My Father's first sled was a 1969 Nordic. Next he bought a '71 Skidoo Elan, then he sold the '69 Nordic and bought a 1972 Nordic 640er. Great memories. He also owned a Starcraft, and his final purchase was a 1979 Polaris Cobra 340. My personal favorites were the '72 Elan and the '79 Polaris. Great memories. My intention is to buy a vintage sled one day, buy a piece of land in the north country, and just to enjoy snowmobiling again.
I often wonder if i should message my dad i have no idea where he is or even if his phone number is conected anymore but last time i seen him he was on the run from the police and i dont even know what he did he might not be the best father but i miss him but at the same time having him around is harder then not ik when he passes it will be a very sad time in my life but im just not quite shure its worth it 😕
Relish these days, Toby. I spent many years riding with my dad. Rupp, Skiroule, Yamaha, SkiDog, Arctic Cat, Ariens, and Alouette were the main sleds we had. Mainly stuck with Arctic Cat, but all had their place. All the sleds are gone now, and so is dad. This video really has me thinking of him right now. Sure brings a tear to the eye with the memories. Thanks, guys, for the video.
Ours was a 1976 Super Brute 340. 42" ski stance and aluminum ski's 18" long. Brother ordered it and picked it up at the factory. Used it both for grass and ice drags as well as oval racing. I don't remember the exact how, but it is in some way connected to Rupp and Massey Harris/Ferguson if I remember correctly. House fire took all my documentation in '14, so only going on memory now.
Great video Squatch! Your father is just like my grandfather when it comes to dialing in a carburetor. They do it all by ear. My grandfather will be 84 on the 4th of July and still working on small engines. Cheers
@@bigredgreg1 I truly believe that if it's something you enjoy doing it will keep you going. My grandfather retired when he was 70 and couldn't hack it. He enjoyed talking to all of his customers to much. And like everything else nowadays it's hard to find a good mechanic. Cheers
That thing is nearly as old as I am! So cool! I have run a lot of two strokes, and always loved them. I hope to see this one run for many years to come.
I always enjoy spending time with Senior no matter what the project. What a great contrast - little revvy 2 strokes to great plodding Cat diesels, keep it coming Squatch.
You've hit the proverbial nail on the head here with your comment, for me, and I'm guessing for so many viewers. The contrast of the machines, the wonderful personalities, the disparate content, the delivery and production skills, etc., etc. I'm definitely one of the people that don't care if it's painting a Farmall, restoring X231, X253, or any CAT, MM, Ford or other make tractor or dozer, or swapping out the interior and other parts of Toby's pick-up trucks. It's all good to me! This channel should have SO MANY more subscribers.
I can smell the 2-stroke smoke. :-) That was back in the day when owners spent more time fixing than riding. :-) I hope to see you two at the swap meet in late April if it is not rained or snowed out.
Brings backs memories of being on a toboggan dragged behind to the hill we use to go tobogganing on, 2 on the skidoo and 3 on the toboggan. Good times don’t see kids doing that anymore 😞
Love the sound of those old 440 two-strokes. Had first snowmobile in 1968 so this Nordic is familiar to me. 440s were top of the line at that time. Not the best riding or handling, but simple to work on and maintain. Glad you posted this video!
It’s nice too see someone hanging out with their Dad. My Dad moved to Vancouver, WA. from Spokane, WA. and I haven’t seen him for around 2 years. I REALLY miss hanging out with him.
Thanks ! This video just rewound my brain about 45 years . We had a '69 Nordic . I remember the smell on my clothes after dad started it in the garage . NICE !
Always good to see Sr's projects! One can tell by watching him ride that there's decades worth of experience there! I'd bet that before Squatch came about, it would've been hard to keep up with Sr on any of these.
@@squatch253 Aah - that would explain it(lol). Could be time for more of Sr's tech advice in videos - even tho you're technically coming out of snowmobile season.
Great video Toby! Always nice seeing old iron run. I’ve always wanted a Colt free air but haven’t found one. The suspension nowadays is hard to give up to run those old sleds
Reminds me of the 74 everest tnt440 I had, great running simple little sled, pull start broke and I couldn't afford a new one in highschool so I'd just wrap a rope around the clutch, give it two primer pumps and off it would go!
Long ago and how I miss those days. Awesome video of you and senior enjoying spring riding in Minnesota. Great looking machine. Many memories of my youth. Your channel brings a smile to my face.
Amazing how a small dab of silicone can cause so much trouble. That as a testament to your Dads skill to figure it out! Love to see these old machines up and running.
