Any one on here collect and restore old snowmobiles

JOCCO · Jan 2, 2016

Seems everything has a following somewhere. So what about old sleds any of you dabble with them? How many of you ride newer sleds as a winter hobby?

ditchwitch · Jan 2, 2016

I dont but the guy i bought my 135 massey ferguson from a couple years ago he had 2 massey ferguson snow mobiles. I thought that was pretty cool. I didnt know massey even made those. I did take a picture of them if i can find it i will post it.

johnpop1 · Jan 2, 2016

I owned a 69 440 Ski Whiz in 1971 and a 1972 440 Wide Track Ski Whiz in 1972. For their time, they were very good and very comfortable sleds. Later, MF had a MF branded Scorpion. Deere was in the business for a little while in the 70's also.

RayP(MI) · Jan 2, 2016

Father-in-law had a Massey Ferguson SkiWhiz. Was a suprising good performer compared to a couple larger engined Artic Cats that I got to compare with back in the early '70's, when I took a university class on being a snowmobile safety instructor.

Probably wouldn't hold a candle to today's even low end machines.

Rollie NE PA · Jan 2, 2016

I have a 1972 Arctic cat that I need to get running for my 6 year old grandson.

Phil in Pa · Jan 2, 2016

I'm still running a 77 Panther. Just local around home. I haven't restored it, I was just fortunate to get one that was well taken care of and had some life in it yet.
I learned the hard way years ago, when a sled is all used up, it would take a complete reconstruction to make it a reliable runner again. Too much of a money pit for me.

paul · Jan 2, 2016

No. But, my first snowmobile was a Massey. Wonder how many know they made such a thing - well rebadged and sold such a thing?

My second and sitting in the shed was a JD 300. I probably should let someone restore it. The plastic fuel lines rotted, it actually has very few miles on it.

Paul

gab · Jan 2, 2016

Still have a pristine 79 Yamaha 300 special twin, got it running 2 years ago, polished it all up and was going to sell it, ran it around the house a few times and put it back in the shed, bet it don't have 5 miles on it in the last 20 years.

Bret4207 · Jan 2, 2016

I grew up on a 12.3 hp Ski Doo Olympic. Great sled. Followed that up with a Artic Cat Panther with the 303 Wankel- or as I recall that's what it was. At any rate, it was a really great sled. I miss them both, but those days are gone.

Just for kicks, I recall the following brands in our area back then-

Ski Doo
Evinrude
Johnson
Arctic Cat
Moto Ski
Starcraft or Starkraft
Ski Whiz
Sno Jet
Rupp
Squire
Polaris
Viking
Chaparall
Scorpion
Bolens
Skiroule
John Deere
Snow King or Ski King?
Alouette
Mercury
Ski Daddy or Ski Daddle?
Sears
Sport King
Montgomery Wards

J.Wondergem · Jan 2, 2016

I ride [not yet this year] with my Daughter, Son in law, and Grandsons on the weekends. Not enough snow yet though.

J.Wondergem · Jan 2, 2016

Forgot to say that I had two Speedways in the seventies. Anyone remember them?

Hank ABAB · Jan 2, 2016

Yup.
Have two 1972 Arctic Cat Cheetah 340's.

I bought these used, about 14 years between each purchase.
The serial numbers are only 35 numbers apart.

Maximum speed on packed snow would be about 50 MPH.
They were good old machines - still have them both.

davpal · Jan 2, 2016

I still have two Kawasaki 550's I bought during the 80's. I get them out every year and run them around the farm and do some holeshots. They're pretty quick. Used to ride them hundreds of miles up in the UP of Michigan and the nothern lower parts around Gaylord and Grayling. Ride Arctic Cats now for softer ride,fast,warm and reliable!

Loren in MN · Jan 2, 2016

Had 15 to 20 old ones at one time. Fixed them up or kept them running, shed was full of them. Mostly had Polaris racers and Arctic Cats -had 4 Panthers with side pipes. Still have a few parts, mostly Arctic Cat tracks, a engine mount for a 760 JLO eng. Sold all the extra hoods (even had a purple metalflake Panther hood). Every winter someone would knock on the door asking if I might sell a sled. As my kids were getting older, I sold all but the nicest Panther with side pipes. Finally bought a New 1996 SkiDoo Formula III long trail -custom ordered for almost twice the price of a standard Formula III -paid $8,250 in Feb 1995 with discounted pre-order. Mfg didn't have a long track planned till after the spring annual dealer convention in Florida. Seems mountain riders wanted SkiDoo to offer a long track in the new 600cc triple cyl sled. It has reverse, mirrors, two-up seat with heated hand warmers for the passenger, saddle bags, luggage rack, and cover. I still have it but it was last driven in 1998 and just cleared 600 miles. Hardly a scratch on it.
Have thought about selling but even at $2500 most people try to cut it down saying they can buy any 96 Formula III for $800, so I still have it, kept inside under cover. I used to take the kids to snowmobile rallies around MN before 1995.
Fun times but don't ride anymore.

