Updated 5/24/10
(338 Mini Sno added below, Registry updated, Moto-Ski video and
photos added to Vintage Photos section of History)
MOTO-SKI REGISTRY
Now 1963-1975
Lets see what sleds have survived! Help add to it by emailing me your
Moto-Ski's year, model, original engine, and model
and serial numbers. I hope by listing the email addresses of the
registered sleds to build a support network of people
all sharing similar interests.
HISTORY OF MOTO-SKI
(1963-1973)
This section outlines the differences by year as well as provides production
numbers and engine options. Complete parts manuals are being added as well as some owners manuals.
Also check out the vintage photos section.
We got the opportunity to
attend the 2nd annual Paul Bunyan vintage sled ride in Bangor,
Maine, and had a blast of a time.
The weather was perfect and the 36+ vintage sleds made for quite a
sight and sound. Our '69 Zephyr 500 and '70 Ski-Mo
cutter made the trip as well as my uncle's '70 Capri and a friend's
'70 MS-18. Shows are fun but there is nothing like getting out
and enjoying the old machines as they were intended.
OUR COLLECTION:
1972
Moto-Ski MS-18 400 (398ccm JLO)
(Foreground)
This was my second moto-ski and has been with us
for quite a few years now. It is my favorite to trail ride because
rarely does it ever give any trouble and, believe it or not, it is one of the
most maneuverable machines I have. With just
the right throttle and weight shift you can get it to pivot at mid-track
cutting tight corners but at the same time there
is not a hill or drift that will stop it.
1976 Moto-Ski Nuvik 340
(Type 343 Rotax)
(Background)
I received it in trade for work on a trail bike and another
snowmobile. The engine runs great and the sliders are like new.
The seat is in perfect condition but the original cowling had some close
encounters with a solid object so it has been changed
to a nice '77 hood since this picture was taken (the '77
decals look similar).
1973 Moto-Ski Zephyr 340 (336ccm BSE )
The 1973 Zephyr and Capri models are notorious for having hoods broken beyond
recognition but this one somehow avoided that
fate (220 original miles has something to do with it). New
decals and a recovered seat make it a decent old machine.
1973 Moto-Ski F-440 (436ccm BSE)
I drove by this machine for a few years but was
recently able to strike a deal and bring it home. Its in very good original condition and came
with the electric start option. It needs some
cleaning and tweaking but a good original seat and gas tank cover make this a
keeper.
1972 Moto-Ski Zephyr 340 (336ccm
BSE)
This machine is a nice original with
the exception of new decals on the hood. It is an interesting
machine in that it started life as
a '71 Zephyr that never sold so was
converted either at the factory or a dealership to a '72. You
can still see where the '71 ID tag was
drilled off and it came with the '71
plastic chain case and clutch setup. Tough financial times at
Moto-Ski meant saving money whenever possible.
1971 Moto-Ski Capri 292 #1
(292ccm Hirth)
This one is pictured above on the left and is a good runner with lots of power
for the engine size.
It has the plastic instead of fiberglass hood (like the '72 next to it) but was
still painted from factory
('72 just let the orange plastic do the work which still buffs out
shiny
today).
1972 Moto-Ski Capri 400 (398ccm JLO)
(2nd from left in the above picture)
We got this machine for parts quite a while ago but could not bear to split it
up. A new crank and it was
running great. It does have the original seats but they are showing their
age so it will never be anything
to bring to a show but it is mechanically excellent with a very solid body.
1971 Moto-Ski Capri 292 #2
(Above on the right)
This is the twin to the one pictured above and also has the painted plastic
hood. It still has its original air box,
rubber gas tank strap (hard to find not brittle and broken), and factory
plastic warranty information card.
It has gotten the seat recovered to the original all black (yes the
292's had black seats not black and orange
like the more expensive models). There was enough of the original
cover left to pull the staples,
cut the seams, and lay out for an exact copy on new material.
1971 Moto-Ski Grand Prix 338 (338ccm JLO) (Above on the left)
It started out that I spotted one while driving and ended up owning it.
It's not in terrible shape so we planned
to fix it until we ran across another identical 338 Grand Prix a week later
(only 2 digits apart in the serial numbers) in
better shape but needing a few of the pieces that the first one has (hard to
find spark plug trap door in the shrouding,
working tach, flawless side scoops and others). The best of both will be
combined to make for a nice sled with the first
sled acting as a parts machine.
1971 Moto-Ski Mini Snos (#1 223ccm JLO left) (#2 338ccm Hirth right)
#1
We purchased this sled from the son of the original owners only about 15
miles from where it was purchased new.
