Make-A-Wish sled restoration project.

skiroule

Well-known member
Holy smokes Snoluver1! I honestly don't know how you do it. This is like a weeks worth of work done in one shot. In previous posts, you had showed some photos of mock-ups but this is the real deal. It's all permanent now.

Like you, Im thinking that with a little tweaking, a fresh, slightly bored out 340 in a 300 lb. trail sled will handle the gearing just fine. There might be a very slight difference when coming out of the hole but think of the top end!

Excellent work!!!! You're getting oh so close to "Fire in the Hole".
 

snoluver1

Active member
I have some bad news to report. I went to put the skid in and it wasn't cooperating. I couldn't get the the rear mount to line up. A quick look at the old rails and it was pretty obvious what the problem was. DOHH!

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Not a huge problem and all Skiroule's hard work will not be wasted. Most if not all the components are interchangeable except the rails. A set back time wise none the less.
I knew that chain case and drive shaft went WAY too smoothly! LOL.
 

skiroule

Well-known member
This is a really disappointing find. I’m usually a pretty positive person but when I make mistakes that have effects beyond my own personal discomfort and inconvenience it upsets me.

I pulled this suspension off a 75’ or 76’ T’NT F/A chassis. I didn’t look at the plate but I know it was at least a 75’ because they moved the front idlers inboard in 75’. It never crossed my mind that the F/As ran a shorter track but various bits and pieces on the web suggest that the F/As ran a 114” track versus the 124” on the fans. Looking at the photo, this looks to account for the difference in rail length.
Yes, everything but the rails is interchangeable but it’s a couple of hours to tear down and a couple of more for reassembly, not to mention the rail cleanup. The real problem is hyfax. I compounded the problem by taking back the extra set of new hyfax. I can have these back in IL on Wed. but that really equates to five days lost on the suspension install.

I suppose one could take the position that if this were easy, everyone would be doing it but that’s no excuse for not doing the homework. I’ll get the hyfax sent out on Monday.
 

snoluver1

Active member
No need to be hard on yourself Skiroule. Just a little hurdle is all. For the most part, I think this project has been pretty darn smooth running. When your dealing with antiquated equipment, and you can't just stop by the dealer to pick up what you need, these obstacles are to be expected. Like you said, it ain't easy!

I'll have it together pretty quick. You already did all the time consuming stuff on it. It wont take too long to tear it down and get her back together.
 

eagle1

Well-known member
Son of B....!!! Well what would a project be without one of those moments. We've all had them, and it's usually something so obvious/stupid you can't believe you did it. LOL

Skiroule, don't sweat it, with all your hard work on this project your "off the hook." :)
 

skiroule

Well-known member
Well, my wife can certainly confirm that I’m no stranger to dumb things but these usually involve a lack of concentration. Things like: making a deposit at a bank where I didn’t have an account, paying for my food at a drive-thru and driving off, and so on (although we’ve never figured out the “billfold in the refrigerator” incident – guess I needed cold cash).

It’s good to get a “pass” on the project snafu but if the cameras would have been rolling in MN last night for a project documentary, there would have been quite a bit of bleeping.

Extra hyfax has been dropped off at UPS and should arrive Wed.
 
D

Deleted member 10829

Guest
Things like: making a deposit at a bank where I didn’t have an account, paying for my food at a drive-thru and driving off, and so on (although we’ve never figured out the “billfold in the refrigerator” incident – guess I needed cold cash).

Those are all pretty funny! :) It wouldn't be a project of this size without something coming up, and it could sure be much worse!! You guys are doing a fantastic job and I enjoy following your progress. I'm very impressed, that's for sure!
 

phazerpilot

New member
I had a little set back last weekend myself, while buffing the hood I tried to take out a dirt nib in a tough spot and ended up burning thru an edge . So back to the booth I went ,but it was worth it cause when ever you cut and re-clear it just give you depth you can't get any other way. tomorrow I have to rivit in the heat shields and of to snoluver it goes, Next weekend the stickers can be put on and by then at the rate snoluver is going we 'll be able to mount it and take some good pics of the sled. 2012-02-11_12-44-35_167.jpg 2012-02-11_12-44-52_390.jpg 2012-02-11_12-45-26_364.jpg 2012-02-11_12-45-36_889 (1).jpg
 

skiroule

Well-known member
Phazerpilot, I thought it looked good before but this is something else! You're right about the depth. I almost want to start using the word "custom". I love the reflection on the one shot - mark of laying it down well I say. The black vents are going to look really cool set into the yellow side stripe - will have sort of a "Mako" effect :)

The heat shields do seem a little "over-engineered" but there's sure no danger of breaking one when you re-install them.

NICE, NICE....
 

bigvin

New member
This is an incredible project gentlemen!
Way above and beyond the call of duty.
This sled will be so much better than the day it came off the "line",...
Totally Awesome.
:)
 

borderstaff

New member
Has there ever been another thread with 14,000+ views???? Great job on the restore!!!

I agree!!!! I check this thread every day before anything else on the net. I've really enjoyed watching the progress and can't wait for the final result. I had a thread like this a year+ ago when I rebuilt my wife's M8 from scratch but I didn't have nearly the detail about the process or magnitude of pics. I'm floored...and hope the sled is raffled instead of auctioned so a regular guy like me can have a shot at owning such a beautiful machine.
 

snoluver1

Active member
Phazerpilot stopped by this afternoon with the hood. All I can say is WOW!!
You guys will have to trust me when I say that my crappy pictures do this paint work absolutely NO justice! This paint looks so deep and wet it is just ridiculous! You really have to see it in person to appreciate it, but here are a few wet your whistle shots anyway.


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skiroule

Well-known member
It's clear to me that the guys that are really logging the man hours (I think I'll call them the Illinois Boys) are not cutting corners just to buy some time. Not only will this make the machine a greater value for it's new owner, it will hopefully produce more revenue for the intended cause.

Regardless of how the eventual owner is awarded the sled, it will be something special.

I took these quotes from one of my posts a few weeks back. I think these pictures support my case.

I wonder how many people besides me are staring at the shot from behind the handlebars and just thinkin'.......
 

snoluver1

Active member
Got the skid back together...with the correct rails this time-LOL!
Rest assured Skiroule, it wasn't too bad. A couple hours to blast and polish the rails, but once that was done it only took about an hour to get everything switched over. Since I didn't need to go through everything and clean parts, I was able to just switch everything over in chunks of sub-assemblies without having to take it all apart. So we are back on track with that anyway.

Also got the controls cleaned up and polished and installed those, along with the switches Skiroule sent.


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yamahauler

Active member
looks great to all those involved in the restore.

This would make a great story for one of the snowmobile mags out there.
 
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