1980 Polaris Apollo..

[ggsled]

I can thank my brother for getting into a vintage project. I have new sleds but there is something to be said about the old ones. When I first got it I was just going to ride it and do nothing. I still am not going to "break the bank" on it but I thought hey, I can make it pretty. I am doing it slowly. I am certainly NOT a mechanic so I need to depend on friends who are and repay them with food. I wasn't going to do anything until it was dependable, or at least as much as it could be. It now runs like a champ however the brakes are another issue. There are none...

They bleed out fine however the lever will not hold pressure. So now I will need to figure something out for that. I have removed the suspension as you can see from the photos and took off the skis and sent them to be sand blasted and powder coated. I would like to find a portable unit so I can hit the tunnel and such to get rid of the stickers and rust.

The hood is another deal. I have not been able to locate Apollo decals as of yet so I am going to hold off for now and just do the easier areas. With time It will be a fun sled for my little niece and nephew.
Someday when I can figure out why the photos won't upload I will show you.....HMMMMM


http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/ggsled/library/

 

[kirk600]

What a great little sled, the Apollo. A good friend had one brand new, and rode that thing every day after school. Terrorized the town until one day he got t-boned by another sled and crunched the tunnel. He still talks about it from time to time.
Welcome to the world of vintage sleds ggsled. If you have a photobucket account, you can post pics there, then copy the "IMG" code here.
It sounds like you need a new master cylinder. They do have rebuild kits but they can be rather difficult to remove from the handlebars. It seems electrolysis takes a pretty firm grip. Electrolysis is a chemical reaction between two or more dis similar metals that causes them to bond. The master cylinder is aluminium and the bolt is steel, and my experience has been failure both times I tried to remove one.

Good luck in your newest project.

 

[skiroule]

I can thank my brother for getting into a vintage project. I have new sleds but there is something to be said about the old ones. When I first got it I was just going to ride it and do nothing. I still am not going to "break the bank" on it but I thought hey, I can make it pretty.

Can I ever relate to this. You're right though, there is just something about these old sleds. This sounds like a great project and hopefully you'll be able to post some pics in the near future.

I have a box full of master cylinders but don't think any of them are functioning - all have some type of issue. Like Kirk said, I have seen kits and they can be rebuilt or you could maybe find a working one. I'm guessing most of the Polaris models of that vintage used the same master cylinder. If you still need one by then I'll keep my eye out for one at Waconia in a few weeks. Sometimes they can be found in a pile of stuff on a swapper's table.

"Terrorizing the town" on an Apollo. I love it.

 

[lincolnwood]

I hope you can get some pics posted soon, would love to see it.

 

[ggsled]

I will try the photobucket route. It is weird. I have posted things before.

Thank you very much for the encouragement...

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you all for the encouragement...

 

[ggsled]

Can I ever relate to this. You're right though, there is just something about these old sleds. This sounds like a great project and hopefully you'll be able to post some pics in the near future.

I have a box full of master cylinders but don't think any of them are functioning - all have some type of issue. Like Kirk said, I have seen kits and they can be rebuilt or you could maybe find a working one. I'm guessing most of the Polaris models of that vintage used the same master cylinder. If you still need one by then I'll keep my eye out for one at Waconia in a few weeks. Sometimes they can be found in a pile of stuff on a swapper's table.

"Terrorizing the town" on an Apollo. I love it.

I may be going to Waconia also. I have never been. My brother is is very much into vintage and my dad and I may take a ride. Not sure if I should bring the sled or not...

 

[ggsled]

It has brakes....
I was up till 2am working on this thing last night. I replaced both orings in the slave cylinder, replace the one oring in the master. The dealer that I got those from did not have the pack seal so I did not replace it. I was fighting this thing all night last night. Finally I unloaded one of my other sleds in the trailer and drug this thing in it. Loaded up all the parts, strapped it down and went to bed. I was so disgusted...
Brought it into work with me thins morning. Opened the trailer and my technicians just stared at me...
I said,I'll buy you lunch if you get the brakes to work."
They took out there hand pump power bleeder, I went to my office and 3 hours later they came to me and said whats for lunch????
Wow, maybe finally I'll be able to ride it once... we will see....

