1983 Yamaha Excel III

[Snowman02]

About two years ago my neighbor told me he had an old snowmobile sitting in his backyard, and I could have it if I wanted it. I wasn’t really interested at that time, but got thinking about it again. I wanted a different project, and figured I could get it running and if I didn’t like it, sell it. Now after I took it for a ride, I’m addicted.

He said it last ran 6 years ago, but I think it may have been longer. I don’t remember, but my dad said it was really nice when he bought it. It’s a shame he left it outside. He said when he put it outside, he went to start it the next year, the battery froze, and he didn’t feel like messing with it anymore.

In this thread, I’m going to document what I have done, and what still has to be done to it. First, here are a few pictures from when I found it.

[Vintagesleds.com]

[Snowman02]

Now the fun part began: digging it out. On one side was a rolled over truck, dead tractor, and a boat. On the other side was about 70 feet of woods out to the road. I decided it would be easier to go through the woods. I took one of my tractors out and made a trail, drug it out, put it on the trailer and took it home.

[Snowman02]

A couple more pictures after I got it home. The motor is locked up, the belly pan is rotted, the seat is destroyed, and odometer is showing 2314 miles.

[Snowman02]

 More pictures.

[Snowman02]

i got it in the garage and started taking it apart. I rinsed the fuel tank and cleaned the carburetor. I pulled the heads off and poured some oil down the cylinders. The left side was free, the right side was stuck. It freed up after a few days. I put it back together and got it running. It would run on starting fluid but was not getting enough fuel to stay running. I took the carb off and cleaned it again, and it ran pretty good after that. I also gave it a quick pressure washing in that time.

[Skier76]

Great project! What a save too.

[Snowman02]

Great project! What a save too.

Thanks, stay tuned for another update later today.

[Snowman02]

Now that I know it runs, it is time to start making it look nice. I polished the dirt and oxidation off the hood and found the paint is nearly perfect. I have to work on the top a little more yet where the tarp was laying, but the rest is good. The windshield also cleaned up nice. There is a small crack in the bottom right corner, but the rest is fine. The bumper has some pitting, but most of it cleaned up good. I still have to do the footrests, and find a better seat.

[yamakid]

Looks Mint!!!

[toocheaptosmoke]

Pretty sweet.   

[Snowman02]

When we finally got snow, I decide to take it out for a test drive. I got about 30 feet down the driveway and it started to bog down, then died. It wouldn’t restart, so I towed it back up to the garage. It wasn’t getting gas to the carb. I took the fuel pump apart, and it was plugged up with pine needles. I don’t know how they got there, I drained and rinsed the tank out, and there is a filter inside.
I got a new fuel pump, lines, and a filter. I got it back together just in time for the snow. I took it out and rode it around for about a half hour. It was running good. Stalled once, but started right back up. Some initial observations: the brakes don’t work, the rear suspension needs work, the electric start doesn’t work, and all of the lights burned out. Runs really good though.

[Snowman02]

I took it out again the next day. It ran good for the half hour I had it out. Toward the end of the ride I noticed something wasn’t right in the steering. The handlebars were a little off center, and seemed a little loose. Eventually something let go and it would barely steer.

Toward the end of the video, you may notice the steering is off.
https://youtu.be/QIg4OVBdMoc

[Skier76]

Check the wiring for missing insulation. I had a mouse chew through a tail light wire and it caused issues with the lights since that wire was now grounding out on the chassis. More recently, I kept blowing headlight bulbs. That was a wiring harness on the exhaust issue.    All set now.

[Snowman02]

Check the wiring for missing insulation. I had a mouse chew through a tail light wire and it caused issues with the lights since that wire was now grounding out on the chassis. More recently, I kept blowing headlight bulbs. That was a wiring harness on the exhaust issue.    All set now.

The wiring all looks really good. Surprisingly I didn’t find any signs of mice anywhere. I replaced the voltage regulator,  so far no lights burned out, but I haven’t been able to ride it yet.

[Snowman02]

After a quick look, I found the steering problem. The part where the column bolts to the belly pan rotted off. The plan is to patch it temporarily, then fix it right later.