@@dennishayes65 Hello there Dennis sorry for the delayed reply I am the youngest of seven siblings which mostly reside in the south east part of America,though we have relatives spread throughout the country.
Awesome vid! Im a 70’s skidoo guy so i was all about this one! You cant beat the feel of vintage sleds. I love watching all your vids. I like how your a “ get it done guy”. Nothing is a road block just a speed bump.
I have a Skandik with a 335 single , There is nothing like making new tracks in the snow every turn is your own decision not following in anyone else's. great video.
Good memories being made there, snowmobiling with your dad. Used to go to my brothers farm by Strawberry lake in Minnesota every year and snowmobile, those were some great times
Wow lots of snow this year. I learned to never use silicone on a 2 stroke motor, it degrades when in contact with fuel. My go to sealant is Locktite 515 or Permatex Flange sealant, both are anaerobic and not affected by fuel. 👍👍
Those tillotson Carbs are the bane of my existence, have several large mcCulloch chainsaws that use them. Think they're too big a carb for the size of engine, they run just fine, once you get it running, but you can pull on the rope all day and they often won't prime, have to squirt some down their throat to get it going. Always thought sleds were fun, but they're just too rich for my blood, they cost as much as my car, and you just don't get that much time a year to play with them, and very high maintenance, if the skis, clutches, and track are all out of alignment by just a 1/8" you can lose a quarter of your power, granted might not notice as much on a newer sled. My brother had sleds, totaled three of them, one ran into mail box, the second hit a tree, and the third found a drainage culvert.
@Squatch253 buying something for the resale value is like not banging your ol lady to keep her tight for the next guy, buy what you want, ride it like you stole it and sell it for what you can when you decide to upgrade. 🤷♂️
Never a bad day for a sled ride. Nice work on the old Ski Doo, Senior! Used to have a '71 Moto Ski Capri with a 292 Hirth. Always had to carry a spare set of plugs while out riding because you just never know!
I had a Nordic the 1st year it came out and in the fullness of time I came to realize it was very poorly designed. The track was too wide, the skis didn’t have enough weight on them to maneuver well, and it was under powered. But it looked really nice!
There's something I haven't done since the 70's growing up in Michigan we had a snowmobile. I'm actually surprised I survived my teen years because of all the wild stunts me and my friends did on them. I've only seen snow twice since the Coast Guard transfered me to Miami Airstation. That Nordic is in beautiful shape. So basic a sled. No bells and whistles just straight up simple easy to keep up. Good engine tho.
Great video! Brings back memories. Like to get hold of a 1970 Nordic 640 again. Rode it for years as a kid on the farm. Still had it a few years ago, till someone stole the f250 it was on. Got the truck back, but not the skidoo. Drop me a note if you come across a half decent one.
Awesome video thanks for sharing ever since I saw a snowmobile I always wanted to put one of those engines on a go cart (that was when I was young) and could have rode it lol
In the mid-sixties my dad took me to the dealership to test drive one of these there was a long driveway way next door I started riding one gunned it, fell off and throttle stuck it keep going jumped a shrub and ran into the foundation of a house. I was freaking out. We left and a few minutes we just broke out in laughter
Those snowmobiles look great fun to ride. I've never seen one in the flesh as we don't really get much snow at all in the south east of England. Also one snowflake and the whole area comes to a stop anyway. Do they have little wheels on the ski's to go over roads and stuff where there is no snow?
Stub, the skis have replaceable wear bars on the bottoms. Besides, how else ya gonna cross the road? Minnesota has a very extensive snowmobile trail network maintained by local clubs.
Where on earth are you getting parts for these old gals? I need to rebuild my 88 cheyenne with the Rotax 503 and single carb, it is givin my nothin but grief, wont start wont stay running; new electronics thru it with confirmed spark.
My Father's first sled was a 1969 Nordic. Next he bought a '71 Skidoo Elan, then he sold the '69 Nordic and bought a 1972 Nordic 640er. Great memories. He also owned a Starcraft, and his final purchase was a 1979 Polaris Cobra 340. My personal favorites were the '72 Elan and the '79 Polaris. Great memories. My intention is to buy a vintage sled one day, buy a piece of land in the north country, and just to enjoy snowmobiling again.
Enjoy your father. Lost mine when I was 38. 73 now. Still miss him was a good man.
I think of this often as I still have my dad, but he lost his when he was 30. He still talks about him all the time 40 years later.
