Dusty Old Mini Polaris - 1974 TC 175 Revival

I scored this '74 TC-175 for 50 bucks, which was good because it was destined for the scrapyard! Sitting in a shed collecting dust for 30 years, it would have been a shame had this one been crushed. Will it run again? Pretty cool little piece of history, I never really knew about or had much interest in these sleds before acquiring this one.
The engine put up the biggest resistance in coming back to life, but we didn't give up! Parts don't seem to be in plentiful supply for these. But like with most things, a bit of ingenuity and perseverance goes a long way.
Link to the Clutch balancer, • Home-brew DIY Clutch B...

[@kennethgoin628]

The history of these machines is a short story. Polaris was toying with the idea of building a sled that would have fold down handlebars and fit into the back of a station wagon! They were supposed to be offered with 175cc and 250cc single cylinder, according to the brochure, but the fold down handlebars never showed up, nor did the 250. Also, I think they included TCs in the 1975 brochure, because every single TC made is a 1974 prototype and was never put into production. Polaris sent one out to every dealership to let people test them out and see what they think. They didn't fly because they were so small and most adults already found the Colts to be too small so these received negative responses and all the dealers were told to sell them for whatever they could get for them. Watch this video all the way through.... you'll see a TC in action. Vintage Snowmobiling - Classic Child's Play and Trail Riding - KZbin My dad found one in 1977 still in the crate at a gas station in Barron, WI. $400 later, my dreams came true. My uncle, who used to have a dealership in Ladysmith, WI, of course had one so I was always tugging on my dad's ear about how great it would be to get one! In 1979, as a 12 year old, it became my steady ride. It would do 52mph on a flat, snow covered gravel road. It stayed in our family well into the '90s and the grand kids got some use out of it, but dad let it go to someone who wanted it for ice fishing, and I haven't seen one since. Thanks to being prototypes, they are almost impossible to get parts for. Thankfully, motor wise, 175cc motors go back to at least 1970 and used in Colts and Colt Playmates. But anything else, yeah... you may have to get creative. Hope you enjoy it! It is good for kids because it will move and it's stable as hell.

[@42lookc]

Thanks for a great video! I always thought those little TC's were cool. I never saw one, but remember a neighbour's story about relatives of theirs having one. Whenever they were riding and came to a fence, they would drive up beside it parallel, then the two of them would get off, and just lift it over the fence!

[@TheoDonaldson119]

The is the realist channel out there love the content!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks for watching!

[@elijahgorman2038]

@@toocheaptosmoke love your shit, the comedy is also great 😂.

[@nybergsgarage]

Nice! My brother in laws neighbor was going to toss a 1978 polaris cobra 440 in the pit to burn. My brother in law knew im a sucker for projects so he grabbed it for me. One fuel tank flush later, runs like an absolute charm!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Nice, got to love projects like that!

[@Hockeyfan9884]

The Sled Joker is ALIVE !!

[@MidnightPolaris800]

Just watched the whole thing again...had some good laughs as usual

[@scottlake6363]

It's a great trainer sled for kids. I like to find one for my 10 year old grandson.

[@b01tact10n]

Awesome Video I'm partial to these old sleds!

[@bradmacdonald1409]

my lids, learned, to ride a sled, on one of these. they were great kids sleds

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Cool!

[@Dsdcain]

Pretty damn good job on that engine. Love how you just don't give up. Hell not even when you say your gonna quit on it for a while. That's what makes me enjoy watching you videos so much. You can make pretty much anything and everything run by the end of the video. Take it easy man, *:-)*

[@toocheaptosmoke]

haha, thanks man! Yeah, this one definitely started getting to me, almost put it on the back burner.

[@logpile1318]

You have way more patience with that thing than I ever would have.

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha, I came really close to throwing in the towel a couple of times.

[@mitchcoop1]

Luv the low buck / No buck clutch restore! (I learned some stuff)

[@thatalaskaguy]

It’s always such a good feeling when you get something running! I didn’t hold out much hope, especially when I first saw that carb. Your comment about never selling things was funny. I hate when I got rid of something even 25 years ago and then end up in a situation where I could have used that part, machine, whatever.

[@thatalaskaguy]

And who gives a thumbs down? Fricking trolls that have no idea how much time and effort it takes to make content for KZbin.

