1980 Polaris TX 340

[fishingful]

Just got my first sled. I have messed around with quads for years but had this one given to me. Free is good. A family member was tired of looking at it in their barn. Long story short one of the kids hit a fence and they parked it. So I am in the process of geting it rideable for this season....if we ever get snow. I am in NE Ohio. Not much trails around here but when Lake Erie is frozen miles to ride. Mainly I want to ride this around our farm and icefish with it.

I have no background with sleds so that's why I am here to hopefully get some pointers along the way. I have already learned a bunch just reading the fourm.

So far I have drained the tank replaced some fuel lines and spark plugs. Put fresh gas in it and after a bit of trying she fired up. Smoked like crazy for a while bus she sat for 7 years so I expected that. I was just out and she started first pull after only running it 3 times.

What I know about this sled is that it has a new rubber track with about 100 miles on it. They drained the carbs before they stored it and it has hit a fence. He wasn't sure the right skis were on the front because the original ones were broke by the kids. Looks like the tie rod, skis and frame on the right front is bent. Also there is a weld cracked on the right front. It seems the rod from the stearing is rubing on the frame and may be bent also. The handles are sideways when the skis are straight. I already replaced the thumb throttle and have the switch for the choke on its way.

Anyhow, pictures are worth a 1000 words. Open to suggestions on where to start. I guess I got it running so that's a start. I wanted to make sure it did before I went further.

 

[fishingful]

For some reason I can't post pictures from my phone.

I will try again when I get to work.

 

[kirk600]

Welcome to the forum Fishing it seems like the problems you have are easy enough to remedy. The steering linkage being bent is familiar, both of mine were bent under the exhaust. The skis should have a single leaf spring on them. If the steering rod that comes out from under the engine is what is rubbing on frame, you should be able to correct that by removing the long steering rod from between skis, straighten it and reinstall it. Just remove the long rod with tie rod ends attached, not the steering arms on top of the spindle. That should get you an idea if something else is bent.
To post pictures, you need to upload them to a hosting site like photobucket, then copy and paste the "IMG" code over here. I am sure someone has posted more details somewhere here.
Looking forward to more details......
Kirk

 

[fishingful]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know if they could be bent back or not. I posted a link above to the pictures. The rod that comes from the steering goes through the frame and that's where the frame is bent. Guess my first step will be to try and get the frame as straight as I can and work back from there.

 

[kirk600]

Alright,
After looking at those pictures it does appear the chassis is indeed bent, and the left ski assembly or just the spring, . Has been changed....
To address the chassis, you are probably going to need a good welder....The chassis is indeed bent, and it is made of aluminum, so you have very little chance of bending it back without breaking it..........a competent welder could replace/reinforce the piece thats bent.
It may require removing the belly pan, as well as exhaust and spindles,steering and skis.... When you have this stuff removed you can replace what is damaged...
The left ski/spring ski assembly has multiple leafs in the spring, and it appears it also has a widening kit on it. What that does is moved the ski out from the center line of the spindle, making the sled wider which some say helps it handle better. But only having it on one side is not going to help you out much. Some also call them ski spreaders if you want to search for pictures on the web.
Most of my parts I have found via internet, salvage yards and swap meets. Although Most of the good parts have come from members on this site. And the help on here has been priceless!
Don't get discouraged, it looks like it can be fixed a and its already running.. Better start than most. Have a welder inspect it, maybe find another chassis for the piece you need and your halfway there. Good luck

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry about typings, riding thru Nebraska in a truck. Lol

 

[fishingful]

Awsome thank you. I will have to check around for a good welder. I haven't done that in years. I did not notice the different ski. We don't really have bone yards like you guys do up there but I will keep my eyes out for one. I would like to get my hands on one. Thanks for the reply.

 

[kirk600]

Here is a picture from last winter, when I replaced the pan on my TXL 340. This shows how the chassis is supposed to look.
You can view more pictures in my TXL thread

 

[skiroule]

I looked at the photos as well. That must have been some fence.