I have y'all beet. Lost my dad to cancer at 9... And, I Bathe/admire in their rapport.
I often wonder if i should message my dad i have no idea where he is or even if his phone number is conected anymore but last time i seen him he was on the run from the police and i dont even know what he did he might not be the best father but i miss him but at the same time having him around is harder then not ik when he passes it will be a very sad time in my life but im just not quite shure its worth it 😕
72 Nordic 440. That is my dads sleed🎉
The heck with the sleds, nice to see someone having some quality "Father and Son time".
Relish these days, Toby. I spent many years riding with my dad. Rupp, Skiroule, Yamaha, SkiDog, Arctic Cat, Ariens, and Alouette were the main sleds we had. Mainly stuck with Arctic Cat, but all had their place. All the sleds are gone now, and so is dad. This video really has me thinking of him right now. Sure brings a tear to the eye with the memories. Thanks, guys, for the video.
@@squatch253 Alouette, sounds French? Canadian or from France?
@@casparberends2719 Alouette was a "high performance" Canadian brand, though they were eventually moved to Maine.
Ours was a 1976 Super Brute 340. 42" ski stance and aluminum ski's 18" long. Brother ordered it and picked it up at the factory. Used it both for grass and ice drags as well as oval racing. I don't remember the exact how, but it is in some way connected to Rupp and Massey Harris/Ferguson if I remember correctly. House fire took all my documentation in '14, so only going on memory now.
Great video Squatch! Your father is just like my grandfather when it comes to dialing in a carburetor. They do it all by ear. My grandfather will be 84 on the 4th of July and still working on small engines. Cheers
I hope Senior will still be tinkering with sleds when he’s 84, but he has a while to go I believe. I’m still a pup at 74 and I’m older than Senior.
@@bigredgreg1 I truly believe that if it's something you enjoy doing it will keep you going. My grandfather retired when he was 70 and couldn't hack it. He enjoyed talking to all of his customers to much. And like everything else nowadays it's hard to find a good mechanic. Cheers
That thing is nearly as old as I am! So cool! I have run a lot of two strokes, and always loved them. I hope to see this one run for many years to come.
Greetings from Maghera,County Derry,Northern Ireland,I loved your video
OK, thanks for that reply . I love watching you and your DAD working together .thats something i never had .that is a realey nice farm you have there
I always enjoy spending time with Senior no matter what the project. What a great contrast - little revvy 2 strokes to great plodding Cat diesels, keep it coming Squatch.
You've hit the proverbial nail on the head here with your comment, for me, and I'm guessing for so many viewers. The contrast of the machines, the wonderful personalities, the disparate content, the delivery and production skills, etc., etc. I'm definitely one of the people that don't care if it's painting a Farmall, restoring X231, X253, or any CAT, MM, Ford or other make tractor or dozer, or swapping out the interior and other parts of Toby's pick-up trucks. It's all good to me! This channel should have SO MANY more subscribers.
A mature Squatch in his natural habitat - on a snowmobile!
I can smell the 2-stroke smoke. :-) That was back in the day when owners spent more time fixing than riding. :-)
I hope to see you two at the swap meet in late April if it is not rained or snowed out.
Brings backs memories of being on a toboggan dragged behind to the hill we use to go tobogganing on, 2 on the skidoo and 3 on the toboggan. Good times don’t see kids doing that anymore 😞
A 1972 Rotex engine running.
That's a sound i have not heard in many years.
Music to my ears!!
Vintage still sounds way better than todays.
Love those old snowmobiles.
Nothing like an old Ski doo,, good looking sled. I had a 72 335 Olympic back in high school. Good memories.
Love the sound of those old 440 two-strokes. Had first snowmobile in 1968 so this Nordic is familiar to me. 440s were top of the line at that time. Not the best riding or handling, but simple to work on and maintain. Glad you posted this video!
Good to see Sr. again.....enjoy your time together
Hundreds and hundreds of hrs on a Nordic 371E pulling me and others. Plus double tracks alpine. Olympic. Tnt 340.
It’s nice too see someone hanging out with their Dad. My Dad moved to Vancouver, WA. from Spokane, WA. and I haven’t seen him for around 2 years. I REALLY miss hanging out with him.
Thanks ! This video just rewound my brain about 45 years . We had a '69 Nordic . I remember the smell on my clothes after dad started it in the garage . NICE !
Always good to see Sr's projects! One can tell by watching him ride that there's decades worth of experience there! I'd bet that before Squatch came about, it would've been hard to keep up with Sr on any of these.
