Powerfist-powered exciter?? - good idea or bad idea?
So a while back, a guy I know had bought an old yamaha exciter, (I'm guessing its a 1980?), took it out on the trails at his cottage without insurance or a permit, got busted and then decided he wanted to get rid of it. He basically gave it to me but said "it runs, but only on one cylinder, I think the plug wires or coil is shot". I picked up the sled and just recently got around to checking it out. The jist of it is one of the pistons is cooked - compression was at 65psi left, 6psi right. So I got talking to a friend about it and he said he wanted a sled that was good on gas, reliable and just enough to get him around his property in the winter. I told him about the dead exciter and we got an idea- The sled itself is in great condition aside from the engine. The oil tank is missing so it was being run on mixed gas, but aside from that, the track is good, idlers are good, seat mint, and everything is solid. Our plan was to go out and buy a cheap princess auto single cylinder gas engine and transplant it into the exciter with a centrifugal clutch driving the input shaft on the chain case. The engines we've been looking at have been either a 6.5hp gas (with a torque-a-verter transmission that he has sitting at home) or an 11hp gas with centrifugal clutch, or a 6hp diesel engine (which I think would be cool). My initial concerns is that we're obviously going to be at a loss for power. This is okay though because he doesnt need something fast, just something to get him around his family's property- but is 6.5 hp (130$)going to be enough to overcome the friction of the track and drive train? So far I'm voting for the 11hp, its just alot more $$ (400$) Are we crazy to even be considering this? Would it even be worth the effort- or should we just junk the sled. I just think it would be cool to frankenstein a 4stroke sled lol. Btw- if anyone is interested in an old exciter (has electric start outfit on it too) let me know! Any ideas, comments, or tips would be great!
So a while back, a guy I know had bought an old yamaha exciter, (I'm guessing its a 1980?), took it out on the trails at his cottage without insurance or a permit, got busted and then decided he wanted to get rid of it. He basically gave it to me but said "it runs, but only on one cylinder, I think the plug wires or coil is shot". I picked up the sled and just recently got around to checking it out. The jist of it is one of the pistons is cooked - compression was at 65psi left, 6psi right. So I got talking to a friend about it and he said he wanted a sled that was good on gas, reliable and just enough to get him around his property in the winter. I told him about the dead exciter and we got an idea- The sled itself is in great condition aside from the engine. The oil tank is missing so it was being run on mixed gas, but aside from that, the track is good, idlers are good, seat mint, and everything is solid. Our plan was to go out and buy a cheap princess auto single cylinder gas engine and transplant it into the exciter with a centrifugal clutch driving the input shaft on the chain case. The engines we've been looking at have been either a 6.5hp gas (with a torque-a-verter transmission that he has sitting at home) or an 11hp gas with centrifugal clutch, or a 6hp diesel engine (which I think would be cool). My initial concerns is that we're obviously going to be at a loss for power. This is okay though because he doesnt need something fast, just something to get him around his family's property- but is 6.5 hp (130$)going to be enough to overcome the friction of the track and drive train? So far I'm voting for the 11hp, its just alot more $$ (400$) Are we crazy to even be considering this? Would it even be worth the effort- or should we just junk the sled. I just think it would be cool to frankenstein a 4stroke sled lol. Btw- if anyone is interested in an old exciter (has electric start outfit on it too) let me know! Any ideas, comments, or tips would be great!