I give a few pointers on what to look for when buying an vintage snowmobile, things to look for and things to make you run away as fast as you can!! Of course there are other things to look for - but this is a good start.
bought a sled not to long ago a 1976 skiroule laser 440+ for $25 that had been sitting behind a guys garage for two years brought it home got it started was pumped took it for a ride and sized the motor and broke the pull cord hopefully though she'll be ready for next year wish i watched this before i took it for a ride to check my bearings
Before buying check with Parts suppliers and make sure you can get parts for them. I bought a 1981 Alpine only to learn I cannot get replacement tracks. Yes, I have checked with everyone.
I wish I would have watched this before I bought my elan, my chaincase must have had a lower seal crack, didn't have any oil in there when I bought it. gas tank has leaks, shaft cogs were yellow, track was worn to almost nothing, under the seat and on the whole right side of the snowmobile was rusted holes. And now I believe my lower sprocket in my chaincase is stripped... :/
It's super easy to register in wisconsin. you don't need a bill of sale or anything. You just need to get the vin number off the sled. I've done it before
You should do a maintenance video on each if the old popular sleds you have. With tips on issues each model suffers from, that would be a great series!
45 years ago, my brother had a 292 JLO with a high compression head and a expansion chamber pipe in his 68 Foxtrac and he could run away from all the other sleds of that era (late 60's) - except for my 69 Skidoo Olympic 399. I like the Tillotson carbs too, easy to repair in the field. I would add 1 thing - look for bent or previously broken steering components.This was a good video, thanks.
Thanks for the tips! I just picked up a 72 elan for an extra kid's sled, sure enough those crank bearings have some play. Price was right though, somebody was cleaning out his barn.
I just acquired a 1995 grand touring rotax 580 skidoo Have not been used for 10 years only have 6000 km Should this still run fine or any issues to be aware of Thanks
I just wanted to thank you for your videos. In my part of Ontario, snow has started coming back after arguably a generation without much to speak of, and I'm rebuilding my grandparents' '73 Olympique 340 and '78 Elan Deluxe 250. (you know, skidoos that actually had windshields and were light enough to lift out by hand when you got stuck?) I'm sure you already know this, but the Bombardier skidoo repair manual from 1970-79 is available online in pdf format - all models except the Nordic 399 that I grew up with... I need to do some research and find out why! Best wishes, C
hey loui, im a teenager and i am a really big sled fan. just last year i got my dream sled a 1977 250 enticer, it was the greatest moment i had in my life...the sled is in really great condition and never had its engine replaced and all the problems you talked about never appeared, thanks for the info!
it was only 500$, it has a good track on it so i think it was an excellent deal especially if the engine has really good compresion an engine you can't kil! :)
One of my neighbors has an old 250 enticer, I've got a 91 indy 340 sport and I love it to death, I might challenge my neighbor to a drag race some time
I just got a great deal on a 1990 Yamaha Phazer for $150 when I opened it up turns out the rod was bent. Glad I got a good deal on the sled cause I'll have to rebuild the entire motor. But in the end the sled only has 5300 kms so I think its a good deal.
Just picked up a 1970 ski doo black dot 292 with the slide rail suspension, been sitting for many years up here in a Michigan barn, checked all the seals, cogs, etc you gotta expect some type of problem though especially if your up here in the northern states states so just saying if you only got a couple problems, especially if its a rare sled. PICK IT UP, GET IT OUT OF THE BARN BEFORE IT ROTS AWAY. Pick it up even if you don't want to keep it you can sell it to a collector who would do a complete restoration or maintain it and turn it into a rat sled
Excellent video. I noticed you are using yellow fuel line. Is that the Tygon line which is compatible with ethanol gas? If so, where are you buying it and how much are you paying for it? I've been using Tygon line for a couple years and am very satisfied with it, but it's costing me a small fortune from my supplier.
That's a good deal right there, I got a free tundra that hadn't started in two years and had all the gas left in it but my friend started it right up with one pull, I'm gonna sell the thing now
followed the instructions in this vid and bought a 73 moto-ski grand sport 440, needs nothing, got it for 300 bucks with an extra track, drive axle, and 3 brand new skis for it
Hey Lou I am looking at an élan 250 single and it doesn't run but has good compression and spark and turns over good I think it needs a carb cleaning and it is in really good cosmetic shape it's 350 American dollars should I buy it?
@lshobie Hey there. I got a 1974 elan 250 given to me. I just turned 15 today. And I have a lot of experience with sleds. ( I have a summit 600 as well ) I need to know how to take out the gas tank as it has old dead gas in it and I am trying to get it running. Please gel
Hey ishobie, I just got my dads 1965 ski doo running. do you think you know what model it is? where can you get a rebuild kit for the tilitson carb? doi you know how to pull the gas tank off because i think it is stuck to the frame and needs to be cleaned out it is very dirty and rusty. Thanks
I have a 1971 mercury 250 snowmobile and I am having trouble keeping it running. It idles like a champ but as soon as I give it some gas it just dies I'm thinking its the fuel pump? And if it is we're do I get one?
I know a guy who has a 1967 Snow cruiser 157 that he is thinking about selling to me. It does not run but it looks like new, he thinks the carb is seized (only the carb), would these things still apply to this sled, because the sled in the vid is newer than the cruiser. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD GAMBLE TO BUY THIS SNOW CRUISER?
that sounds like its just your plugs! if you haven't already figured out what's rong with it change them out! or It might just be the carb adjustments!
So anyone out there with an old vintage sled that has been sitting and someone shows up to buy it and they have watched this video, Take my advice, Just dump the sled in the trash. Anyone that would pick over a old snowmobile like that is out of line thinking it should have no problems. It is crazy to think a 10 year old snowmobile wont have problems. So to think a 30 year old sled wont is just dump!
What a joke, just by a newer one then 30,40 50 yr old sled ,and make sure the seat is good, and all the bogee wheels are good, and make sure the track isn't showing cracks,I road these dang things when I was a kid,you lost half the damn boogies when you road them, in other words find a fully restored one, and pay the price tag, and don't be a Jew about it.or buy one in the real world and expect to be restoring the thing and call it fun,like the working stiffs that restore old cars.most of these old sleds haven't even been run in 30 yrs.