@@squatch253 Aah - that would explain it(lol). Could be time for more of Sr's tech advice in videos - even tho you're technically coming out of snowmobile season.
Great video Toby! Always nice seeing old iron run. I’ve always wanted a Colt free air but haven’t found one. The suspension nowadays is hard to give up to run those old sleds
Hearing the old 2 cycle snowmobiles brings back memories! Thanks
Reminds me of the 74 everest tnt440 I had, great running simple little sled, pull start broke and I couldn't afford a new one in highschool so I'd just wrap a rope around the clutch, give it two primer pumps and off it would go!
Enjoyed the video! It's good to see you guys having some fun!
What fun, y’all have some great toy and a good place to play!
Long ago and how I miss those days. Awesome video of you and senior enjoying spring riding in Minnesota. Great looking machine. Many memories of my youth. Your channel brings a smile to my face.
Nice ol' Ski-Doo. Brings back memories for sure. Thanks for sharing guys. You still have a lot of snow ❄
Takes me back. I remember that sound. Had a 71 ish Nordic when I was a kid. Always messing with it to keep running.
Man, I was a sophomore in high school when that Ski-Doo was new. Great work Senior! Thanks for sharing Squatch.
Amazing how a small dab of silicone can cause so much trouble. That as a testament to your Dads skill to figure it out! Love to see these old machines up and running.
Love seeing a fella my age still out there getting after it. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the ride. Sr’s sled is awesome.
It's nice to see those old snow scooters brought back to life again! looks like Sr. is having fun as well that is awesome
Eric Hayes: Where are you from? Maybe your a relative of mine!
@@dennishayes65 Hello there Dennis sorry for the delayed reply I am the youngest of seven siblings which mostly reside in the south east part of America,though we have relatives spread throughout the country.
Beautiful place! Good to see you both enjoying it! I envy you quite a bit after such videos.
Awesome vid! Im a 70’s skidoo guy so i was all about this one! You cant beat the feel of vintage sleds. I love watching all your vids. I like how your a “ get it done guy”. Nothing is a road block just a speed bump.
Amazing video! Great to see yall out having a good time.
I have a Skandik with a 335 single , There is nothing like making new tracks in the snow every turn is your own decision not following in anyone else's. great video.
Snowmobiles. What a blast. It's been ages since I've driven one. Miss it.
Good memories being made there, snowmobiling with your dad. Used to go to my brothers farm by Strawberry lake in Minnesota every year and snowmobile, those were some great times
Good job on the sled! I’d like to have one but, years like this one, we only got 1/2” of snow in PA.
Great ride! No vintage sleds here (Florida) but I do have my vintage 1971 Rupp Roadster2 and Blackwidow minibikes!
Wow lots of snow this year. I learned to never use silicone on a 2 stroke motor, it degrades when in contact with fuel. My go to sealant is Locktite 515 or Permatex Flange sealant, both are anaerobic and not affected by fuel. 👍👍
That is a nice running and looking machine. Nice work Senior.
Great job. Looks like that old Ski-Doo can still Ski-Daddle
Great video . Memories made with your dad are priceless.I sure miss my father .
Awesome tour of the place!! The snow is deep for sure. Great time with your dad!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!
Those tillotson Carbs are the bane of my existence, have several large mcCulloch chainsaws that use them. Think they're too big a carb for the size of engine, they run just fine, once you get it running, but you can pull on the rope all day and they often won't prime, have to squirt some down their throat to get it going. Always thought sleds were fun, but they're just too rich for my blood, they cost as much as my car, and you just don't get that much time a year to play with them, and very high maintenance, if the skis, clutches, and track are all out of alignment by just a 1/8" you can lose a quarter of your power, granted might not notice as much on a newer sled. My brother had sleds, totaled three of them, one ran into mail box, the second hit a tree, and the third found a drainage culvert.
@Squatch253 buying something for the resale value is like not banging your ol lady to keep her tight for the next guy, buy what you want, ride it like you stole it and sell it for what you can when you decide to upgrade. 🤷♂️
Looks like you and your father have a great relationship wish I could go back and spend more time with my father
Never a bad day for a sled ride. Nice work on the old Ski Doo, Senior! Used to have a '71 Moto Ski Capri with a 292 Hirth. Always had to carry a spare set of plugs while out riding because you just never know!
Good vid. Wish I had senior’s back. Three pulls would have set me down. Steve
UA-cam must have added that new "Video Odour" feature. I can definitely smell something when that engine started.
