Snowmobile engine question
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
Snowmobile engine question
My friend is building a dune buggy (ish) machine this summer, and he is looking for a good snowmobile engine.
I found him a 93 Polaris, liquid cooled 600 triple. Rebuilt last year, approx 7500 miles and needs a piston. The guy wants $200
Is it worth it? I hear these 3 cylinders are crap for reliability, and I don't know what's considered high mileage for one of these engines.
I know snowmobile engines aren't the best choice for summer climates, but he doesn't have alot of money to spend, and I would be doing the rebuild on this engine for him.
What do you think? Thanks.
I found him a 93 Polaris, liquid cooled 600 triple. Rebuilt last year, approx 7500 miles and needs a piston. The guy wants $200
Is it worth it? I hear these 3 cylinders are crap for reliability, and I don't know what's considered high mileage for one of these engines.
I know snowmobile engines aren't the best choice for summer climates, but he doesn't have alot of money to spend, and I would be doing the rebuild on this engine for him.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Triples don't have very good low end torque, definitely less than a comparable twin. I would go with a liquid cooled and a smaller car radiator, like one from an older Subaru or the like. A Rotax engine would be the best for reliability, but the Arctic Cat engines are a close second.
Make sure the clutch is set up for the weight of the vehicle, and it will be fast.
Make sure the clutch is set up for the weight of the vehicle, and it will be fast.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Well, I have a John Deere Liquifire 440 Snowmobile in my shop, that is partially disassembled, from removing the fuel tank and carbs to clean up. The sled was a barn find, with literally just a few hundred kilometers on the odometer. Engine is intact, was properly oiled up before storage, and turns without any issue at all. I also have a boat anchor of a John Deere Sportfire that had an air cooled 440 engine. It sits on a two place flatbed trailer in need of extensive reconditioning. Take a trip down to Texas (yes I said Texas), and you can have the whole shooting match for that price, and not need to rebuild an engine. You MUST take all of it, not just part, so bring a trailer. That 440 liquifire would have more than enough grunt for your project, and they were pretty much bulletproof.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
Hey guys, thanks for the comments!
Wolfman01: Definatly something I'd be interested in buying, do you have any pictures of the machines you could send me? I'll just have to figure out, or find someone willing to go down to texas to pick them up haha. Does "Liquidfire" mean that it's liquid cooled?
PS+ This is kinda what we are going for framewise:
It won't be exactly the same, just the same general idea as these buggies.
Wolfman01: Definatly something I'd be interested in buying, do you have any pictures of the machines you could send me? I'll just have to figure out, or find someone willing to go down to texas to pick them up haha. Does "Liquidfire" mean that it's liquid cooled?
PS+ This is kinda what we are going for framewise:
It won't be exactly the same, just the same general idea as these buggies.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Yes, liquifire means liquid cooled. The J.D. sleds even had small radiators in them. You'd still need a bigger one for the buggy though, as snowmobiles have a secondary heat exhchanger in the track tunnel, to add additional cooling.
I'll have to take pics Monday, as I'm at work at current, and have a solidly booked day tomorrow. Gotta get a year old lab/pyr mix mutt on the way to his new forever home before work.
I'll have to take pics Monday, as I'm at work at current, and have a solidly booked day tomorrow. Gotta get a year old lab/pyr mix mutt on the way to his new forever home before work.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
The 440 looks like it would be better sized for the buggy, if what you're building is approximately the same. Some of the newer engines have over 100 hp, and in a rolling cage like that, would literally be undriveable. I've been considering similar such projects, but don't have the discipline to follow through.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
Likes: 2
From: NW burbs of chicago
The Pol 600 is a decent motor. Stay the hell away from the 650's.
We have a 95 Polaris sled with the 600 in it, we've had to do very little to maintain it and she runs like a champ every winter
We have a 95 Polaris sled with the 600 in it, we've had to do very little to maintain it and she runs like a champ every winter
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Find a wrecked ninja or other streetbike motor and use that and have all the power
you would need plus the added reliability of a gearbox and clutch all in one unit!!
Those mini sprints are pretty much using them and they book. Pretty much that's
what it looks like you are making but you want to go left and right so chassis setup
would be a bit different and with symmetrical tires/shocks all the way around.
http://www.fozracecars.com/foz_photo...y_assembly.htm http://www.minisprintracing.com/
I have been wanting to take a roller and set it up for off road and put my spare
YZ 250 motor in it. I have seen a few on ebay going for like $600.00 of course I
didn't have the cash.
