First Snowmobile

greenblood · Post by **greenblood** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:17 pm

Back in the fall of '72 my grandpa took my older brother (I was too young I guess) to a test ride that Corcoran's Hardware in Rosemount MN (now Pwas putting on to demo the new JD sleds. It must have been in October or so because they were riding in a grassy field. Anyway, shortly thereafter grandpa bought a new 73 400. My dad sort of followed suit and bought a used Sno Jet (not sure what model, all I remember was that it was loud and touchy). I was only 9 when I started driving the 400. Dad sold off the SJ and bought a 74 300 for about $750 and bought a couple of JD Suits (still have) too.

Those JDs received quite a beating and kept running year after year (except the time I thought I was a tuner and leaned it out too much and burned a hole in a piston).

When I went away to college, Dad decided to sell the sleds to my brother's in-laws (ex in-laws), both for $100! I think the 400 was made into a tow-able sled.

moontreenrg · Post by **moontreenrg** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:11 pm

my first ride was on a panther or whatever had the leopard print seat when i was about 6 or 7. then drove a early 90's phazer wow tippy. about 7yrs ago rode my dad-inlaws 77cyclone 440 which his dad purchased new/demo.2yrs ago i became 2nd owner of a 1979 spitfire. fun light little sled, now sold. now i am the owner of a 77 liquifire 440 and 77 cyclone 440.

jdsledwheelman · Post by **jdsledwheelman** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:08 am

The stories are great.

This has been a hotter topic than I had expected it to be. Love hearing from so many of you and your sleds.

nick

DLDeere · Post by **DLDeere** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:40 am

Clack,
Great story! Too bad you went from green to yellow! Maybe would have saved some money on belts! LOL

Maybe see you at your place on Jan 3.

Howard

clackinator · Post by **clackinator** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:52 am

I hope you can show up. Should be a great time and there will be a few unique sleds here I am sure. We will have to remember to get some photos to put up on here for all the people from out of the area.

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:10 am

Howard I will be there. Anyone else from the forum plan on helping out?

kawtoy_77 · Post by **kawtoy_77** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:27 pm

My first time out was on a friends Spitfire, and I wrekcked it into a 3 -4ft hole in the ground. I knocked my two top front teeth in half, had an emergency dentist visit at 9pm at night, and knew I had to climb on another sled. I ended up buying that sled and rode it for a year, until it shucked the track, and then I sold it. I bought my 80 sportfire for $100 after that, and I had it for 2 yrs and decided it was in too nice of shape to be a ditch banger in central IL. I sold it and bought a 79 Arctic Cat Jag340, and it has been a pain in my butt ever since I bought it. I miss my Sporty!

jdjason · Post by **jdjason** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:00 pm

my grandfather who lived next door owned the jd tractor dealer in nichols, new york My uncle who was the salesperson allways had deeres at the house wether the were his or a customers they were tuning. when i was old enough i got my first ride. all by myself. hundreds of acres of tails to ride. lots of gas. lots of time.which sled would it be? x8, dator, 340s, cyclone, 300, i could go on,but my uncle said i have a sled for you to ride. it wasnt green, it wasnt new, it was ugly, slow,and it was a trade in for a new deere. i allways got the stuff noone wanted. a seventies, busted white and blue polaris colt 250!! :lol22:

i hated it, but i did get to ride. next season i got the cyclone 440 which i rode till i sold it in 99. when my grandfather passed i reciieved a brand new 1973 400 which i still have and ride .this sled has just over 500 miles on it today. thanks gramp! today i have many sleds , but have only managed to ride 4 this season. if there are any of you in upstate ny area who dont have a sled to ride or land send a message . this was a great topic glad it was started. get out on a deere this season and ride, its cheap, easily maintained, and with this site parts, sleds, and troubleshooting are just a click away. whats not to love .

malone · Post by **malone** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:33 am

I still own the first sled I have ever rode. My sled was a 76 liquifire and I rode/fixed the **** out of that old sled. But I rebuilt the engine in that sled and put it in a polaris and I still ride that motor today

Decker · Post by **Decker** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:10 pm

first sled i ever rode i own 76 Lfire, of course ive only had it for about a year