Another 78 CC Found...

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

Out of the blue I got a phone call a few month back from Justin Clack asking me how to tell a regular 78 Liquifire 340 from a Cross Country Liquifire. He explained that he is purchasing a group of sleds, and there is a 78 340 Liquifire involved. I let him know the quickest way to tell a CC from a regular Liquifire is to look for the rubber track made by Yokahma, then the longer travel skid with the center and front idlers and 3-idler set up on the rear axle. If that looks to be there, check the serial tag for a range of 80751 to 80924.

I also let him know that Deere offered a Cross Country racing Kit in 78, and finding a regular Liqufire with the kit installed is also a great find. Didn't hear much else about it for a while ...until a call this past Saturday from Clack...

[JoeRainville]

Sure enough, the sled he found was a real live Cross Country. He knows they only built 174 of them, and that we Deere guys prize them.

Then comes the surprising part, he offered it up for sale if I was interested. Needless to say, I told him I was VERY interested. So he sent me a link to his photobucket account with pic's of the sled. He asked me to check them out, and then get back to him if I liked what I saw.

Here are a few of the shots:

Correct serial number:


Correct rubber track and suspension:


Complete under the hood:

[JoeRainville]

The complete sled:


Since the sled was a real CC, and complete, we came to terms quickly. Justin tells me that a couple purchased the sled new in 78 and trail rode it for about 400 miles before the dealer called them back and informed them that he sold them the wrong Liqufire. A customer had ordered it to race, but they had no desire to return it. The other buyer ended up taking their regular production 340 Liquifire in it's place to race with. Found that kind of funny.

To get it back to NY, I am working to get the sled brought to the A1 show next month.

I have a few good reasons to share this short story. First, after finding out the history behind the Triplefire is not what I thought, it was nice to have one fall in my lap. Also, I wanted to show the newer members the difference of a Cross Country Liqufiire to a regular 78, and finally I wanted to remind everyone that these rare girls are still out there. Of the 4 of these I have purchased over the years, only one of the sellers had no idea the sled was special. Unlike the rest, I got that one cheap.

Later Liquidator,
-Joe Rainville

[cledussnow77]

Great find, saved another one. Now I need to find one for myself.

[clackinator]

Look forward to seeing it all cleaned up and running Joe! Enjoy.

[skoalmint]

Nice find!!!!I wish i could be that lucky.Brock

[jd_decalguy]

well whats the serial number??

Grumpy

[jd_decalguy]

never mind I figured out how to enlarge the picture so I could see it all

Grumpy

[JoeRainville]

Hey Grumpy,

It's 80837. And, it needs a rear grab bar:>)

-Joe

[Den]

Looks pretty nice as is.
Congrats!

[JDRIDER]

I thought the 78 cc's had a metal tab on the top of the exhaust manifold? Just curious
J rad

[Den]

Maybe dumd question, but I thought they all had extra angle metal (Aluminum) on the running boards too?
Why am I thinking that?
Good info on the serial #'s though.
I think a buddy of mine might have sold his a little cheap. ($85) (not running)

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. To meet the race legal limit of 45 hp in 1978, the 77-78 340 Liquifires had to have the more restrictive exhaust manifold installed. However, I do not know if the 78 CC LF's came with them or not. Only two of the 4 I have owned have race history, but none of them had the restrictive manifold when I got them.

I do know Deere sold a motor detune kit that included the restrictive exhaust, a set of "W" wieghts and carb adjustment instructions. It's possible that you would have had to purchase this kit for racing, or the restrictive exhausts were removed to give the motor its full 47 hp. Going to have to dig into this one and ask around. I have paper copy's of the race tips for 78 up in NY, and the race manual that went along with the 78 CC' to check.

Den, I have never seen one with the reinforcing kit factory installed. Pretty sure it was a dealer item. And, yes, $85 bucks is might be cheap if it was a real CC.

-Joe

Note: Update that 2 of mine had some race history. One that I sold to the guys was given to a factory supported racer, but returned to Deere and sold as 'factory used' in 79. The other that I still have ran one leg of the I-500 in 78. Here is Joe Thompson on #59 next to JRC's # 58:

[JDRIDER]

Ok, thanks for the info joe and what a great find!
J rad

[HoosierDeereMan]

Joe,

In the picture you posted of #58 and #59 side by side, it looks as through the windshield covers the headlights on both sleds. Is this just an illusion or is this really the case?

Great find!

Troy