I just got a project sled traded to me. I know nothing about them at all. I do know that it doesnt run. The previous owner said that it just needed a fresh top end. I want to use it a few times to see if I even like snowmobiling at all and then I plan to sell it. I am willing to sell it in its current condition, but would rather rebuild it and try it out first. If you would like to make an offer then PM me. I'll have pictures up, and a new post when its ready to go. I believe it is a 2001 or 2002, its an MXZ 600 all black.

First off, I have rebuilt my old Yamaha Blaster a bunch of times, so I have a basic idea of what to do. Looking at the engine, i only see bolts holding the cylinder down on the intake side by the carburetors, but there are no bolts on the exhaust side. Are the bolts on the carb side the only ones I need to remove to get the cylinder off?

Also, I'm not familiar with the powervalve system. Can I remove the RAVE round black plastic things and get the powervalve out to clean it? Will I definitely need to get new gaskets for them? Are the red disks on the end for tuning them?

I removed the exhaust expansion chamber to seal it to the Y pipe with gasket glue since exhaust came out when I was trying to get it started. I put the pipe back on and now its either touching, or verrrrry close to touching the cowl(hood) and possibly one of the vents when I close it. I dont know if it was touching or not before i removed it. It does have a heat shield on it, but will it still get hot enough to melt the hood or vent?

The last thing is, when I straighten out the skii's one of them seems to be perfectly straight and one of them is aiming out just a little bit. What will this do when I'm riding? How do i adjust it? Also the bars have a lot of play and move quite a bit before actually starting to turn the skii's.

You traded already!?!? Gooooooood decision. I'll check the compression when I come over to put the ignition system in the Integra, and we'll make sure thats the only reason it wont start. As long as the compression stays between 115 and 120psi in both cylinders then it should at least "run". Get brand new plugs, fresh gas with a high octane, and make sure the intake is clear. Put the plugs into the ignition wires and then set the ground electrode(curved piece of metal coming off of the bottom of the threads) onto the head or anything metal that can ground out the electricity. Then pull it over a few times and make sure that both plugs spark consistently with a bright blue spark. If they dont spark, dont spark consistently, or if they have a weak spark- which will be thin, not very bright, and usually a red/pink/or orange color, then you have an ignition problem. Otherwise, install the plugs and pull it over until you cant possibly pull anymore. If it doesnt start, than be paying attention for the smell of gas, which should come out of the exhaust which is on the pullstart side of your sled. Remove the plugs and see if they are wet with gas, and you should smell it coming out of the plug holes. You can pull it over a few times with the plugs removed to see if any gas splashes out of the holes, plus you will be able to see if the top of the pistons are wet through the holes in the daylight, or with a light. If its bone dry then you have a fuel system problem. This can be caused by a frozen gas line, clogged jet or jets in the carb, blocked intake airway, all of the above, as well as a few more things. If both of these seem normal, then you may just not have enough compression to run the engine. You can put pieces of tape over the plug holes and pull it over, it should POP them right off if there is decent compression. Sometimes you need to "clear out the cobbwebs" so to speak, and some guys use a SMALL amount of starting fluid to get it to fire up, but I personally dont use any on two strokes. You can very easily use too much and have an over-ignition which can blow your top end altogether, or blow out a gasket. If there are any aftermarket parts on the sled then there is a good chance that the jetting was messed with causing hard starting or a non-running condition. A lot of guys pipe their sleds and install aftermarket reed cages and change the jetting to compensate, then sell the aftermarket parts separately and dont re-jet the machine to run correctly with stock parts. Your ignition system for the Integra will be here on Wednesday or Thursday, and I'll take a look at the sled and check your compression when we're finished with the car.

Yeah, well thanks for all of the info but I dont want to end up screwing anything up if there isnt something really wrong with it. I'll let you take care of it, and thanks, I owe you one. You figure out whats wrong with it, and what needs to be done and then I'll learn by trying to fix it myself. Today is the only day I really have a lot of time, so if you can let me borrow your compression tester tonight, I'll give you that K&N for free.

HA, deal. I'll stop by around 6:30. I dont want to take the K&N for just letting you borrow the compression tester, I'll try to figure it all out tonight so you can get that thing ready to ride before the snow melts. So does this mean that since you traded for a sled, you arent getting a KTM tiddler?

Sled now runs strong, it had old gas. It has enough compression to start and run strong, but it is low enough that I will be rebuilding it before next season if it doesnt sell. Both cylinders have about 120, but it was checked before we got it running and you are sapposed to check when the engine is hot and the piston and rings expand so they probably have more than 120psi. I replaced the plugs as well, and did regular pre-ride maintenance, like track tension and chain tension and lube. Then I took her for a spin around the yard...and she's pretty fast.

what are you lookin to get outa it?

way toooo much!lol  $2000 for it- haha