What is the most powerful sled john deer came out with

[vader]

What is the deal with a snow fire? Is it just the bigger brother of the trail fire? I mean liquidfire was a sporty machine. Trail fire the reliable air cooled trail sled. And then there is the snow fire what was its claim to fame?

[Danzig]

MY advice....do your homework before you go throwing parts at a machine....appears you are throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.

[nick80lf]

Riding conditions mean everything. Cold temps and fluffy snow...they will run around 110F. Above freezing temps and running on hard pack.....they will run hotter or maybe even overheat. Idling for a long time.....it will overheat (no air through radiator or snow on heat exchanger).

The moral of the story....if its over 180F and still climbing...time to start thinking about shutting it down.

[Danzig]

shutting down a hot engine will also cause a seize as well, cylinder temps rise and you loose the oil film and it will seize. Very common on air cooled machines.

[vader]

I appreciate all the input you have been giving me. Crank seals maybe when it gets warm? The 440 engines did they have reed valves? I'm going on a big ride soon in northern Alberta I will let you know how it ran. I put ifs on my sled to. It was lots of work but seems to work great I will have to get some pictures

[ljm]

I would be cleaning the carbs

[I500]

Just my opinion here but going on a big ride is not really a good time to see what is wrong with your sled, I actually like to get the kinks out before I go, but hey, that's just crazy me.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Vader, I would take some time and visit the "Models" section of this website. You'll find a lot of technical information and the differences in sleds. My last piece of advice if I were going on a ride to Northern Alberta, or Yellowstone, or anywhere like that I would rent a sled from a local dealer. True, I've never ridden a modern sled but trips like that can be once in a lifetime, don't ruin the trip with a poorly prepared sled. Just my .02

DA

[vader]

Thanks guys. I think the old liquidfire will make it. Never let me down yet. I ride with a bunch of guys that have older sleds. It's fun to see them out. We got 1980 cition 340ss, trailfires, el tigers, scorpions, Nordics, panteras, ect. I really want a 1984 snow fire later on to ad to my collection I think they are nice machines. Going out for test ride tomorrow morning let ya know how she goes.

[Matt]

What is the deal with a snow fire? Is it just the bigger brother of the trail fire? I mean liquidfire was a sporty machine. Trail fire the reliable air cooled trail sled. And then there is the snow fire what was its claim to fame?

The Snowfire is smaller. It was the budget machine.

[AirborneX4Special]

Snowfire replaced the Spitfire if you remember those. Lots of them still around simply because a ton of them were produced. Both machines were free air 340's with direct drive.

[vader]

I got a 1980 spitfire I restored as well. Fun machines and light.plus it's got electric start and heated
hand grips.

[JDGuy]

No experience with Kawasaki heads on a Liquifire here. I can tell you that raising the compression ratio on a 60's Pontiac 421 HO from about 10.5 to 11.5 raised the idle temp about 10 degrees or so. Above idle, road load, no significant change. I was told that was to be expected?? Unsure if that helps you....info only.

[vader]

Thanks for that info. Ya it did raise the temp a few degrees. Had the sleds out this weekend wow did it run good. We were playing in snow all day up to our knee caps. Temperature was good about 150 degrees all day. However if I shut the machine off when warm, I pull and pull and pull the starter, I hear lots of backfiring coming out the exhaust. Some times it will even start to run then die. Once I hear the engine catch I feather the throttle and it comes to life and is fine till the next time. I do not believe its the choke because if I turn choke on half way it dies, when warm. Got lots of spark. Spark plugs tips look brown. I sprayed brake clean all over the engine to see if it was a crank seal idle did not increase I'm stumped. Oh ya my clutch engages at 4500 rpm is that right. I have a purple spring and d weights I believe.

[harleysportster]

That is a common problem, try cracking the throttle open slightly when starting.