The funny part is that my father test drove this exact one back in 1971 at the
local dealership before it was bought
and remembers when the buyers came and picked it up. The little sled has
been stored indoors for most of its life
and so has been preserved fairly well. Even though it was marketed as a
children's sled don't be fooled.
My first ride on it revealed that mini-snos are super tippy
buggers and the 10hp is more than enough power
to lift the skis off the ground (right over backwards if you were sitting
wrong) and carry them a long ways. #2 We recently found this original R-code 338
mini-sno complete minus the seat. I cant wait to restore this
sled
and get it on the snow to see just how crazy 28hp can be on a chassis
that can barely handle 10hp.
4 - 1970 Moto-Skis
#1 (pictured above)
This one is a Zephyr with a 375 JLO single. I consider it to be a
real time capsule that was
spared much of the abuse and neglect that so many sleds were subjected
to. It has a low serial number
for the model (C5J-70-17 ) and features
some interesting early 1970 characteristics like a '69
body (subtle differences from '70), a '69 backrest compartment and tail
light, and a '69 dash. Also
note that the sides of the headlights were never drilled for engine size
badges. It is
a nice original sled that goes well with our other ones. A special
thanks to the AnteDomenico
family for giving us the opportunity to have it in our
collection, it will always have a good home.
#2 (above left)
The second is a 338 Hirth Zephyr that was restored by my
father in law to its current nice condition. We have run it
quite a bit with great results and hope to put it through its paces on
many rides in the future.
#3 (above right)
The third is a MS-18 with a 500 Hirth. The cosmetics are quite good and even better
since it now has an original
pattern
blue and white seat. Luckily the two front and two rear track sprockets are in
great condition
(rare for a '68-'70 MS-18). I got to enter it in a radar
run at the Naples, Maine, Winterfest 2010 and reached 47 mph in 1/8
mile. Not bad for such a big machine. Behind in the photo is
our '70 ski-mo cutter purchased new with a '70 MS-18.
#4 (not pictured)
The last is an MS-18 that had a 372 JLO electric start when we got it but the
engine turned out to have fatal
internal issues. I considered taking the time to rebuild another 372 I
have access to but decided not to after looking
at a newly rebuilt 634 Hirth we had sitting in the corner waiting to go on
something. So long story short the machine is
now a 634 MS-18 with electric start (its so nice not to have to crank it over).
We have had the opportunity to drive it
around quite a bit and were and still are impressed at how smooth and powerful
the combination is.
1969 Moto-Ski Zephyr 500
(493ccm Hirth)
While this sled started its life out as a 300 single, it now has a 500 twin to
liven it up plus a deluxe dash to give it a
more model correct look. Before you write this off as an imaginative
custom job, however, I am not convinced that Moto-Ski
did not make a 500 Zephyr in 1969. The biggest reason for this is that I
have seen photos and decoded the numbers
of an original 1969 500 Capri plus heard from a few dealers back in the day
that they did in fact sell a very limited
number of them. From there it is not a very far stretch to assume that if
a 500 Capri was made then a Zephyr would
not be far behind. Anyone out there have, had, or know of an
original 500 Zephyr? The model number would be "34".
I would love to hear from anyone with any input on the subject.
1969 Moto-Ski Capri 760 JLO I knew squeezing a giant 760 JLO fan motor
onto a small 300 Capri chassis would be a challenge but that was
something of an understatement. The
entire driven clutch and supports had to be offset to the left like the
large engine '69-'70 super modified machines. I was lucky enough
to have an
extended front shaft and aluminum bearing block from a 634 Grand Prix
to match the offset and get the elephant engine to set centered on the
tunnel.
Heavy duty bogie springs, 2 extra leaf springs in each
ski, and arched ski extenders set the suspension up to handle the extra
weight and power. The
motor breathes through a combination of dual HD carbs and twin
megaphones that sound great in an open field and are plain lethal in a
closed garage.
This sled is a handful during regular operation and a white knuckle joy
at full throttle. The next steps are a short windshield and a
blue and white seat
in the style of the '69 super modifides.
1968 Moto-Ski Zephyr
(297ccm JLO)
This poor old sled came to us a few years ago in a sad state with an unoriginal
engine, a very rusted gas tank,
and the drive sprocket missing some teeth. The good news was the rest of
the body was in
great shape and the hood was solid. I have since welded in front pan
sections and the steering brace from a
'69 donor sled to convert it to a removable gas tank. A correct 297 JLO
has been located as well as a
good track, front and rear shafts/sprockets, backrest compartment, clutch
guard, and NOS backrest
cushion to make it whole again. It is patiently awaiting a sandblasting
and repaint.
