ok so winter is soon approaching and like most of you i'm already getting ready! i am 15 years old and i have recently purchased a amazing exciter 440 it runs like a bat outta hell and pulls like mad! but also like many of you i have the need fo speed! :devil: i've been lookin for mods all summer so far i've come up with swappin the suspension with a indy 500 for a bit more travel?? being 15 i don't have a great job...yet so cheap mods wud b appreciated. even tho this is an amazing sled i have had a few problems can you help with them too? i have replaced the top end 2 times already (boring pistons and such) amounting to $800!! :( (quite a bit for me) it seems like if its warm out? or if i'm pulling high revs the PTO piston keeps blowing...yes a hole right down the piston every time same piston too...is it b/c its too warm?? all help will b greatly appreciated! feel free to email me with ne sudgestions at yes you guessed it foxracer39@hotmail.com thanx again!

Why are you driving it in the summer?

I drive mine all the time in the summer,,, across lakes,,, under lakes,,,lol
If you are looking for a cheap performance boost,,, you can loosen your track a bit,,, take away some of the resistance which robs you of power,,, dont go too loose or you will ratchet,,, I would look into a clutch kit as its the best bang for the buck,,, but I dont know who would make a kit for your sled,,, maybe hossman or mighty can give you a hand with that one,,,,
good luck and enjoy
Brian

I don't imagine that you'll be able to find too many performance parts for a machine of that vintage, unless someone's got some old parts packed away somewhere... Doing some basic maintenance and tuning will definitely give you some performance 'for free' - clean & align the clutches; clean and sync the carbs; change plugs... you know the basics. Judging by your problem with burn-downs, it definitely sounds like it's time to have a look at those carbs... are they jetted right? Are the carb boots in good shape? It sounds like something is leaning that one cylinder.... Good luck!

sounds like you might have a seal going out try spraying starting fluid around the seal while the sled is running if it revs up then you have found your problem. a good place to find performance parts is at hay days if you live close to the twin cities.

thanx for the help every1! it makes my life easier. ok so both times i blew that piston i had all seals replaced (crank case, head gasket, carb) so wat we ended up doing is retarding the timing a bit and so far if i don't hold it to the bar for too long it seems to b good (last winter i put over 500 miles on her) so for the performance side! i was looking at the thing yesterday and realized that airbox is very big and restricting...has ne1 changed it out for mayb just a k&n on the end of the carb?? or is there a reason for this monsterous airbox that reduces air flow?? how about removing the pipe and replacing it with a lighter one? or mayb one without a 10 pound can on it? is that doable and will it help much?? any uther sudgestions are welcome thanx again you guys!

P.S. i wasn't driving it i was tooling on it in my garage

I would do like everybody else says , just get what you have to work properly......i know the feeling of wanting a little more punch...but on that sled you are very limited, but one thing you can do that you would really notice is a track , if you still have the stock one it was brobably 1/2" ..... a 1" and you feel like you add 10 more ponys :wink:

If you get an extra $200 or so, AAEN Performance makes a pipe for your sled and that alone will boost the power quite a bunch and save some weight too. If you pull the motor apart again, use a Dremel tool or something similar to grind down casting marks in the cylinder ports, but be VERY careful not to grind too much or knick the sleeve.