When I bought that 85 Formula, the guy couldn't find the keys. So I just disconnected the ignition. Fired it up, and no headlight, no instrument lights, and no movement on the temp guage. I let it idle for about 5 min. then just took a real short spin around the end of my street. Is the temp guage mechanical? Or electrical? Also, could my lack of headlights be from disconnecting the ignition? Or should they be on? Trying to figure out if I have a wiring problem, or just due to my disconnecting the ignition. the fact that the temp guage didn't go up made me kind of nervous. How long should a sled idle for before the temp starts to go up? (467 c.i.)? Also, if the temp guage didn't go up due to low coolant, what is the proper way to check coolant levels?
Anyway, what do you guys think? This sled does not have elec start. If the ignition has to be "ON" in order for the lights and temp guage to work, where can I get a wiring diagram so that I know which wires to "hardwire" together?

The temp gage is electrical. I'm not sure if disconnecting the ignition will disable the gage or not.

I'm pretty sure the sled will have to idle longer than 5 minutes to cause the needle to start moving. Did you feel the heat exchanger? Was it warm? Make sure the coolant is warmed up before you run it. If you don't & the thermostat opens allowing the coolant temp to drop, you'll chance cold seizing the seizing motor.

IIRC, when I had my '85 Formula MX, I filled the coolant tank to just below the overflow tube outlet. There is also a procedure to burp the coolant system of air.

Try to find a sledder in the area that has a 'doo w/ any rotary valve motor in it, F or S chassis. The cooling system are simliar.

if you disconnect the ignition . lights,guages will not work.

that how the thiefs steal older sleds. next time you see a sled on the go with no lights on you know why. :wink:

Not with the older polaris anyways, everything works perfect when you pop of the ignition.

Thanks for the info. I'll top up the coolant, get a new set of plugs, and hardwire the ignition wires.
Anyone know how to "burp" the cooling system?

get another ignition they are cheap

there must be a used parts dealer in Elliot Lake

My EX GFs cousins father was a Doo mechanic in Elliot years ago (Larose)

Found an old padlock key, that with a little wiggling, turned the ignition. So that's solved. Temp guage works, but I didn't run it long enough to see if the thermostat would open up....or at least the needle didn't go up, then drop, like it does with a car. Got the temp up to 40 deg. Celcius.
Low end throttle response sucks. Haven't checked the compression yet, but it's alot harder to pull over than my 485 Yamaha, so it feels strong. I'm thinking either carbs or the fact that it's last year's gas......though I did put a healthy ammount of fuel treatment in the gas before running it. Belt is new, and plugs are new.
I did read somewhere that some older Doo clutches were adjustable. If this clutch is adjustable (settings 1 through 6?) Where do I have a "look see" to rule out a clutch adjusted for top end causing the low end sluggishness? It doesn't really bog, just doesn't have a snappy throttle. Throttle response from 30 to 50 mph feels pretty good. But haven't had it above 50 mph yet. Yesterday I was more concerned about temp guage and cooling system working properly.
IF this sled has the adjustable clutch, which is for bottom end and which is for top end? Setting #1? or Setting #6? I would assume setting #3 would be the healthy median. But for example, if the sled is clutched for bottem end or midrange, and it's this sluggish, then I definately know there's an underlying issue. Can these settings be changed easilly? Or does the clutch have to be pulled and and taken apart? I'm sure the clutches could use a cleaning regardless....
I know.....I know......I'm getting to be a real pain in the ###. I should just pull the Yammi out of storage so I'll forget the Doo even exists and leave you guys in peace.... :bash: