1983 Yamaha ss440 (sled)?? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Mcstiff · 11-16-2004, 06:56 PM

Anybody know anything about the '83 Yamaha ss440 snowmobile? I am thinking about picking up 2 free ones and want to know if they are any good. Can you still get parts, ect? Upgrades?

smurfsdad · 11-17-2004, 06:51 AM

You could probably still get parts. They are slooow, have no suspension travel to speak of and have a conveyor belt for a track. If you have never had a snomobile and just want to try em, go for it. Just dont put much money in em as you will never get it back.

mondtster · 11-18-2004, 08:37 AM

smurfsdad pretty well summed it up. The old sleds are great for beginners or collectors. Don't put any money in them, because if you can't get them running with only a few dollars invested, you will exceed the value of the sled very fast with only 1 or 2 parts.

If you have ridden sleds before and are into them, you can find mid '90's sleds for very reasonable prices now. You can even get into a fairly new sled for a reasonable price now and then. I would go this route instead in this case if I were you.

No matter how you go, sleds are money pits, so be prepared. My buddy just dropped close to $400 just to get his sled ready to ride this winter and hasn't really done much to it yet. This is just for all normal wear parts such as studs and carbides and stuff too, and who knows what else he will have to buy due to wrecks and the like throughout the winter.

mondtster · 11-18-2004, 08:38 AM

Forgot to mention, parts should be fairly available yet in both new and used variety. Parts Unlimited supports the old stuff fairly well yet, and Ebay is a good source for used parts at a reasonable price too.

slapnutz · 11-18-2004, 07:21 PM

Vintage snowmobiles are a major pain in the rear. They dont handle well, have poor power and lack good handling. Try one on a test ride before you take them-free sometimes is very expensive. Be prepared to spend $$$.

mondtster · 11-18-2004, 07:34 PM

If you get 2 of them though, parts won't be that bad. One can be used as a parts sled...

They can be ill handling though in comparison to the new sleds. The newer IFS sleds handle better and if you get into the '90's they have decent suspension. You'll end up with a bad back if you ride the old sleds much on bumpy surfaces such as going across a field or something like that.

The biggest issue with old sleds is the fact that they often require more wrenching time than riding time. I had an old John Deere sled that required about 2 hours of wrench time to get 1 hour of ride time out of it. Not the best deal, but I had more time than money then, as well as fewer places to ride that would require a better sled.

11-16-2004, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mcstiff Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3413 Location: Denver, Co USA Posts: 1,323	1983 Yamaha ss440 (sled)?? Anybody know anything about the '83 Yamaha ss440 snowmobile? I am thinking about picking up 2 free ones and want to know if they are any good. Can you still get parts, ect? Upgrades? __________________ cuando empezemos, no me di yo cuenta, de que luego tuviera que pagar pero, si se cambie, me muera a acostarme con ti, con ti

11-17-2004, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
smurfsdad Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 324 Location: Nevada Posts: 4,005	You could probably still get parts. They are slooow, have no suspension travel to speak of and have a conveyor belt for a track. If you have never had a snomobile and just want to try em, go for it. Just dont put much money in em as you will never get it back. __________________ Family, Friends, riders and racers, its who we are.

11-18-2004, 07:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
slapnutz Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24289 Location: Sacramento Posts: 185	Vintage snowmobiles are a major pain in the rear. They dont handle well, have poor power and lack good handling. Try one on a test ride before you take them-free sometimes is very expensive. Be prepared to spend $$$. __________________ "I've learned over the years that I have to be careful of the toes I step on today because they could be connected to the ASS I HAVE TO KISS tomorrow."

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11-18-2004, 08:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
mondtster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25349 Location: Waterloo, IA Posts: 3,648	smurfsdad pretty well summed it up. The old sleds are great for beginners or collectors. Don't put any money in them, because if you can't get them running with only a few dollars invested, you will exceed the value of the sled very fast with only 1 or 2 parts. If you have ridden sleds before and are into them, you can find mid '90's sleds for very reasonable prices now. You can even get into a fairly new sled for a reasonable price now and then. I would go this route instead in this case if I were you. No matter how you go, sleds are money pits, so be prepared. My buddy just dropped close to $400 just to get his sled ready to ride this winter and hasn't really done much to it yet. This is just for all normal wear parts such as studs and carbides and stuff too, and who knows what else he will have to buy due to wrecks and the like throughout the winter.

11-18-2004, 08:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
mondtster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25349 Location: Waterloo, IA Posts: 3,648	Forgot to mention, parts should be fairly available yet in both new and used variety. Parts Unlimited supports the old stuff fairly well yet, and Ebay is a good source for used parts at a reasonable price too.

11-18-2004, 07:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
mondtster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Member # 25349 Location: Waterloo, IA Posts: 3,648	If you get 2 of them though, parts won't be that bad. One can be used as a parts sled... They can be ill handling though in comparison to the new sleds. The newer IFS sleds handle better and if you get into the '90's they have decent suspension. You'll end up with a bad back if you ride the old sleds much on bumpy surfaces such as going across a field or something like that. The biggest issue with old sleds is the fact that they often require more wrenching time than riding time. I had an old John Deere sled that required about 2 hours of wrench time to get 1 hour of ride time out of it. Not the best deal, but I had more time than money then, as well as fewer places to ride that would require a better sled.