Vintage Challenge Sled Update

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:06 am

Hi Guys,

Tonight I got to play with some paint stripper on my tunnel. This is the one I brought home from Jesse's in MN. First pic is after I removed most of rivits and such, and the 2nd pic is after I was done for the night.

Funny, but as I was talking with Don the other night, this sled has literally come from all over the US and Canada. The motor I am rebuilding came from Wanie in Horicon, MN for the chassis, Ed Poets for the suspension, Evil Hiens Clan for the pan and repop flap, a sled dismantler near me for the hood. Most of the smaller motor and chassis parts inc. the track came from a pile of stripped out parts I got with another 340/s. The dual inlet tank came from WI, the cover for that was from Ron Sonic in MN. John's is taking care of my seat cover. I think it would have been easier to start with a complete sled, but I didn't want to take apart the only whole one I had.

Of course all these parts originally came from Horicon in 1974, but on several different sleds!

What a mess, my 340/s!
-Rainville

PS: Thanks for the encouragement guys! I told Cari Deerest "failure is NOT an option!"

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:33 am

I told Joe it should be a seperate model called the "CanAm 340/S" (eh).

DA

HoosierDeereMan · Post by **HoosierDeereMan** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:35 am

Progress has been at a snails pace! I finally got my engine rebuilt. The difference between these grungy dirty engines when you pull them out vs. once you have them cleaned up and rebuilt is phenominal!

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HoosierDeereMan · Post by **HoosierDeereMan** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:38 am

A few more.....

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HoosierDeereMan · Post by **HoosierDeereMan** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:42 am

It too bad my sled is 40 miles away getting the seat and tank cover redone. I'd really like to install the thing! I'm hoping to get it back between Christmas and New Year's.

Rainville- any word on those CDI shroud decals??????

Last one.

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Rebuilt_engine_5.jpg (196.58 KB)

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:14 pm

T-roy what did you use to clean the air flow intake on the engine. It looks like new. DA

HoosierDeereMan · Post by **HoosierDeereMan** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:37 pm

DA,

I used a Scotch brite pad with Dawn dish soap in hot water.

A word to the wise, do this in a 5 gallon bucket in the garage. The Mrs. caught me at the kitchen sink cleaning mine. After supper that night, I had to exercise my cleaning skills on the dishes!

T-roy

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:26 pm

Looks real nice Troy.

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:31 pm

Next time, put the parts in the dish washer! :lol22:

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:30 pm

Just so you know I am working on this thing.

Skid not 100% finished, have to install the front wheels, and am in the process of rebuilding the last idler for the optional wheel kit, but you get the idea.

Second photo: rear swing arm gusseted as per factory instructions.
The skid has also had a piece of flat stock welded inside the rails near the lift limiter bolts, as one rail was cracked there.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:31 pm

Brian, I can see that you're about done with the suspension but you might want to think about this mod as well. DA

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Mockupsuspension_006.jpg (358.94 KB)

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:12 am

Yes Don, I'm aware of that one. None of the three sleds that I've had here seemed to have any issues in that area, so I did not pursue that one.

All three were cracked in the ski lift limiter area, and Rainville broke his rear swing arm, so I felt it neccesary to do something about those issues.

It seems that each of us has done something a little different when it comes to the tracks and suspensions.

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:25 am

After watching the I-500 video I can see why there would be cracks here and there on the 340's. They guys rode them like they stole them. Did they have backbraces back then?

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:48 am

Todd, the seat I used on the Polaris's in 73 and 74 had a "backrest" built into the seat that was built to accomodate the rear fuel tank. I really hated that because it hindered me from throwing my weight around to manuever the sled. The 340/S didn't need one because those wonderful guys that designed and built it put the driver in the perfect place. If you put your feet in the stirrups and held on to the handle bars it was just like riding a "rocking horse". PERFECT!! I've often wondered though what it was like for Jon because he's so much taller than most of us. Jon can you share your thoughts with us? DA

PS: A couple more thoughts, if you look at the picture to the left you'll get an idea of what I was talking about. Secondly, the Polaris with the rear auxiliary tank always rode different depending on how much or little fuel was in the rear tank. The 340/S I don't recall being that much different with a full fuel load as the tank was centered.

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:58 am

Here's a few shots of the tunnel with the suspension lowering brackets installed, the tunnel doubler plates, and the tunnel protectors

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