I have thougt about picking up a blade for a while and I think to find one for what I want to spend, I will be going for an older used one. So is there much difference between the older 7x2 and the 1wx chassis? I know they have a rep for being slow is this a pipe issue or a setup (carb clutch gearing)issue or what? how did the 800 hpos with twin pipes perform? I heard from somebody that the perfromance loss was in the pipe and that the 600 ran strong because they used a different pipe is this true or a bunch of crap? also are any of the 7x2s old enough that I might find one with 220 jugs?
I am a mechanic by trade and do all my own work on my sleds and have built a couple project sleds so I wont mind something that needs a going through I am thinking rebuild shocks drivline bearings clutches rebuilt ect but is there anything I should look for as far as common repairs that are needed? My plan is to find something clean that is older with a few miles on it go through it and I would like to convert to a 144 or 136 x 1.5 track or so. I know thats a lot of questions but I am sure there has to be somone that knows these sleds well.

Hi John,
I have a 2002 with carbon fiber body panels. It is the new model after their first original model.
I installed a 136 inch track, changed gearing, clutching, etc. and it really rocks.
email me at blade072@yahoo for more details.
Jim

John I think JIM blade072 knows as much as anyone on this site about the blades and is willing to help out if he can. Also jim camp, rickyb sno-dust and a couple others. Read the old listings you can tell who knows and who is talking crap. I bought an 02 1wx type T 700 last year and rode it 1100 miles of rough trails and thought it was a great riding sled. this year I streatched it to 136'' and now it rides better and also handles awsome now. I'VE owned and worked on many sleds and I was impressed with the design and structure of the blade, I am also an auto tech. 30 years. If I WAS LOOKING AGAIN I would get a 136'' with a 700, as I hear the polaris 800's had crank problems, my 700 gets great fuel milage and runs good. good luck, keep an eye on ebay

Instead of buying a sled thats designed to run with a 121" track and adding an extension, why not just shop for a Striker. I have all of the features the others are talking about and it's all stock. No cobbing no hassles , just great factory set up. I think 136" is the best rough trail set up you can ask for.

Stock is fine, but a lot of improvements can be made which I did to my Blade.
I changed gearing, clutching, added a 136 inch 1.25 ripsaw track, and while making the extensions, designed and built the extensions to accept 8 inch aluminum wheels.
A stock machine is built for everyone. Everyone is different and the machine should be fine tuned for each riders needs.
I have also spent many hours fine tuning the shock package by ajusting the compression and rebound valving.
Yes, I have the ACE, but shocks also need to be worked on.
Jim

John, The 7X2 2000 was the first year. Many changes to the 2001 Models including a differnet chassis (longer by 1.5"), aluminum tunnel, new look, updated M10B etc. in 2002 they came (most) with the plastic belly pans, console, different seat configuration. They also had another chassis modification to accept the power valves. Only 48 2000's made it out the door and about 78 2001's after that there are about 500 total 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 sleds. Look for a 2002 or later with plastic belly pans, they dont crack and look much better after some wear and tear. As for the difference between a Striker and a 1WX the only difference is a longer tunnel (buy it from FAST) and the rails. You could buy a 1WX get a new tunnel from Fast buy 136 rails or add extensions and your in business. As for the motor stick with the 700 if you can. The 800's can be very reliable but you will need to check the main bearings especially the center ones for case clearance .001 to .0015 and keep track of the power valves and you will be very satisfied with the 800. As for the twin pipes or an HPO. If you can find an HPO they need the M-16 taken out and a M-10 or a Airwave and you'll be in business. The twin pipes work quite well. Gerard made them so that the detonation was on the conservative side so that they were more reliable but still had some great power. Gas mileage difference between the twin pipes and single not that much about 92 miles on a tank with twin pipes. BTW the 600, 700 and 800 pipes are all the same. The beauty of the Blade is the handling and how its built. Replace the bearings, service the motor and clutches, new track, paint the hood you'll have a brand new sled!!!

The striker has longerheat exchangers and a largher center heat exchanger between the two longer ones.

I installed the larger center heat exchanger on my Blade. I got it from Fast.
Not much of a job and really helped the cooling.
Jim

Yea I had to cut mine down when I went from a 136 to a 128 handles way better than the 136 and not as squirley as the 121

Thanks to everyone for the answers



I might if I can find one I am not oppose to it but it all depends where the deal is I am actually considering a 144 with tipped up extensions and a 1.5



I have ben around the polaris motors for a while he have had all of the above mentioned in the family and the 700s are not totally imune to the crank problems of the 800 its just less common, and we have been able to tune them with tempa-flow and egts and get them all getting good enough milage that I wont say because nobody will beleive me, exept for the 600s(yet) for some reason I would actually love to put my Flannery 800 xcr into one but I just dont think it would happen.

As far as the m-16,I was hot to uprade it to an air-link.I have since ridden the 1WX with air-link and I would have to say I think the m-16 rides as well or better in the big bumps than the air-link.We have eliminated the uppershaft binding,and junked the ryde-fx shocks on the HPO(only model with M-16)Maybe it was just a seat of the pants feeling as I havent ridden the hpo yet this year(this week-new crankshaft is in)These sleds are like race cars-they must be set up for the indivual riding them!Go for the plastic belly pan as the carbon fiber was not the right choice for a trail sled-it flexes on impact(rocks,blown belts)and cracks the gelcoat,which then starts to fall out in pieces.If you have a broken plastic belleypan(I did)there was a run of belly pans that were made out of a plastic that was brittle in the cold,FAST replaced mine under warranty.The sled was 2 years old and I bought it used.

