Bolens Diablo Rouge and Hus Ski Discussion Forums

To day was the day to ride my model 500 Diablo. WOW! Ran great, lots of power. I imagined myself as a proud owner of a Diablo in 1966 and realized that back then it would have been a great machine. Speeding through the 10" of powder was a snap. With the success of this first twenty minute ride, I pursuaded Helen to come for a ride. This is a dangerous proposition since she doesn't like the failure rate of these old machines. None the less off we went, breaking trail for the local x-country ski club. We got stuck on one hill and clawed and scratched our way up the second only to return home without breakdown.....so I thought. If only I had known my day was going to get a lot more exciting. A quick walk-around showed that I had lost one set of boggies. Now where on that 3 mile ride would I find that set of boggies and would it be visiible in the powder snow? Figuring I might loose more boggies, I took my faithful HUS-SKI to search for the wayward boggie station. Dusk was approaching. I drove to the limit of my first ride and found no boggie station. On the return to base camp (home) the HUS-SKI spluttered and died. This is a symptom I am familair with...either I'm out of gas or rust particles in the tank are blocking the valve on the bottom of the tank. I pulled out my spare gas tank but could not remove the spout which is stored inside the tank. No problem, remove the air inlet cap and let the gas drain into the tank, though it. The gas line was off the bottom of the tank, so when no gas was running out I realized it was rust particles plugging the valve. Happens a couple times a year. No problem, remove the valve, tap out the rust and everything is good except the seater for this HUS-SKI was having ski repairs done and the tool kit in it was not with me!!!! Okey, second choice is to get a stiff twig and push it up the valve to free the gas flow. The twig broke in the valve! The valve was completely plugged...not even a drip of gas. I then iserted the tank end of the gas line, into the spare gas tank drew the gas down the line and connected it to the carb. With a bungie cord, I secured the spare tank onto the fender and tied the hood open. The engine started with one pull and I headed home. The hood made a good windbreak but cut the visability conciderably. Darkness was quickly approaching, so I continued my boggie search on the Diablo. About 1/4 mi from base camp, I found the boggie station. Both machines needed inside repairs but the HUS-SKI wouldn't start. When I put a little gas down the carb I noticed it leaking from around the base of the carb, indicating an air leak!!! Eventually it started and I drove it in for repair. While removing the carb, the throttle rod broke off...How much more could go wrong? At least they were both inside. To answer my first question...it better get better than this!!!!

Oh good lord Barrie. Let us all hope we have better experiences out on the trail this year.

Holly cow Barry i thought that i was the only one having trouble with those machines. This week my 600 Didn't wan't to start. No sparks on the plug . Tried another plug still no sparks. So now my son and his girlfriend came home for lunch today and tried to start the 444 . 4 pulls and it starts but stops. Tried about 30 minutes but still could not start the 444. So now my only choice is my 200A . Start pretty good but can't go full throttle . It won't take it's gas . Was still able to do about 6 miles in the bush with it. My Diablo 500 , the coil is finish . Hope that i will be able to get another one soon. I'm suppose to get my 503 this week. Maybe out of the 5 i'll be able to go for a really good ride with my kids this winter.

HUS-SKI FOREVER
GO-GO DIABLO

Take care
Rock

When I recounted my tale to Helen she wondered if there was any swearing. There was a lot of head shaking but no swearing. I've never done the thing with the gas tank on the side but I'm proud of that solution. Overall, I think it was one of the most fun days I've had. On top of it all, I didn't have to walk home. That is the most embarassing .

I checked all the bolts which secure the boggie stations to the rail and found two more which pulled out, having lost the clip washer which holds them in place. Should I be nervous as I drive this Re Devil? Are there other model 500 drivers with this problem. The cotter pin sure was a good idea.

Both the Diablo and my 400 are back on the snow. The Diablo had trouble starting but I tracked it down to a loose vacuum nipple on the crankcase. It started right away after some tightening.

Hi Barrie, I can remember having the same problem with that type of fastener on a smooth pin with a moving part on it and the clip washer or pal nut would work it's way off. We solved that problem using the same parts but put the pin in a lathe and put a tiny groove where the fastener would normally sit -just enough to catch your fiingernail on- but it held so well that you have to ruin the fastener to get it off.