Oh man... that Ski-Doo is a doozy. Nicely done!
I had a Nordic the 1st year it came out and in the fullness of time I came to realize it was very poorly designed. The track was too wide, the skis didn’t have enough weight on them to maneuver well, and it was under powered. But it looked really nice!
Excellent! Kind of would like to get a snowmobile again.
There's something I haven't done since the 70's growing up in Michigan we had a snowmobile.
I'm actually surprised I survived my teen years because of all the wild stunts me and my friends did on them.
I've only seen snow twice since the Coast Guard transfered me to Miami Airstation.
That Nordic is in beautiful shape.
So basic a sled.
No bells and whistles just straight up simple easy to keep up.
Good engine tho.
That was a great run, the graders are waiting patiently.
Don't let the buyer take it until Sunday! Rain, snow, or sun.
The good old days of snowmobiling …..ride for an hour and then fix it for three!
I my-self am a 1972 West Texas flat land model. 👋🤠
The '72 Looks great! And even if the sled you are riding was thirty years newer, it's vintage too :)
I can smell the two-smoke through the screen
I swear I can smell the two-stroke oil through the screen.
My best to senior
Great video! Brings back memories. Like to get hold of a 1970 Nordic 640 again. Rode it for years as a kid on the farm. Still had it a few years ago, till someone stole the f250 it was on. Got the truck back, but not the skidoo. Drop me a note if you come across a half decent one.
Awesome video and that ole skidoo get round pretty sweet and runs excellent 👍
Well now! That was fun! :o)
Awesome video thanks for sharing ever since I saw a snowmobile I always wanted to put one of those engines on a go cart (that was when I was young) and could have rode it lol
That was fun
Would really like to see how well that drain you built works when snow melts in Spring
Senior is looking cool on the vintage ride
That looks like its way to much fun. really enjoyed the video. 👍
Great Video, thank you
Too much fun!
You guys sure have lots of snow. We dont have near as much here in northern alberta
I use a plastic squeeze bottle when priming a carb. No spills, very safe.
I’d be afraid of sitting that close to that carburetor, afraid of it backfiring right in the jewel’s 🤣
You’re fortunate to have such a good time with your dad. What was your machine?
This scenery is awesome, I don't see this living in Brisbane, Australia.
Thanks fellas👍👍
Enjoy!
the old springer my aching back
A couple of wookies in the woods on yer speeder bikes.
#1 rule ,, no silly cone around fuel delivery systems 😅😅
In the mid-sixties my dad took me to the dealership to test drive one of these there was a long driveway way next door I started riding one gunned it, fell off and throttle stuck it keep going jumped a shrub and ran into the foundation of a house. I was freaking out. We left and a few minutes we just broke out in laughter
love that snowmobileing how much land do you have if you dont mind me asking
looks like the barges shouldn't have any trouble navigating the Mississippi this year, hopefully it doesn't melt too fast.
Those snowmobiles look great fun to ride. I've never seen one in the flesh as we don't really get much snow at all in the south east of England. Also one snowflake and the whole area comes to a stop anyway. Do they have little wheels on the ski's to go over roads and stuff where there is no snow?
❤
Might not be able to do anything in the fields till May? Does that mean more X231 videos? I hope so.
Does senior need a carburetor. It's off a Alpine 399 Double track machine.
😊👍
Never even been close to one of those things, do you get any heat off the engine behind the cowl?
Are you still riding the little 340?
Do they not use air filters due to there not being much dust when everything is frozen? Or is it just hidden in the engine cover?
Nice rides! I’m impressed how easy they went across pavement! Doesn’t that damage the skis?
Stub, the skis have replaceable wear bars on the bottoms. Besides, how else ya gonna cross the road? Minnesota has a very extensive snowmobile trail network maintained by local clubs.
@@squatch253 Great info! Never realized they had carbide inserts! That answers my question. Thank you sir
And how long to break in the rings to cut back on the smoke?
@@squatch253 Got the 2 cycle. 🙂 Just wondering the ring break in for a 2 cycle rebuild and if already done. I'm a learner ... life long curse.
Where on earth are you getting parts for these old gals? I need to rebuild my 88 cheyenne with the Rotax 503 and single carb, it is givin my nothin but grief, wont start wont stay running; new electronics thru it with confirmed spark.
Having never seen one afore, I'm just wonderin': Are the track just purely rubber?
@@squatch253 Thanks, Squatch, appreciated.