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  1. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Wow, what a change in weather! 87 yesterday and 49 this evening. Still focusing on the Cyclone. Got the front cross member mounted, dash in, skis on and all the steering components hooked up. Might have to tweak the alignment a little but to say these aren’t a precise steering sled would be an...
  2. skiroule

    Definitely Off Topic

    Speaking of hijacking threads Gary, here's a slightly updated version of the activity (minus the Grain Belt). For some reason, it always feels good to be able to get out in the woods and get a winter supply of wood for the shop.
  3. skiroule

    Definitely Off Topic

    Amazing story and photo Gary. You could have made an ad poster out this scene for the Ski Doo, the McCulloch, or the Grain Belt. I’m sure the prep checklist went something like this: Gas, check, oil, check, Grain Belt, check. I think you’re probably like me in that you feel fortunate that you...
  4. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    That wide track would be an awesome machine for pulling a portable fish house or a sled full of firewood. Yes, I do use an air riveter :). These are 1/2" stainless steel rivets and those of you that have pulled both aluminum and stainless steel know how much more force the stainless require...
  5. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Yeah, it's a lot of rotating mass for sure. After all the work/money I'm putting into it, I'm hoping the belts hang together. Otherwise, it's on to an Indy track/suspension, In my opinion, those Yamahas are diamonds in the rough and very cool sleds. If you look closely (and I'm sure you...
  6. skiroule

    What Will You Be Riding This Year?

    Hopefully some of the same group as last year and maybe a couple of additions. Might sneak in a few miles on the "new" 12 year-old stuff too.
  7. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Still riveting....235 rivets in, about 215 to go. Heckler and Dan, here's a better shot of the Yamaha the guy had for sale. He put it out there for $400 and it went fast. Looks like a pretty decent sled.
  8. skiroule

    Beautiful sunsets or sunrises, what you got?

    Taken tonight on, of all places, the Sunset Channel, Lake of the Woods.
  9. skiroule

    Beautiful sunsets or sunrises, what you got?

    Incredible shots! If you're having a stressful day, I highly recommend this thread. For some reason, the song title "Fire Lake" always comes to mind when I look at this photo.
  10. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    You're always welcome but be prepared to be bored stiff with vintage sled talk. I think that just a case would get you a personal tour and a T-shirt. I believe Mezz mentioned this as well but Chaparral is credited with coming up with the first IFS, like the one on the sled in the photo. And...
  11. skiroule

    Beautiful sunsets or sunrises, what you got?

    Love these threads! Lake of the Woods during the Canadian fires a couple of years ago. Kind of eerie.
  12. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Heckler is spot-on when it comes to availability. In the late 90’s you could pick this stuff up for peanuts, or even free but of course, I wasn’t smart enough to take advantage of that then. Now the guys that know what they have price them accordingly. On flip side, there’s probably stuff...
  13. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Well, it's the least I could do :). Some might think $800 is a lot of money for a rusting hulk but if it's a hard-to-find model you want and you can see the potential, I think it's worth it. I once ponied up $1000 for this 72 650 SS carcass for those very reasons. It took almost 2 years but...
  14. skiroule

    Willys Knight engine

    Very cool and a pretty ingenious idea, using the cylinder sleeve to control fuel flow. Makes one wonder how someone comes up with these ideas.
  15. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Thanks Brian! Fishing was excellent. The condition of this sled won’t require the level of teardown that has occurred on most projects but there are things to be done and I’ll try to include some better shots of how everything goes together. Sat out on the deck for a while tonight watching the...
  16. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    I’ve been using this Devilbiss JGA-502 syphon feed gun off and on for over 50 years. At the time I bought it, it was considered one of the better guns available. I seem to recall I paid $125 for it in 1974, which was a lot of money when you weren’t making very much money. It’s kind of funny...
  17. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Whoa, tough crowd. In my defense, when you get a string of September days like this, you have to fish. The weather on this lake can turn bad in a hurry and when it turns bad, it turns really bad. Fishing aside, I did manage to check off sort of a milestone with the Chaparral paint. I wanted...
  18. skiroule

    Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge

    Awesome car! 429 makes it all business. They really don’t build them like the used to. Now it’s hard to believe that the average person could walk into a showroom and buy one of these, or even better, if you knew the quirks of available options, order a one-off version and have it built. I...
  19. skiroule

    Is it Just Me?

    I agree with you on the size but we can’t legally get up into the eight-pound range in our region of the lake. If I can get something in the 28 – 29” length, which is in the 6.5 pound area, I’m happy. Fortunately, there are a lot of Northerns here in that size category. A couple of years ago, a...
  20. skiroule

    Is it Just Me?

    That thinks the Northern Pike is the best tasting fish we can catch in the upper Midwest. This comes to mind because I fried up a large filet tonight and, as usual, it was excellent, light, and flakier than Walleye in my opinion. My preferred way of cooking them is pan frying in oil using a cast...
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