1965 Moto-Ski Model 100
(247ccm JLO)
We totally stripped, sandblasted, primed and
painted this machine for my uncle in the summer of 2001 (The paint
on the cowling is original).
It was a lot of work but as you can see it was well
worth the time. This picture were taken at
the first annual 1 Lunger 100 held in Turner, Maine. Since then he has
acquired a Moto-Ski for every year from 1965-1972 and
plans to restore 1 a year. His sleds include '65-'67 Capris, a '68 Zephyr
300, '68 MS-18 297, '69 MS-18 300, '69 MS-18 500,
'70 MS-18 500,
'70 MS-18 634, '70 375 Capri, '71 634 Grand Prix,
'71 399 Capri, '71 Mini-Sno 223 and a '72 292 Capri.
CLICK HERE to
see a picture of this sled and the 3
others that started snowmobiling for this family in late 1969 .
1971 Rupp WT 634
(634ccm Hirth twin)
This sled went through a general mechanical overhaul but it was not in
terrible condition to start with. The plastic belly pan
and sides were all intact as well as the cowling which
was faded but never damaged. The 634 received a complete
overhaul and runs great. I have had it up to 65mph (by the
speedometer) with more to go, just not with me on it. This picture is
up to date including a new seat. The next areas to get attention
will be paint on the hood and skis and a better track.
2- 1968 Ski-Doos
Olympique on left(10.5
HP 247cc Rotax)
Super Olympique on right (16 HP 299cc Rotax)
Both machines are a
blast to ride and do very well in the deep snow. The Olympique was saved
from the scrap yard
a few years back and the Super Olympique was obtained by trading
a '70 Alpine we had. They both show their age
but are quite reliable and easy to handle.
1970 Sno-Jet Super Sport 500 (493ccm Hirth)
I rescued this sled from the back room of an old cow milking parlor that was
beginning to fall in on itself. The original 396 Yamaha
was missing as were the skis and seat but it was rock solid and the track was
good so it had potential (anything free has potential).
It now has a 500 Hirth twin , a
sport seat from a '73 moto ski, and skis from a '73 Star Jet. Note the
two holes in the hood, they
appear to be somebody's attempt to cool the muffler. It is not
restored but runs very well and will cruise at 45mph with little effort.
1973 Suzuki XR-440
(432ccm Suzuki Twin)
My father bought this Suzuki
brand new and has run it very minimal considering it is only on its second set
of
spark plugs. Since it has never set outside other than to run it, it is in
great shape. The only thing it needed was a
rear sprocket which it got (replaced front and rear). This was a top of
the line 85mph+
machine when new, not to shabby for a stock snowmobile in 1973
1970 Mercury Model 250 (right)
(436ccm Kiekhaefer)
This snowmobile was purchased new by a fellow in Rhode Island and
only had 1/2 tank of gas run
through it before being parked until now (wasn't ever registered either).
It still has the original seat and backrest
cushion as well as the mercury marine drive belt
1975 Mercury Trail-Twister 440 (left)
(436ccm Kohler Twin 50+ H.P.)
This project is back on the
map after about a year of setting idle. A good used jug was located for
the engine
which is back together and running. Parts of the slide frame had been
broke and welded back crooked
so that has been overhauled to a more usable state. It has a new
windshield and a new seat cover and did well
with LOTS of power the few times I rode it this past winter.
1968 Johnson Skee-Horse Wide-Trac 20
(362cc OMC opposed twin)
This machine was used for a short time hauling a sled to carry wood and then
placed up into a dry barn until we
brought it home. It came to us with the owners manual and dealer brochure
given out when the sled was new and still has
the original OMC drive belt under the seat as a spare. The opposed
twin runs great, the reverse is a blast, and a
new windshield makes it look pretty decent for an original sled.
1972 Boa-Ski R/T 340
(338ccm JLO model 2F340)
When I got this sled it was not in bad condition but needed many
maintenance type things and a good degreasing.
All bogie wheels needed to be changed, the engine needed a fan belt and
a PTO side seal, the brakes needed to be
overhauled, carburetor changed to the correct HD, all engine clutch
springs replaced, gas tank revamped, and a new windshield.
The engine runs very well from what I can see and should be a good sled
on the snow this winter. In case you noticed that
the hood says R/T 440, the other side actually has the correct R/T
340 decal but the original owner says that
is just the way he purchased it. Must have been a
Friday or Monday
built machine...