If I had some money I would get the sprint in the 600 class and race it a few seasons
and see how I did then make it into a off road buggy, They make some big money in
those races if you are a good driver and got the car set up right. Down here there
are a few tracks for racing themhttp://www.flminisprints.com/
you would need plus the added reliability of a gearbox and clutch all in one unit!!
Those mini sprints are pretty much using them and they book. Pretty much that's
what it looks like you are making but you want to go left and right so chassis setup
would be a bit different and with symmetrical tires/shocks all the way around.
http://www.fozracecars.com/foz_photo...y_assembly.htm http://www.minisprintracing.com/
I have been wanting to take a roller and set it up for off road and put my spare
YZ 250 motor in it. I have seen a few on ebay going for like $600.00 of course I
didn't have the cash.
If I had some money I would get the sprint in the 600 class and race it a few seasons
and see how I did then make it into a off road buggy, They make some big money in
those races if you are a good driver and got the car set up right. Down here there
are a few tracks for racing themhttp://www.flminisprints.com/
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.
Would you need to make any mod's to the engine other than putting in a bigger rad and fan? I hear it's a good idea to re-jet the carb for the warmer climate.
Could you mate up a transmission off of a 77 Honda CR 125? I have one laying around, might as well ask, I'm just trying to figure out how the linkage will work if I want to use a stick.
Then again I have to consider the weight and power I'm putting through this trans, I don't know if it could handle the stress...
Thanks
Would you need to make any mod's to the engine other than putting in a bigger rad and fan? I hear it's a good idea to re-jet the carb for the warmer climate.
Could you mate up a transmission off of a 77 Honda CR 125? I have one laying around, might as well ask, I'm just trying to figure out how the linkage will work if I want to use a stick.
Then again I have to consider the weight and power I'm putting through this trans, I don't know if it could handle the stress...
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I'd stick with a belt CVT if you're using a sled engine. Just get a pair of Comet clutches, set the springs and weights to get a good launch, and you should be good to go.
Find the right sled and you could even set it up for reverse.
Find the right sled and you could even set it up for reverse.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Eagle460
Hey guys, thanks for the comments!
Wolfman01: Definatly something I'd be interested in buying, do you have any pictures of the machines you could send me? I'll just have to figure out, or find someone willing to go down to texas to pick them up haha. Does "Liquidfire" mean that it's liquid cooled?
Wolfman01: Definatly something I'd be interested in buying, do you have any pictures of the machines you could send me? I'll just have to figure out, or find someone willing to go down to texas to pick them up haha. Does "Liquidfire" mean that it's liquid cooled?
Yes those are the actual kilomters on that engine.
This is the boat anchor you must take as well. The trailer needs to be completely rebuilt. This however can be done on the cheap, and you'll get a nice tilt deck trailer out of the deal as well. I need all of this stuff to go - $200 for the lot as previously mentioned. If you decide that you don't want it, I'll expand the offer to anyone on the board willing to come out and haul this stuff off.
New User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
sleds??
do you still have everything. or the snowmobiles, and where abouts are you???
Sorry for taking so long to get these done, but my week has been nothing short of insane. Anyway, these are the pictures of the barn sled that I started to fix up, but never finished. It basically just needs to be put back together, or use the engine for the buggy project. I pulled on the starter rope this morning, an the engine still turns.
Yes those are the actual kilomters on that engine.
This is the boat anchor you must take as well. The trailer needs to be completely rebuilt. This however can be done on the cheap, and you'll get a nice tilt deck trailer out of the deal as well. I need all of this stuff to go - $200 for the lot as previously mentioned. If you decide that you don't want it, I'll expand the offer to anyone on the board willing to come out and haul this stuff off.
Yes those are the actual kilomters on that engine.
This is the boat anchor you must take as well. The trailer needs to be completely rebuilt. This however can be done on the cheap, and you'll get a nice tilt deck trailer out of the deal as well. I need all of this stuff to go - $200 for the lot as previously mentioned. If you decide that you don't want it, I'll expand the offer to anyone on the board willing to come out and haul this stuff off.