1977 JD300 Restoration and Parts

[JJMAC]

Hi. First post. A friend of mine gave me a 1977 JD 300. I am starting to restore her. I got the motor out and finally got the track off (pain in the butt). Stripped her down. Can any of you help me find some parts?

- O-Ring for brake/drive sprocket (U17502)
- Bearings (x2) for drive shaft (jd8555)
- O-Ring for drive shaft ( u42111)
- Drive wheels (x2) (am 52563)
- Bearings for fan (x2) (AM52539)
- New track (M64360)
- Bogie springs (M63040, M63041)
- Rear springs (M63109, M63108)
- Bogie bushings (M63039)
- Bogie wheels (x15) (Am52464)
- Motor mounts (M63118)
- Rear bogie wheels x3) (am52014)

I assume I can get the O-Rings and bearings locally correct? Can the Bogie wheels be rebuilt with bearings? The idler wheels rubber is in good shape. The rear bogies are in rough shape and need to be replaced. The front drive wheels are cracked as well.

Also. Any tips on removing/installing drive axle and track would be appreciated. Took me forever to remove them. Huge pain.

Some photos below. Thanks for your help!

[400brian]

The motor mounts the guys are using are these. Look this number up on-line; Bobcat 6560633

The o-ring is a 1/16" dia. o-ring that fits snugly on the bearing. Nothing special.

The easiest way to work on the driveshaft and track is with the sled upside down up on saw horses.

The aluminum centered bogies until recently were fairly easy to source, not so much now. There are guys replacing the bearings in them, but I have never done one. I have rebuilt the idler wheels for the slide rail sleds, and the concept would be the same. Go here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6587

[jep_800]

One thing I do most often is to do a basic search for John Deere snowmobile parts on eBay. Sometimes, I'll be model specific, like JDX8 or JDX6. The way people list their stuff gets posted either specifically, or generally, so it pays to do a couple of searches to see what pops up. Much of what you want can be found that way.

Drive wheels: Be careful of the white Gates drive wheels. They always crack and are not what you want for reliable rider. The black PPD drivers with same pitch (will be a 2.52 pitch, 8 tooth) are the only ones that are basically bullet proof.

Here's an example search I just did:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... &_osacat=0

Jason

Here's an example of the white Gates vs. black PPD. This is what needs to be done: Press the white drivers off and replace with PPD.

[jep_800]

One thing of note, the drive shafts changed at some point from 1" (round) to 1-1/8". This happened in 75' (could have been 74') I believe with the higher HP sleds like JDX8 and 800. Now, being you have a 77' 300? You'd have to check the parts manual to see what size shaft it is. This makes a difference when you're trying to track down the correct PPD drivers.

Since you listed parts numbers, I assume you have one, but online service and parts manuals can be found at: Vintagesnow.com

Jason

[400brian]

The driveshaft was initially changed from 1" to 1 1/8" mid-run with the '73 JDX8. In '74 all the sleds had the 1 1/8" shaft, easy to confirm.

[JoeRainville]

Congrats on starting a resto on your 300.

Some good news is that the drive axle, rear axle and upper chain case bearings are still available new from Deere. The o-rings on the chain case side bearings are also still available new.

I have a bunch of the rear axle bearing wraps if you need any.

Good used or NOS tracks are not too hard to find, keep an eye out on FB, ebay or the classifieds here. Same for the bogies and rear idlers. Front drivers have been repoped and are available, but with a 1" bore that will need to be bored out to 1 1/8" for your sled.

Springs are around NOS, and show up time to time like other parts do.

Good luck with your machine!
-Joe Rainville

[JJMAC]

Thank you all for the awesome responses. I have the black ppds. How should I bore them? Lathe? What type of shop will do them for me?

[JJMAC]

Anyone know where to source the rubber bearings at the end of the idler wheel?? M63039

[JJMAC]

Congrats on starting a resto on your 300.

Some good news is that the drive axle, rear axle and upper chain case bearings are still available new from Deere. The o-rings on the chain case side bearings are also still available new.

I have a bunch of the rear axle bearing wraps if you need any.

Good used or NOS tracks are not too hard to find, keep an eye out on FB, ebay or the classifieds here. Same for the bogies and rear idlers. Front drivers have been repoped and are available, but with a 1" bore that will need to be bored out to 1 1/8" for your sled.

Springs are around NOS, and show up time to time like other parts do.

Good luck with your machine!
-Joe Rainville

The bearing wraps you have are they m63012?

[400brian]

Thank you all for the awesome responses. I have the black ppds. How should I bore them? Lathe? What type of shop will do them for me?

Opening these out to match you driveshaft isn't going to be hard per se, but they will function better if they are bored out true and fit the shaft snugly.
I have installed a set of these on a 72 sled, so I had to drill the mounting holes, but as that sled had an inch driveshaft, I didn't have to open up the bore.

I would take the axle and the drivers to a local machine shop and have a talk with them.