1974 JDX6, moving closer to a resto everyday.

[silverlakez400]

Okay, so I've been posting a lot of this in New Members, and of course it isn't the right spot for it.

I just got this sled home this morning. I had enough time to wash it a little, then had to leave for the day. But when I got home, I started messing around a little bit with it, and found I'm getting spark only on one side. As I pulled a few plastic pieces off, I found more crap that needs to be cleaned out. Lots of rodents have lived in this sled over the almost 30 years it's sat. I haven't seen any wires chewed, but now i know i have to look at every thing really close to see if they chewed, or stored crap in there. Plus there was a little bit of gas in the bottom of the tank, so I need to mess with that.
I'll add more later tonight. I have pics!

[S_Kyle]

The no spark thing is most likely a coil. The guys I ride with are forever having trouble with them. Could also be a bad ground somewhere or a host of other issues.

With rodents using the sled for a home take a very close look at the engine. I have to rebuild a cyclone motor that some mice were is behind the recoil. There excrement ruined the trigger plate.

[silverlakez400]

I don't know why, but I really like cleaning things. My dad always gets annoyed with me for taking individual pieces off just to clean them. Or for taking the time to wire wheel each bolt before I put it back in. But I think working with older things like this sled, that's a good thing. I get to take it all apart, clean it, and put it back together.

As far as the coil is concerned, my grandpa taught me a good trick. Use a jump wire by passing the coil. If you have spark then, you know what the issue is. If people are having issues with them, maybe I should look into ways to upgrade in then. I don't have the time, money or energy to make this a historic statement, but I do want it to run and be unique. I'm already seeing a bunch of different screws holding things together. Which has be a bit worried.

I need to figure out how to get the seat off (I think) and what carbide's are, and what reeds are for that matter. I've got a ton of learning to do, and this site has been great. I LOVE the barn find article. Anyways, on to some pics. FYI, the first pic of the sled is of it dry, not wet. And the reason my wife wasn't too mad at me, our daughter helped me take screws out and wash it, so Daddy daughter time saves the day!!!

[silverlakez400]

one more that shows damage to the hood. It's got more small cracks than I hoped for. But the steering is tight, and responsive!!

[Matt]

Doesn't look too bad after getting the crud washed off. A note about mice - they often make nests up in the muffler. If they did, you can use a torch or something to throw some flames in there to burn off the materials used for the nest.

Glad you found the barn find article that 400Brian wrote. It's a perfect starting point for you, along with a tech manual you can download from vintagesnow.com.

Regarding upgrading the ignition - you can actually convert this to an electronic ignition. There are newly rebuilt parts available to do that, but it is not cheap. One step at a time though - read up on cleaning the points. You may find that's all you have to do to get it to spark.

[JDT]

I am backing you 100% on the cleaning and taking things apart plan.

Do one section or assmebly at a time.

You will no dought find things to fix but better to find them now in your garage than next January 30 miles from home in a snowbank.

[silverlakez400]

Okay, before I get into this sled. I am wondering if I should be the one to do it. I really don't care that this is a JD, I just want something cheap for the snow this winter. Should I try to trade it for a running sled? Is this sled something kind of special? I don't know about sleds, but if I was looking for a classic car to tool around in, I wouldn't go for a '69 charger, but I would look for a /6 duster. Should I part this out? it seems to be complete and original. I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Dallas

[skoalmint]

Good luck on your project,you will have fun.So will the little Girl.Brock

[Matt]

It's not a high value collectable or anything super-special, so don't worry about that. It's not worth much as is. The question is: do you enjoy working on stuff like this? Or would you rather have something that you can jump on and ride? This is going to require some rebuilding, regular maintenance and TLC. Sleds from the 70 weren't all that reliable even when they were new. I wouldn't part it out unless it turns out to be junk for one reason or another.

[silverlakez400]

Thank you. That's exactly what I wanted to know. I do enjoy working on things. I don't like to work on my daily drivers and my atv, but everything else I like to tinker with. My daughters go kart (which will get a sled engine someday) my truck, and stuff like that I love to work on. I have my garage heated now, so when it gets dark at 5pm this winter, that's where I'll be. I just didn't know enough to know if I have a very special sled, or just a cool vintage sled.

[silverlakez400]

I think a step is good, even if it is just a small one, but yesterday I got the sled on a stand and just need to stabalize it more for working on. Wife is happy its in the back corner of the garage.

[silverlakez400]

so when I'm looking for parts for the engine of this sled, will 1974 400 engine parts be what I'm looking for? any other engines good donors of parts? I'm tracking down a few more sleds.

[S_Kyle]

Nope the JDX 6 had it's own engine. The 400's ran a piston port 340 CCW and the JDX 6 a reed valve 400 CCW

[Matt]

Your engine model is KEC-400/22, although most parts will transfer from other /22 engines.

[400brian]

Just as a clarification; I believe Todd ( JDT ) wrote the barn find article, I wrote the "Trouble shooting your sled" article that is also in the FAQs.

There is nothing wrong with the points ignition system if all is in order. The most likely issue is a corroded point that is not grounding. If you plan on riding it, figure on replacing the crankcase seals on each end of the case, the fan belt, and maybe the bearings the fan shaft turns on. Driveline bearings are suspect as well. The fuel system will have to be gone through; tank cleaned, lines replaced, carb rebuilt.

Take it one step at a time, and have fun.