKS,KENNEBAGO[EASY ONE]and every mt and hill in between and my best was i broke trail up to the top of MT ABRAHAM in 2 1/2 feet of powderfirst try,and my buddys couldnt believe it!!!!!!!What a rush sitting up there on top of the world We seldom stay on the trails ,like to ride the back country.Been nabbed by the US BORDER PATROL a few times too ,its a blast riding the border slash
Nice sleds guys.MY vintage tins included a 71 skidoo olympic 335,a 73 skidoo elan 250,tinker ,tinker tinker,boy times have changed
My motto is who needs a gym? I can get all the excercise i need digging out my buryed sled and my buddys When they are pointed straight up it aint to bad
ALAN

 

[plowking]

Ya, my family and I are sledheads. We run Polaris, Skidoo, one Yamaha and have been able to go up to Pittsburg and Errol, Nash Stream and Milan the last couple of weekends. Could still use some more snow but main trails are decent. I belong to a snowmobile site [ HCS] and have same user name over there. We have been debating over there about the fact NH has a 45 mph speed limit for sleds where other states don't, but our trails seem to be narrow except for some areas compared to Maine. plowking

 

[pekabu]

Hey Escavader. I have the same sled. I ride a 98 Formula Z 670 with a M10 skid. I haven't ridden yet, nor I have I groomed. Were all set and ready. Another bummer year for Southern NH.

 

[escavader]

You folks from NEWHAMPSHIRE ought to have good snow up in PITTSBURG.I trucked it the RANGELY area last weekend it was pretty good.I use to ride over to pittsburg all the time ,before politics got in the way,and we had to register in each others states.Your trails were nice.Nothing wrong with 45 mph,its plenty fast enough.One should look around and enjoy the ride,its not a NASCAR track,well ok mabey sometimes I also was on that snowmobile site for a while using the escavader name.A feller from NEWHAMPSHIRE helped me diagnose my faulty fuel gauge on there.The 583 and 670 are great motors tried and true.SKIDOO doesnt make the rotory anymore,i cant say about the new ones,cause i never tried one.One of my buddys has a mxz 583 and has had good luck with his too. Anytime you guys want to meet up for a ride give me a pm ,i go most every weekend ,im a sled junky
ALAN

 

[JimR]

Hhhm, you guys are making me want to buy a sled now. I guess it would be a good year down here to buy one. We have had no snow to ride on this year. That was the reason I sold my sleds years ago. Two years of very little snow and three sleds sitting around doing nothing.

 

[escavader]

JIM R,
Its a buyers market out there.2winters with very little snow ,dealers have sleds to un load.Maines uncle henrys magazine has a ton of sleds that aernt moving .People dont want to invest alot of money in something that you get to ride only if you trailer,or a couple times a year.One would rather buy an atv.Unless one had that stupid thumb twitch disease every time you see a snow flake,like me
ALAN

 

[JimR]

JIM R,
Its a buyers market out there.2winters with very little snow ,dealers have sleds to un load.Maines uncle henrys magazine has a ton of sleds that aernt moving .People dont want to invest alot of money in something that you get to ride only if you trailer,or a couple times a year.One would rather buy an atv.Unless one had that stupid thumb twitch disease every time you see a snow flake,like me
ALAN

Your right about it being a buyers market. I know where there is a really nice Ski Doo for sale. It has been sitting on that same trailer in the same spot now for well over a year. I can't afford a new one or even a slightly used one. All my funds are going intot he old farm resto project. But I sure can buy a beater to just have fun with. Wait a minute, we don't have any snow. (8`)

 

[DK35vince]

I ran my 1997 Polaris, for sale in a couple local papers last month.
Never recieved a single phone call.
Not a good winter to try selling a sled..

 

[JimR]

I ran my 1997 Polaris, for sale in a couple local papers last month.
Never recieved a single phone call.
Not a good winter to try selling a sled..

People here in MA. are trying to trade sleds for motorcycles and atv's already. maybe I should trade one of my extra motorcycles for one. Now that is an idea I never thought about.

 

[pekabu]

People here in MA. are trying to trade sleds for motorcycles and atv's already.

Problem with ATV's is there isn't much of a trail system. There are some trails here and there in NH, Maine has more. Nothing like snowmobiles, but no snow is just as bad.

There is riding in Pittsburg, Diamond Pond, Groveton, Errol NH but that's a couple hours drive. Two many small kids right now.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

We finally got some decent snow!

 

[JimR]

Bob,

That is one fine looking machine you got there. It sure looks good in the snow. How fast can it go? Does it have suspension?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Bob,

That is one fine looking machine you got there. It sure looks good in the snow. How fast can it go? Does it have suspension?

There are leaf springs on the smaller wheels to soften the ride but the big rear wheel has no suspension springs or shocks. The ride is really pretty good overall.

As for speed, it simply doesn't have any. Top speed is a bit over 20mph. On the other hand, it will climb slopes that are impossible to walk up. These things are geared low for mountain work not geared up for speed. They can literally climb a mountain without breaking a sweat. Despite its small size and light weight (aluminum body) it can carry 7 passengers (cramped) with thier gear and still tow another 1000# on a trailer through the snow. I've not done it (yet) but while this thing is about the size of a Ford Escort, it is supposed to be able to pull a snowbound truck out of a ditch. I don't doubt it could do it. It has more traction than most traditional tractors.

 

[JimR]

Bob,

How much does your Snow Trac weigh and what kind of a motor does it have? Does this have a 3 or 4 speed transmision or is it one speed?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

4 speed sycromesh transmission.
4 cylinder 54hp engine. Early models had a 40hp engine.
Weight is roughly 2500# with a ground pressure of approximately 0.7psi (loaded).
It can climb a 70% grade driving forward, a 90% grade in reverse, while fully loaded with 7 passengers and a half ton of gear.

 

[JimR]

Hi Bob,

Are you sure about that 90 degree grade in reverse? That is straight up.