Maybe someone sandblasted the cylinder b4

Just a thought. What if you took a piece of carbon fiber cloth, cut a strip, put high heat silicone on one side and glue it to the flange. Just fold a little excess over the "lip" and mate the 2 surfaces back together? I've used the stuff in muffler packing before and it holds up to heat.....

If you weld it solid I bet your running a chance of it cracking somewhere later on.

I wonder if you couldn't try to modify a lead donut gasket from another sled to fit the deere? I know my ZR700 I had used a real nice one there and the gasket will form to the metal and take up any space. If you couldn't make one work, maybe try changing the exhaust manifold, maybe it would be a bet...

Yep, its the 503 rotax motor. Going Saturday morning to pick up a used bottom end... This project should keep me distracted from my Liquifire hunt for a few weeks lol.

Wow. Nice job. Can't wait to see it with the hood and decals!

I've spent some time today cleaning this sled up, its actually in almost new condition less the motor, I'm quite happy with it. I found a used bottom end today, ordered a gasket set so maybe next weekend I will try to get it running. The top end on this sled has been recently done so I don't feel it...

Looks like I may need a complete bottom end or entire motor. If anyone knows where to get a 500 f/c ski doo motor shoot me a pm. Thx

Where are you located johndeere96?

I been going nuts looking for the perfect Deere to restore, haven't had luck... In my journeys thought I came across a steal of a deal on a 1997 Formula 500! This machine is near perfect condition, BUT the motor needs some bottom end work. Hopefully some of you know about Skidoo, I'm probably going ...

Cool story. I've looked around this site for a picture thread, haven't found one. I think it would be cool for people such as yourself to have a thread where you can post a few pictures of the different stages you been through in the restoration.

I seen that video long before I found this site.. small world. It looked like the sled was almost perfect in the video

Is that your video on Youtube I seen?

Holy smokes... hope he is ok

Good to know, I see a fair amount of these sled missing that plug. Thx