New Member

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:56 pm

Hi there, new member Driftbuster (Don) here from Canada. I have a JD Cyclone, a 78 340.
We have had it for the last 6 years. It runs great and has never let us down, not once.
We did a complete (not engine) teardown and replaced all that wears and put in a NOS
track I found. My dad had a 72 400, it too was super reliable, the only time I remember
it stopping was a rear bearing went in the swing arm gizmo. Our Cyclone was saved from
the Death as only the Pelton Boys could administer. Luckily a ski broke on them boys as they
would have completely wrecked it before I found it. I bought it for 300 dollars plus a ski. My
10 year old boy (10 at the time) set his eyes on it so it is now his. He looks after it well
and it NEVER spends a night outside unless we're up North then it sits with My (other brand). Other than needing a seat cover it is in great condition.
I bought some parts on ebay without really knowing if they were correct but the price was right.
One part was a NOS crank and 2 sets of rings. I went on the basis that the ebay seller
knew his stuff so I bought the crank for 50 plus shipping to Canada (when our dollar was 95 cent)
came to less than 65, what a bargain. If I get a number from the boxes can someone verify
that I actually bought JD parts. Thanks for everything

Driftbuster

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:20 pm

Always good to hear from a new member that talks sense, and enjoys their Deeres!

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:51 am

Thanks for the welcome. A little about me, I'm pushing 50 and it's pushing back. The more I ride the more I hurt but I keep doing it. My "other Brand" is a 2000 Polaris XC500SP I bought in the box
and plan it to be the last sled I buy. They are fun, fast and reliable. Other hobbies are Kawasaki H1 motorcycles. They are a 2 stroke 3 cylinder 500 cc crotch rocket. Great alternative to sleds in the summer. My son and I are restoring a 1974 Kawi S3 2-stroke, 3 cylinder 400cc for him right now but "Sleddin Season" is close so time to push them triples away, for now. I live in a hick town in middle of no-where, was born and will be buried there. Been sleedin since I was 7 and riding off-road everything my whole life. It's great being a hick and the Grand River Valley is a nice place to do Hick things like sleddin.

Anyway, a little off topic. Back to the parts, the sled has a DOM of August 1977, JD Cyclone. The
engine is a 340 CCW twin, single carb. There is no number plate on engine. I think it appears to have reeds and is the original engine as far as I know. The Crank I purchased has a part number
AM53976 and the rings part number is AM54225. Thanks for the help.

I will have a few more questions later I know, but one more thing, does anyone have a PDF file of
a Parts Manual, a Service Manual or both would be real fine.

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:06 am

Oh ya, feel free to steer me to that web site with the parts breakdown for JD's, thanks again

Driftbuster, from the Great White North

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:17 pm

DRiftbuster,
Welcome aboard, several of us have cyclones and can help you out.
John Deere offers an on-line catalog, here is the link.
https://jdparts.deere.com/servlet/com.deere...ts.HomeUnsigned
Click on the "John Deere Parts Catalog"
Once there, click on the "Equipment Search" button
then type in "snowmobile"
Find your snowmobile.
Read the FAQ section of this web site. There is alot of valuable info and a link to purchase a service manual.
AM53976 crank and rings part number AM54225 are both correct for your engine.
The engine if original is a KEC 340/22C Kioritz, 34 horsepower @ 6500 RPM

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:41 pm

thanks guys, looks like my ebay purchases were worth while now that I have confirmed the parts are what I was expecting. Never know when you'll need a crank, ours is working fine but must be leaking at the PTO seal as a stain of oil is working it's way up from behind the clutch. I don't want to open the engine till I have to. It is 30 years old now and I'm sure it won't be long till it needs some attention

Don

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:15 pm

You can replace the PTO seal fairly easily without splitting the case, or pulling the engine out of the sled. You will have to pull the clutch of course.
I've done it a couple of times.

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:38 am

thanks, I never tried to pull the seal with cases together before. Can I get the seals from John Deere Dealer here? What's the best way to pry it out? And what about mag side seal?

Don

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:54 pm

Don't bother going to Deere. Any of the Sled Parts retailers carry them ( look in the links ), best to take the numbers off the old seal.

You take a small sharp screw driver, tap it into the seal at an angle, and pry it out. Care must be taken not to damage the crank, the case, or the bearing.

Clean the crank and the case, paying particular to the sealing surface on the crank, I have seen corrosion there. I have packed paper towels around the crank to protect the bearing, then polished the crank with some very fine ( 400 grit ) emery paper.

The book says to use STP on the seal for installation. I have used 2 stroke oil on the crank, and a LITTLE Yamabond on the outside diameter of the seal.
The hardest part it to get the seal started straight, and then tapped into place.
The book shows a hardwood block with a hole drilled for the crank.

I do not know why the mag side couldn't be done as well. More dissasembly is required, but as far as I know, no on here has ever tried it.

driftbuster · Post by **driftbuster** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:07 pm

Sounds fairly easy. I just happen to have 6 or 7 old kawi triples laying around so maybe I'll
perfect my technique on one of those first before trying on a good engine. Thanks for the tips

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:18 pm

Don,
If you didn't read the FAQ section yet, you should check out the article on pressure testing the engine. As Brian stated, the pto side seal is easy, the mag seal will be more work since you have to remove the recoil housing, flywheel, and the stator/timing ring assembly. Reinstall the mounting screws in the exact original location and the engine timing should be fine.
Given the age of the sled, I would replace both seals.