Blade 072 glad to see some one else has the common sence to also customize their Blade!!! I left this site last year because I got Bashed for even intimating that any part could be better than stock!!!! All I can say is it takes Balls to mod something that no one makes any thing for!!!! mine really isnt a Blade any more its jim camp special!!!!LOL Any one can have those other brands!!!!!

You and I would get along well. The better it is stock that just means I have a better pltform to start from. I have always wanted to build a turbo and with how much of a pain it would be to put a tripple in a blade I think a boosted blade would be pretty cool.

A boosted blade will be a reality later this season as soon as I finish up my second try at a boosted M-8 I have had some Deciable issues with my current set up but a blade is a natural installation I just wish I had fuel injection it would be way easier!!!!!!! John go back a few pages and read my posts on a single pipe and on air waves and you will see the general attitude twards moding these sleds> good luck!!! with your find------ Jim C

PS------------- snow dust I agree with your air wave /M16 analaysis

Right on Jim,
I like your comments also as I gather you know what you are talking about. Sharing experiences and different ways of doing things makes us all stronger.
I don't like status quo.
We have to try new ideas all the time to stay ahead of the game. I learned that many years with my late model dirt stock car.
Blades are a great machine and the Karpiks have done a great job.
The M-10 is years old and still works as good or if not better than most new suspensions.
The real advantage of the Blade is the front suspension and the triangular frame that ties everything together. It is nice to see the other manufactures are starting to take notice.
I have ridden other sleds with M-10s but they still do not ride and handle like a Blade.
I have a new Yamaha Attak with the monoshock rear suspension and I have to say that it is very close.
It appears that Jim and I tinker because we like to do that.
We all buy snowmobiles that are made for the general public. The only way they will ride and handle is by adjusting everything to fit our needs.
We also like different set ups.
I am lucky to have a buddy who does shocks. We had the shocks out of the Blade 4 times in one season to adjust the compression and rebound dampening.
The Yamaha Attak GT is nice that it has adjustable compression and rebound in the shocks.
JIm

I agree with the Jims THINGS CAN ALWAYS BE INPROVED NO MATER WHAT IT IS , My buddies and I are building two street rods right now and there isn't much left that came stock. My 48 chevy coupe runs and rides awsome and a buddies 46 ford is to the point of a rolling chassis. No one ever told shelby that he should not have messed with the mustang.

Shelby was told he would fail if he messed with the mustang!!!!!!!!!!!






BY ALL the Camaro guys

blade072 I also agree with you on the shocks. I wrenched on my sons motocross bikes for 10 years and could always improve on the suspensions by revalving and adjusting the compression and rebound adjustments. we would adjust if the track conditions changed between motos. have a buddy who bought a new cat and ran it for 2 years before I finally convinced him ti mess with it. When we stop on the trail for a break the take a smoke and Imess with mysled, it must be some kind of syndrome.'' CLIA'' cant leave it alone syndrome I GUESS.

CLIA?Is that what I got?Is it covered by insurance?Just put a new boss high rise on last nite(thanks QBR for the warm garage),my knees feel better already!

HI, JUST WONDERING WHAT QBR IS DOING WITH THE BLADE. DOES HE SELL THEM OR JUST REPAIRS? I FOUND HIS WEBSITE BUT NO MENTION OF BLADES, JUST RACE CARS. CHECKED FOR DEALERS ON BLADE SITE, HE WASN'T LISTED. WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK FOR USED BLADES IN THE NORTHEAST?......THANKS.....

Yes he sells and services Blade.They also build chassis for Busch series race cars,service all makes of snowmobiles and motorcycles.He is still listed as a dealer.I just looked.Advantage Motorsports was also listed in N.H. I believe they are out of business.I think he may have one of his for sale.I bought one from this forum,e-bay.

its a disorder and there is no cure

I guess he showed them

I bought the 01' 1WX700 from "pray for 8' of snow"in MN.

Good for you I hope you like it, although it will probable seem a bit jumpy to you compared to your hpo. That 01 probably has the carbon fiber body doesn't it. On your recomendation along with rickyb I talked to Quint today for the first time, seems like a heck of a nice guy. Asked him about adding an additional heat exchanger to mine since I added the longer track. He sugested that I just run it until I run into a problem, mine has the inner cooler in the tunnel along with to two outer ones and he said they didn't all use the inner one. I also add a piece of stainless sheetmetal that runs from the top of the flap to the back of the coolers, it has a nice smooth arc to it and I think it must be keeping the snow going that way, time will tell.

Yes I like it,yes it seems squirrly sometimes to me,1.25 studded and changed out to simmons double runner skis this week.We will see.The simmons work well on the HPO in most conditions,kinda like adding power steering.I have an well set up m-10 on a grand touring I have barely ridden in 5 years,it also has a new fully clipped 1.375 track.I will probably part out the ski-doo and install the m-10 with an airlink upgrade next summer.No more tinkering,well not much more ,well until summer.ITS TIME TO RIDE! :rockernana:Oh yea,the carbon fiber belley pan on the 01 is structurally sound but is cosmetically challanged as a couple trail hits and blown belts have the gelcoat cracking and falling out in large pieces-Pretty easy to make like new again but high maintence.