A New Project
 

My neighbor gave me his old Yamaha Excel III snowmobile. He always had it parked in the garage when he was using it. He drove it outside about 6 years ago, and when he went to start it the next year, the battery froze, and he didn’t feel like messing with it anymore so it just sat in the woods. He told me it’s mine if I come dig it out.

It was buried behind a rolled over truck, a dead tractor, a pile of wood and a boat on one side. On the other side was about 50 feet of woods out to the road. It was quicker and easier to go through the woods, so I took my 147 out last night and made a trail.

I came back this morning and drug it out, pushed it onto the trailer, and took it home. The red circle in the last picture shows where it was sitting.

It is in decent shape. He put lots of new parts on it. I don’t think the motor is stuck, I don’t want to pull it over much until I get the old gas and oil out. The only real damage is a few holes rotted in the belly pan. It needs a seat cover, everything else should clean up nice. It’s a shame he left it outside, my dad said it was really nice the last time he saw it. It should be fun getting it going again.

Looks like a fun project.

Back in the day when I lived in Johnstown, PA I started out with an 1973 Artic Cat Panther. Then dad bought us a 1981(I think) Yamaha Enticer. Wow, what an awesome machine. Then after I moved out I bought a friends 1981 Yamaha SS440. The Enticer was nice but boy did that 440 run. IIRC top speed was near 80mph and you could keep the skies off the ground for a good 150'.

I couldn't imagine what the sleds can do today. For some reason they just aren't a big thing down here in Georgia.:Huh:

I had one given to me once. Cant remember make / model but I remember the track was pretty well worn out. I gave it to the guys in shop to play with. They wound up drilling a bunch of holes and nutting and bolting short carriage bolts through the track for some traction. It lasted a couple winters. Fun times. It was a 440 if I recall and heavy as heck. My VMAX 700 no no trouble beating it :biggrin2:

Thanks! We also have an Arctic Cat Puma, my dad bought it a few years ago to fix, but never got around to it. If what I read is correct, this is pretty much the same as an Enticer, just a different motor and electric start.
Sounds fun.

Last week I started taking it apart. I washed it, and cleaned the carb and fuel tank. One cylinder was locked up, but I got it freed up.

I got it running today.
https://youtu.be/LHN88Dg3SMU

It needs the chaincase oil changed, fuel lines, a battery, a choke cable, seat and possibly a windshield if this one doesn’t clean up good. I should have it ready for a test drive next time it snows.

Looks like fun!

Thanks. So far I’m enjoying it, I can’t wait to take it for a ride.