78 CC Question

[400brian]

Could someone with a CC suspension please measure the rails for me? Tip to rear end, as pictured.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Brian, I find it hard to believe that it's much different than the one you're measuring there. I know it carries a unique part number but a difference in length would surprise me. Mine's tucked away in the trailer but if I get it out I'll measure it for you.

DA

[Norton]

Brian,
Great to read your working on the 78CC clone skid frame! I really believe they were the smoothest riding sled of the 78 model year. Polaris got one up quickly though with the TXL in 79. A few years back I had skids from our 78CC and 80 LF parts sled side by side. They were really close (front swing arm was identical) but the 80LF used a smaller rear axle wheel which changed the height of the entire track tension and rear axle rail plate assembly. Course the 80LF used the 116" track. Pat has done some work on this too and I always felt that a kit could be made to modify the 80 to 84 LF skid to fit any 121" LF or Cyclone from 76 to 78 and keep the Deere heritage at the same time.

If you need some info just ask but as Pat can tell you I don't check my mail every day.

keith

[jd_decalguy]

Brian, look in the parts book or the little black 78 cc hand book ( I think Rainville still has some of them ) that will show you the difference, some things are the brackets at the rear are bolted on not riveted to the rails & is like the 80 liquifire style ( using the square ware blocks ), the rear shaft is round not square & 3 wheels are used, uses a 79 Trailfire style & uses the little wheels in the tunnel like the 79 Trailfire,The rear springs are heavier & longer than anything else, Front swing are is like the 80 Liquifires but without the track protection rods welded to it.. Just some of the differences..

Kenny on Chris's computer

[Sprailfire340]

I also had the cc and 80 side by side this summer. Rails are identical except for the length. The 80's are slightly shorter (like 3/4") can't remember exactly right now. The rear axels are different as Kenny pointed out and the axel bracket needs to be lifted and modified slightly to accept the larger idler's from the 78's. Skids are very similar and the clone conversion isn't that difficult. We did 2 of them for our red lake sleds.

[400brian]

Thanks for the support guys!

I do have one of the little black CC books, came with all the info I acquired with the 340/S purchase years ago.

I have been trading info with Pat about this for the last year or so.

I've acquired an AC rubber track, and a 80 suspension.

I'm assuming that if I raise the rear bracket so that I can run the aluminum centered wheels, I would also have to raise all the rest of the attach points: shock mount, and both ends of the front arm, to retain the original travel and geometry. Insight on that welcome.

The front arm of the CC suspension was installed in the tunnel 2" forward of the original 78 suspension. I'm assuming the 80 skid would have to be moved forward as well?

There seems to be a fair amount of interest in this swap, perhaps we should start a dedicated topic on this.

[harleysportster]

Thanks for the support guys!

I do have one of the little black CC books, came with all the info I acquired with the 340/S purchase years ago.

I have been trading info with Pat about this for the last year or so.

I've acquired an AC rubber track, and a 80 suspension.

I'm assuming that if I raise the rear bracket so that I can run the aluminum centered wheels, I would also have to raise all the rest of the attach points: shock mount, and both ends of the front arm, to retain the original travel and geometry. Insight on that welcome.

The front arm of the CC suspension was installed in the tunnel 2" forward of the original 78 suspension. I'm assuming the 80 skid would have to be moved forward as well?

There seems to be a fair amount of interest in this swap, perhaps we should start a dedicated topic on this.

Brian,
I may have sent these to you before, here are a few side shots of my 78 Liq with the '80 skid and AC track intalled. The only thing I had to do was move the front swing arm mounting holes forward, as per the 78 CC conversion spec sheet.
This is still a work-in-progress, not quit a drop-in swap.

[JDXspec]

I installed an 80 skid into 76 tunnel and it actually went in pretty well still in test stage, but good so far. Used the same front hole and moved the rear hole back like 2 3/4" with the 121" AC track

[400brian]

I talked to Jesse, Sunday afternoon. He put a modified 80 suspension in a genuine 78 CC sled. He used the larger aluminum center idler wheels, but has not modified the rear axle to the three wheel set up yet. He is also running the unique to the CC upper idler shaft that mounts above the rear suspension arm. Just as an aside here: Kenny Heins advised me not to use that shaft in our cloning efforts ( probably a year ago ) as they were really hard on the tunnel.

Besides raising the axle brackets up to accommodate the larger idler wheels, he also re-located the arm pivot bracket, that is welded on the top of the axle bracket, forward so that it matched his CC suspension.

Jesse also cleared up another question I had. I was expecting the rear axle on the CC to be the same as on any pre-78 slide suspension. However, it has a different PN. Jesse informed me that it is the same dimensionally, but is aluminum rather than steel.

I have a few ideas that I'm mulling over to convert the skid over to the three wheel set up. This is mainly to give the correct CC look.

Obviously, there are a number of these conversions already done, some were intended for the Red Lake race. But with the poor snow conditions this winter, no one I've heard from yet has been able to put many miles on them.

[jayson738]

Any updates on this swap?? How well does it work?? I already have the Arctic track in my oval cyclone but I am useing the stock super heavy steel skid and need to shed some pounds. I can get an 80 LF suspension easier and cheaper than a 78 cyc/liq skid.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

And it'll work. Might have to relocate mounting holes but essentially the CC skid is an 80 LF skid.

DA

[400brian]

Harleysportster ( Pat ) Was running the 80 LF suspension in his 78 LF in St Germain a couple of weeks ago.

[JDXspec]

From the miles I have on my dator clone the track conversion has worked very well. And yes it is much lighter than the 76 suspension.

[harleysportster]

Yes, I put on a little over 100 miles on my 78 Liquifire with the CC clone suspension in St Germaine. I still need to inspect for any damage or problems. It is difinitely an improvement over the standard 78 suspension. I had narrowed the 80 skid frame by 1/4 inch to allow for proper track adjustment. I kept the standard rear idlers of the 80 and they seemed to work fine. I know others are figuring out the modification to use the original 78 style aluminum center wheels which are larger in dia.

[jayson738]

Now should i be looking for just an 80 skid? Will any 80+ liquifire skid work? Does anyone know what the new mounting locations would be for a 76 tunnel, in relation to the existing holes?

Thanks
Jayson