Spudm · Jan 2, 2016

I remember my Dad had a MF Ski Whiz. He would work on it all the time, had the JLO engine to where it would start on the first pull every time in the barn, but as soon as he took it out on the trails and shut it off, it would not start again, and had to be towed home. He finally bought a new Polaris in'77....

johnlobb · Jan 2, 2016

I remember them! They were the coolest looking sleds! And had some really great free air 3 cylinder engines, really fast!

boler76 · Jan 2, 2016

I just gave my 2 1966- 10.5 hp skidoos to a guy who is redoing old ones, I had one of them new and the other I got when it was 2 yrs old, ran them till the mid 80's

Old weldor · Jan 2, 2016

I started out with a JDX8, then two 80s liquifiers a JD trailfire and an 84 sprintfire. Funny when you get older you lose your enthusiasm for that stuff. I don't own any now.

J.D.Unstyled Farm · Jan 2, 2016

Yes, my first sled was a 1973 Raider 44TT, still have it with only 230 Original miles.

JD John · Jan 2, 2016

Got 4 JD's, 3 that run 440 cyclone, 340 cyclone and a sportfire. JD 800 that needs a little work and it would run.

David G · Jan 2, 2016

Those are beautiful old Kaw's.

showcrop · Jan 2, 2016

I am really into it. I rode my 2013 Arctic Cat F-1100 4 stroke turbo 2,200 miles last winter in ME, NH and VT. It will do 120 easily on a packed surface. We will probably go to Quebec again this winter. Supposed to get together with Chucks Oliver 77 this winter, as he comes up my way to ride. Most of the guys that I ride with are into tractors also. I just got done ordering an air intake kit for the sled, as well as a lighting kit, because we ride a lot after dark. I started out in 1965 on a 1964 Ski-Doo 9.2 HP. I still have it and it is on my list of projects to restore it. Brett 4207: The one you were trying to think of was the Ski-daddler. They got bought out by AMF, and were one of the top sleds for a couple of years.

K Effective · Jan 2, 2016

I have owned over 50 sleds total since my first purchase- a 1975 Polaris Colt 250 SS. Twin cylinder 250 cc with twin carbs. Full cleated track would climb a tree if you got the front end pointed up!

Currently, I still have a 1996 Polaris Indy 500 I bought brand new (only one ever) and put almost every one of the 5600 miles on.
I also have a 2005 SkiDoo MXZ 600 Renegade- wide and long track with the REV chassis (think moto cross bike on skis).

I think snowmobiles have progressed more in the 30 model years I have owned them than any other motorized vehicle, with the possible exception of those forestry harvesters I see on YouTube, and maybe combines. But it is close, either way. I can go out to the barn and start that SkiDoo right now on the second pull, no fuss at all, jump on it and run 300 miles on the trails (if we had enough snow right now), and wake up tomorrow ready to do it all over again, even as an old, fat guy. In the early 90s 300 miles about killed a young, less fat guy like me

Traper · Jan 2, 2016

I still have two panthers with 634 engines also 73 tiger
traper

Super-H-Mike · Jan 2, 2016

I have a 1980 Yamaha 250 Enticer in near mint shape now. Had many sleds over the years, Ski Doo , Mercury, Sno Jet, Herters, Rupp, Artic Cat , Chaparelle , Suzuki, etc. My nieghbor 2 doors down has 20+ of the old ones, Masseys , JDs ,and others. There are shows and vintage rides around here for the old sleds.

welled · Jan 2, 2016

Have two 580 EXT arctic cats and a 1967 Polaris that all run fine. Don't ride as much as I used to. Ran Herters in the 70's. Anybody remember them? Heavy, but good machines

4020 electrician · Jan 2, 2016

I have a 71 and 72 ski-doo elands for the kids. They love them...

D beatty · Jan 2, 2016

I had a Harley Davison snowmobile which was built when AMF owned Harley. Of all the sleds I owned I liked the Scorpion 440 Whips and a Polaris Colt 340 SS free air machine.

marloweg · Jan 2, 2016

first massey were made by massey latter on they were made by scorpion

rusty6 · Jan 2, 2016

Not really a collector but I guess the one I bought new in the fall of 76 would now be considered an antique. Here is a pic of it from about 30 years ago when I used to put quite a few miles on . Back when we had real winters.

blue water massey · Jan 3, 2016

I have a 75 Skidoo TnT
paid 150 bucks for it 2 yrs ago
gave it a clean up n new plugs starts 1st pull
its not pretty but I use it to get around the propery when there's snow

but I'm looking for an early 70's MF Ski Whiz to add to my Massey collection all of which I use

Brad Gyde · Jan 3, 2016

Not too awful long ago I had nearly 30 John Deere sleds, and 2 Ski-Whiz machines.

Sold the last one off last winter.. A super nice 1977 John Deere 340 Liquifire.

Still have a newer Arctic Cat, but have hardly rode for 3 years now.

D beatty · Jan 3, 2016

I had a Polaris Colt 340 SS and we studded the bars on track and that machine would almost climb anything if you could stay on it. With the studded track it did good in drag racing on ice. Being a free air machine I put temp gauges on both heads to keep track of temp. I had to get rid of my sleds after second back operation.

hadley · Jan 3, 2016

My parents and grandparents all had sleds when iwas a kid. My first sled of my own was a 1976? Skiroule 340. Sold it over 20 yrs ago to upgrade to an 85 arctic cat 500. Thought I had died and gone to heaven with that sled. Went to buy a part for it one day in late 90's at local cat store and ended up walking out with a new sled instead. Since then have had quite a few cats and yamahas and even a polaris for the wife. Sold the last of the big sleds last winter after we had our two snowiest winters in 30 yrs and I never even got them off the trailer. I don't miss them a bit! Did keep the kitty kat for the kids though.

Any one on here collect and restore old snowmobiles

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