 

[kirk600]

Glad to hear you finally got brakes.......those things can be a real
bear. My best luck bleeding these old sleds has been fill up the
Master cylinder, leave the cap off, and slowly pump the brake lever.

The air rises to the top in any system. I do motorcycles the same way......
You just have to keep the fluid level up and be careful not to spill any, or clean it up right away...

 

[skiroule]

My best luck bleeding these old sleds has been fill up the
Master cylinder, leave the cap off, and slowly pump the brake lever.

For a minute I thought you were going to say "and have about four beers." Sometimes that works.

I was up till 2am working on this thing last night. I replaced both orings in the slave cylinder, replace the one oring in the master. The dealer that I got those from did not have the pack seal so I did not replace it. I was fighting this thing all night last night. Finally I unloaded one of my other sleds in the trailer and drug this thing in it. Loaded up all the parts, strapped it down and went to bed. I was so disgusted...

Yep, been through all of that with one thing or another. Sometimes it becomes a battle of wills and sometimes the sled wins.

If you can score a ride to Waconia, by all means take it. There are few if any events that have as many vintage sleds in one place. I will probably bring a sled again this year. Kind of fun to have a sled there to ride. You can ride around most of the grounds and also do some riding on the lake. There is an organized vintage ride (about 10 miles I think) but I've yet to take it.

 

[sledfam]

Glad to hear you've got brakes!! Sounds like you got one **** of an awesome, good looking brother.......
Now that your project is done, maybe you should go over and help him with one of his!

Waconia or bust!!

 

[skiroule]

Ah, the trouble making brother I assume.

Will most likely riding the 76 Cyclone up and down the lake front. If you see one, good chance it's me.

 

[ggsled]

Ah, the trouble making brother I assume.

Will most likely riding the 76 Cyclone up and down the lake front. If you see one, good chance it's me.

HAHAHA.. Yep, for sure the brother...
looking forward to Waconia...

 

[sledfam]

Viking to the Rescue

Waconia 2016 is in the books and was fantastic!

here's a couple pics of the ggsled's Apollo "in action".........



ggsled on his Apollo staging for the Ride In with my son on the Viking:




The Viking to the rescue!



great time!

 

[skiroule]

Waconia 2016 is in the books and was fantastic!

great time!

Excellent!

I actually saw your brother riding the Apollo in the parking lot (it was running then) and both sleds sitting by the trailer. When I saw the Apollo little did I realize that it was him. How far did she make it on the ride?

Hopefully you will be back next year and it will be a little colder with a bit more snow.

Nice Viking by the way.

 

[sledfam]

Excellent!

I actually saw your brother riding the Apollo in the parking lot (it was running then) and both sleds sitting by the trailer. When I saw the Apollo little did I realize that it was him. How far did she make it on the ride?

Hopefully you will be back next year and it will be a little colder with a bit more snow.

Nice Viking by the way.

He made it exactly 1/2 way.....180 degrees from the start of course! The driven clutch acted up.....
what were you riding Skiroule?

 

[skiroule]

He made it exactly 1/2 way.....180 degrees from the start of course! The driven clutch acted up.....
what were you riding Skiroule?

I didn't go on the trail ride but I had the 76 Cyclone along to ride around on the lake and on the grounds - not a rocket but it's been extremely reliable. If you saw this sled it would have been me.

 

[sledfam]

I didn't go on the trail ride but I had the 76 Cyclone along to ride around on the lake and on the grounds - not a rocket but it's been extremely reliable. If you saw this sled it would have been me.

For sure! Love the Cyclone......very cool!
Hope to meet you next year!

 

[skiroule]

Yes, maybe I can join you on the ride next year. I do plan to be there.

 

[sledfam]

Yes, maybe I can join you on the ride next year. I do plan to be there.

Sounds good!