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Yup, it never fails when you get rid of something!

[@kodiakyamaha8688]

That's awesome! Love the old sled videos you put on.nice find, cheers

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks 👍

[@davekimbler2308]

That looks like the same engine that Toro used on there single stage snowthrower , they used a 5hp 2 stroke ! I bet that would work and any good hoarder should have a couple of those laying around ! Lol

[@toocheaptosmoke]

I'm saving my toro 2 stroke snowthrower engines for ice auger version 3.0!

[@davekimbler2308]

toocheaptosmoke 👍

[@davekimbler2308]

toocheaptosmoke nice ! A 5hp Ice auger ! That’s cool ! Right in line with a 16hp chain saw ! Lol

[@harrycallahan8573]

Very cool little sled!

[@AnAceism]

my friend had one of these growing up we named it a pullyourass for how well it started ,1/2 a can of quick start and 50 pulls lol .

[@nomoremr.niceguy4778]

TooCheap: Supposedly the 175 Fuji in that sled is one half of the 340 Fuji Polaris first generation twin. So it’s supposed to be about 170cc and I will guess about 11 hp. My memories fuzzy. I haven’t seen one in 20 years. I do remember reading about it. That means many parts shared with the old Fuji Polaris air cooled engines. What I wonder is could someone drop a 440 recoil side jug on it and make it a 220! 20 plus hp with a tuned pipe and mods would be real entertaining for munchkins.

[@timothyaiken9752]

love it reminds me of a snowmobile called the snow pony

[@79tazman]

I got a few old sleds I got a old early 70's Sno jet star jet that I found at the dump it was complete just needed some work and I have my baby a 1980 Yamaha 340 Enticer deluxe and a 80 Yamaha SRX and a 77 Yamaha Exciter they are fun fast and light sled except for the sno jet that the kids love to ride and me I love my Yamaha

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Nice, would some day like to get an SRX.

[@whistlindixiesmallengine2085]

New game take a drink everytime he says you know 😊 i enjoy your work keep it up

[@toocheaptosmoke]

lol!

[@oldsledpurgatory3595]

Wow, that thing is cool. Never seen one of those before. Kinda reminds me of my '75 Moto Ski Cadet 250. Same deal; too big for a kid, too small for an adult. Great vid, man. Love it when you save these things. And the slow pan to the clutch pile was epic!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks man! Then I ended up not even using one of those clutches, haha.

[@rotorcats]

I said as I watched the video, isn't that what they all say "rebuilt before it was parked'. Then you found the documentation to back it up hahaha.

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Yeah, that doesn't happen too often, haha.

[@tomtheplummer7322]

Rebuilt before ruined again and left for dead.🤫

[@StreetersGarage]

Great results. Way to overcome!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks! If we just had some snow to really run it it would have been even better, haha.

[@xnotx2]

Project priority pile. It sets itself. Least priority to the bottom 👍

[@kennethgoin628]

I just realized that yours is still in 1974 blue. The ones distributed and shown in the 1975 brochure were all 1975 dark blue. You might have one of the first ones ever assembled.... or someone repainted everything, I'm not sure.

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Pretty sure this one has been repainted?

[@Americantrucker01]

that little thing would haul ass if you could mock up and make fit a 700 triple lol weeeeeeeeeee but awesome to still see ya surviving out there keep the videas comin 👍👍👍🍿🍿🍿

[@toocheaptosmoke]

haha, don't give me any ideas!

[@tomtheplummer7322]

As a teen I thought about putting a big motor in that thing a lake race it too.

[@topenddean]

Looked like Polaris was trying to build their own version of the Chimos snowmobile.

[@danielramberg2971]

I'm new to your channel but I love this video

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Cool, glad to hear. 👍

[@Gopherdave1]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks man!

[@davidparker667]

Fuck yeah..didnt let it beat you

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha, it was a matter of principle at that point!

[@haydenh6339]

Haha all those Rockauto fridge magnets. I thought I had a big collection

[@joedyer8824]

Man she's minty

[@ledgettimes5296]

Polaris the way out of know where

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha

[@martinblouin3639]

too cheap to smoke but wise enough to spend money where it count, on quality tools, nice knipex there (Y)

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha, never thought I'd spend that much on pliers, but they are well worth it!

