Well this weekend was busy. Picked up that 98 PS and droped it off at a friends house that knows alot more about sleds than I do. He looked it over called a couple his budy's over tht are artic cat guys to stop over. Being my first sled I had no clue if I was getting ripped off or baught a piece of crap. I felt better when they gave me the thumbs up on the purchase. Now I didn't feel so bad for parting with a grand.
The cat guys gave us some pointers on what we needed to attend too and what to look out for. For the most part they were extremely impressed with my find and didn't find much. First off we found a bolt missing from one of the main rear rollers in the skid. Found some hack job wireing fix on the harness running up to the gage pod. And agreed that the hood that was used as a replacement, from what we don't know. Needs to be held in place better and a gap on the clutch side that needs to be closed up. We replaced that and tryed to fire it up. And managed to flood her pretty good. Noticed that it had the wrong plugs in for an artic cat, who knew? Cleaned up the plugs and managed to fire it up after the cat guys left. And I took it for a test ride in the back field. Everything felt good and smooth. And boy does she scoot along. Came back parked her in the garage. And made a game plan for sunday to tear the rear skid and jack shaft out. To double check bearings and change the chain case oil.
Got over there sunday after noon and percided to tear into her. Soon we realize that the boot on the rear wheel on the skid has been missing for some time. The bearing and plastic bushing are shot. Continue on and find the rest of the skid to be in great shape. Track is still the original and has seen better day's. Pull the clutch and chain case apart and right away we sense a bad bearing some where. Procide to pull the shaft out and find two issues. One, the pin that connects the speedo cable to the shaft is missing
(we didn't realize this till latter). I learned along time ago not to trust the odomiters on my atv's and such. Chances of them being legit are slim. Second one bearing on the shaft is well not completely shot. But is on its way out.
Since dennis kirk is a short drive away. We decide since we got it apart might as well replace the two bearings on the shaft and the upper bearing in the chain case. Along with the bearings in both rear wheels on the skid along with the one bad bushing. Well that turned into two bushings along the way as my buddy some how managed to bust the only good one. We were in and out of dennis kirk with in minutes. With everything we needed and a four "correct" spark plugs (still don't understand that one). And were back to the garage in an hour and a half.
Why is tearing down alway's the easy part. Shouldn't it be the assembly? Any way we managed to put the skid and track back together with a little kicking and swearing. And to have a suprise when a zert on the skid pulls out stuck to the grease gun. We replaced that with a self tapper. Put the shaft in, buttoned up the chain case with new oil. And as we were going to put the clutch back on. One of guys said were's the little pin for the speedometer. After a failed search we figure t couldn't have been in there or we wouldn't have missed it. But continue to install the clutch and button everything up. I'll have to pick up a new pin and install it latter.
Fired her up and let the two that did all the work take the her out for a few more shake down test runs. Come back and give me there impressions of the PS. And they agree she's got some balls and is pretty fast. At least to 80 or so. A few things still need to be attended to. But no atleast I know now that everythings up to snuff and ready for this season. And for a 1K dollar sled that only requred $70 worth of parts. I'm extremely happy with my purchase. Don't think I would have found a better deal any where!
Which brings up a couple questions.
What does the stock clutching engage at?
Mine was jumping in at 5K or so.
Also what is the stock gearing for the PS?
We found my sled to have 18/19 (can't remember) to 42.
I'll get a pic up tommorow.