I was at a friends house Tuesday night. He stumbled on a Yamaha Bravo that has been on a trailer in a barn for 12-15 years. It was dark out but I did look it over. Not a rip in the seat, engine looks super clean. Oil tank is on the right side under the hood. Short track brakes seemed to work. Covered in bird crap but other then that it looked to be in very good over all condition. I have a 2016 Bear Cat 570 XT but I have been considering a small sled for the grand kids so I thought this may be a option. The guy has no idea what year this Bravo is. A friend of his from out of state had 10-12 sleds in the barn that they were not using they just kept buying new ones so they told him he could have this Bravo and a Eltigra 440.
Long story short, what are some things I should check out? Can I get parts if needed? The guy owes me $300 for several months so he is offering this sled.

Parts are easy to get. You cant go wrong for 300 bucks. You should be able to see the date of manufacture on a tag on the tunnel. The Bravos didnt have any real problems. Most likely the carb is going to need to be pulled off and cleaned up, maybe even a new carb kit but thats a simple fix. I got an early 80s long track in a trade last year. I just cleaned the carb and it runs like a top now. Even at -30 it will start with one pull. Up here a long track Bravo in decent shape will sell for several thousand dollars as soon as its listed.

Great. Years ago a buddy had a long track we used for ice fishing. That was 25+ years ago and he still has it and it seems to run fine. I have been researching on the puter to see what year it may be. Looking like a mid to late 80s from the looks. I am going to pick it up in a hr or so.

Does it turn over?

Did any bravos have the oil tank under the hood? None that I can remember did.

How are Bravos at pulling a sled? Daughter and I are starting to look for our first snowmachine(s) now that our dog team is retired.

Yukon 254 pretty much hit all the key points. They do pretty good as far as pulling a sled with a little weight, I have moved half a moose with mine numerous times.

On hard trail they will pull three full 55 gallon drums 65 miles up river. Breaking new trail, varies. Problem with them compared to bigger/heavier machines is they don't have the same impact when starting a load or carry the same momentum when going up hills. They also will lack power to pull loads much over 1200 pounds.

One of the bravos we used growing up didn't seem to go good on step incline. If may have just been because of fresh fallen snow on the hill side. Not sure because we were in junior high still. I should have bought one when they were just a couple grand. Missed on the opportunity.

Yes sir

I was wrong that was the fuel tank. I posted the original post after looking at it at night so i went back during the light and picked it up.

I've been looking at Bravos and old tundras in Alaska for the past month, multiple times a day, every day. The Bravo's go for 2,000 - 2500 within minutes of being posted.
And to think they were sold for less than 3,500 bucks three decades ago? Crazy demand for them. I had a chance at one a couple weeks ago, but I hesitated too long. I'm happy to have gotten an old but newer Skandic for just a little bit more money.

Same here. My sons wife's cousin is working as a mechanic for a surveying company. They are doing a bunch of survey work with snowmobiles up above the Arctic circle. They started off with a small fleet of 4-strokes, but had so much trouble keeping them running that they bought a few Bravos and Tundras and are now using them.

This proves the validity of one lesson I have learned living in the sticks. If you find a good product, buy more than one because it will be discontinued soon.

I have six, plus 4 in the boneyard. I'm rich.

aint that the truth.