[@twosmokestroke-kw8kj]

paint always brings up compression

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Absolutely!

[@Jethrosgarage]

Well done, and done cheap, as always. :)

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Gotta keep the beer fund going!

[@brennensbuildsmoore5537]

I love your videos

[@MidnightPolaris800]

Thats amazing you could bend that ring back into shape. What else did you use besides the vice? And when will we ever get to see the star of the shows face lol?

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Just the vise and my hands, that ring was somewhat easy re-form, just a bit tedious. It's not a keystone ring, just a thin flat ring. I've watched too much Ave and Zipties! haha

[@reddirtrider6190]

You know it’s small when you can put it length ways in the shop 😂

[@toocheaptosmoke]

that is true, lol

[@elijahgorman2038]

4:30 😂😂 1970's be like

[@Fongolitus]

Heyyy, it's December! You got snow there? I want to see that thing real time

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha, I hear ya, too many other things going on at the moment.

[@Fongolitus]

@@toocheaptosmoke aww, I've got a 73 Yamaha sitting in My garage, needs a gas tank -_-

[@xnotx2]

JB weld the clutch :)

[@edwerts7096]

that one wire that come loose could have been the reason why they quit running it.

[@tylertieman1678]

Would be awesome to upgrade kids to from a kitty cat

[@josephhaugen3207]

Ring in gap always tored intake

[@corysnladventures2758]

More fixing stuff videos please 👍👍👈

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Working on some :)

[@mitchcoop1]

Did I miss it, or did you put in a new compression ring at least?

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Nope, just kept bending and messing with the old one til it worked, haha

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Wasn't the blue for 1974 more dark blue? Great video! I did test one of these brand new. It was to small for a grownup man and to big for a younger rider. Very under powered. Positive thing it was light weight.

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Yeah, it's so light, really easy to move around. You're right about the blue, somebody painted it a lighter shade.

[@jackstraszewski8913]

Midnight blue in 74

[@tomtheplummer7322]

As a teenager I think it was just something for kids to crawl on at the dealership while dads would look at the new machines.

[@PeekMorose]

26:40 One small slight Gap cannot start the snowmobile up so does this mean this works with all snowmobiles

[@toocheaptosmoke]

I think any piston ring with a visible gap there would cause issues, usually time to replace the rings.

[@jackstraszewski8913]

I have a 71 Polaris colt for sale . 250 twin Fuji motor . Need track & drive sprocket replaced . I have the parts .

[@mikespooner63]

Atf on the seat🤣😆

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Only the most premium of restoration supplies!

[@theconcretecowboy9561]

im 15 and have never owned a vehicle younger than me

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Keep it going that way! haha

[@tomtheplummer7322]

Good way to learn things. Then one day....👍🏻

[@banana_beard8871]

The sled has a cool design but with 175cc that’s a awful kids sled. Great vid though! Keep the them coming!

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Thanks man!

[@justinstearns9723]

Banana_beard88 They actually made a Colt 175 as well. Which was a full size sled with that same engine. Must have been totally gutless.

[@edwinmarcais6040]

I have a good carburetor for that motor

[@shawncordeiro1150]

so theres the 1 side and the birth of a 340

[@MidnightPolaris800]

BONG lmao

[@kevinjohnson5214]

I think t c stood for toy colt

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Interesting, never heard that!

[@kevinjohnson5214]

@@toocheaptosmoke gotta love the late 60s to 80s sleds ,I put in some time on a 71 TX charger a70 moto ski zepher, 72 Johnson wide track slash tank The TX 432 free air was a blast to ride the old moto ski would pull any bodies broken sleds home it didn't turn worth a shit but the 18 in deep lug rubber track and 372 jlo would pull like a tractor. The old Panthers rode great for the time The good old days for me now.

[@MidnightPolaris800]

Its for town and country

[@case4006]

Built for the ladys

[@marknothing5835]

Hey i bought the same heater the mastercraft milk box they call it them should of called the shitbox cause it sucks balls😂

[@toocheaptosmoke]

Haha, it ain't great but some heat is better than nothing!

[@marknothing5835]

@@toocheaptosmoke agreed but you pretty much have to stand over it .....40$ i could of spent on flex seal or spray paint

[@vtwinaddicted5852]

Just like factry....