First, thanks for having a forum like this! I look forward to making this thing run like new, and it will be my first time tearing into a snowmobile motor. My dad always had sleds around and I love riding them. Now I love pulling my 5 yr old son around on a sled. Can't get enough!
I have a 1979 Drifter 440 (date on the side plate reads 8/78. Guessing this makes it a 79. Wrong or right?). Three years ago it ran amazingly well and was a lot of fun. Two years ago I got one day of riding and then it lost power, almost to the point it wouldn't turn the belt when I picked up the rear end. I parked it and didn't touch it. This year same thing. I got about an hour of riding where it ran amazing, and then back to loss of power.
1. Starts on 3rd-4th pull every time. Even after sitting all year
2. First time it lost power this year I checked plugs. One was wet, one was dry. I checked for spark (pulled out plugs and inserted them into boots and pulled). Both plugs showed spark.
3. I swapped plugs. Cylinder 1's plug into cylinder 2 and visa versa. It ran amazing for 30 mins. (thought that was odd and still don't know what to make of this) Then, lost power. I quickly checked plugs and both were dry.
4. I do smell gas when it bogs down, but when I check plugs they're dry.
This is where I'm stuck. I'm running out to buy new plugs today to try that. I've read it could be crank seals or a clutch issue. Neither of which I know how to test. Does anything else come to mind? I'm sure there are a handful of things, and I'm ready to try out anything while we still have snow here in Ohio! FINALLY!
Also, I'm in need of a windshield if anyone has one.