Author Topic: New Season Starting!  (Read 3056 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

mswyka

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1791
New Season Starting!
« on: October 18, 2018, 07:16:21 PM »
I am seeing the open houses at the sled shops so others must also be in agreement that a new sled season is starting.

Aside from this Panther 303 that is vexing me, we need to do something about our 78 Intruder.  For  the last run of the season we were out on a lake.  The sled runs great, has always run great.  But, here on the farm we never get over 30 miles per hour.  Out on the lake she again ran fine, but topped out at 50.  It would run strong up to 50 and then just would not go any faster.  Did not seem to be dragging anything, just not enough RPMs to push any further.

I am pretty confident that she has more speed in her than that. Particularly when we were able to get the Invader up over 80 with no difficulty.

So, I am throwing this question out  on the table to see what others think that i should be looking for when we bring her out of the machine shed next month.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

Interceptor398

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2057
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2018, 07:38:22 AM »
Do you remember what RPMs you were turning at 50?  Could be not shifting up?

mswyka

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1791
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2018, 07:45:30 AM »
Do you remember what RPMs you were turning at 50?  Could be not shifting up?

I didn't have the presence of mind to diagnose at the time.  We were just trilled to be out moving. 
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

Lloyd (ljm)

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 459
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2018, 05:52:52 AM »

 I would start looking for clutch issues.  Try swapping in good clutches.

 Does it spin the track faster on the stand?
77 SST
78 Intruder
79 340 Invader
80 440 Invader
80 Drifter (bought new)
80 LTD 4/6    X2

Several Deeres

mswyka

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1791
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2018, 07:04:35 AM »
This sled is still on the trailer, so it will be the first one to come out of the machine shed at thanksgiving. What is curious is that if I were in the process of diagnosing another sled and wanting to swap in good parts, I would have been looking to this sled since on the farm this one has always been reliable and very quick off the line. I should know more after thanksgiving.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

kawhead

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 524
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2018, 09:37:13 AM »
I would cut 10 points off the power jet....they are sensitive to rich jetting

mswyka

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1791
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2018, 06:49:22 PM »
I would cut 10 points off the power jet....they are sensitive to rich jetting

A few years back we took a look at the stock jetting for each of the model years.  The mains varied from 140 to 170 and the econojets varied from 120 to 150.

Each of our four Intruders is set up with 25 pilot, 150 main, and 120/130 econojets.   We made this switch in 2010 and they run quite nicely here on the farm.  Hope to get out on the lake a little more this season.  Thinking about a bigger trailer so we can tow more sleds.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

750-h2

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 53
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2018, 10:03:22 PM »
My friend bought a brand new 1978 Intruder. It was a fast sled. Would easily beat my 1977 Kawasaki /Sno Jet with a 440 Yamie.
Top end, 75 to 80 mph.

kawhead

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 524
Re: New Season Starting!
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2018, 09:34:18 AM »
the way you describe the sled sounds just like the issues we had on the 81/82 intruders with jetting....