These are nice running little sleds and would probably last longer than one would expect if it were repaired. I've used my 79 TX for ice fishing and it worked pretty well, although I didn't pull a sled with it. Also, it was very cold (-20...-30). Those free air engines love those temps - 30+ above, not so much. On a flat lake it is simply a blast to ride.

I guess it comes down to how much time and effort you want to put into it. In any case it will need the engine and pan removed for sure. Could be a tough pull to straighten that cross member and like Kirk said, it will most likely crack (I've seen these cracked just from normal riding stress). Maybe you could get lucky and get it close enough for low speed riding without welding (emphasis on low) but these things like to go fast so it's hard to stay off the throttle.

The whole front frame and cross member can be removed and replaced by drilling out all of the tunnel rivets but it's not a real easy job.Probably the best answer is to find another chassis and swap the engine and drive train over but as you mentioned, parts might be hard to come by in your area. Once again, it's too bad I'm so far away as I run across chassis for sale pretty regularly here in MN for $50 - $100 but shipping has become insanely expensive for large items.

If you decide to tear into it, we'd like to see a thread on the project. As I'm sure Kirk can tell you, having people follow your project can be very motivational.

 

[fishingful]

Thanks for the info. For ice fishing we rarely go over 20 mph. We can only ride on lake erie and the ice is not so smooth. We have alot of shove ice, cracks and ridges. It does not look like the lake will be safe or frozen at all. We haven't even gotten snow yet. Grass is this wierd shade of green still lol. Finaly was in the low 20s this morning here.

I am going out now to pull off the tie rod. Hopefully before next year I can either find a new frame or repair this one. I would like to just get it to move this year.

 

[fishingful]

Here are the photos

 

[fishingful]

Got a few things done yesterday.
Looks like this is OK from the wrecked side.


Tie rod is a little bent.


Found another crack.


Tie rod from the steering is rubbing on the frame.


Got the new choke switch installed. Now I don't have to use vice grips.



- - - Updated - - -

The engine.

 

[kirk600]

Looks like it's coming apart good. You should be able to straighten the steering rod, check the chassis to make sure it's not rubbing after you reinstall it.

The spindle on the side that is bent, does it angle back from the belly pan,? It is supposed to angle forward like the opposite side. Not sure how much, probably 15 or 20 degrees would be my guess. That is the part where you need someone to inspect it, as in a. Good welder.
There are plastic bushings on the bottom of the frame also, where the spindle goes through it. They keep the steel spindle from wearing the aluminum.

 

[fishingful]

The spindle on the side that is bent is leaning forward because the frame is bent that way. I don't think the spindle is bent but the ski may be a little. The piece that sits on top of it in the picture above actually hits the belly pan in the front.

 

[fishingful]

Well got the tie rod straight tonight. Just patching it up so I can use it this season and Ice fish. Finally getting cold here.

 

[kirk600]

Good job on the steering. It looks like you put a new piece of pipe over the original........which should add some strength.

If you remove the spindle on the side where the chassis is bent, put a long rod of some sort in the spindle hole, and try to move it........
If you watch the crack in the chassis, you will be able to see it. If it moves easily, you might want it welded up before you hit a chunk of ice and that ski separates itself from your sled.

 

[fishingful]

Well got her back together and took it for a run across the property tonight. This thing is scarey fast. It was my first ride on a sled. Ended up jacking the wrecked side ski back in again. The ski was bent so need a new one. It was fun but need to learn how to lean for turns. I have the frame mostly straight. Just need to work on it some more.

Good thing is I have a good engine so if I can find another sled with a good body I can swap the motor and belt off of this one.

 

[skiroule]

Good job on getting her back on the snow and you're right, even with their relatively small displacement engines these things move out pretty well. It definitely helps that they are so light. Post some pics when you take it out for the first fishing trip.