The restoration of a John Deere legend COMPLETED

This is where you can post the story & photos of your John Deere Snowmobile project.
ICCSF 108
Posts: 4369
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Kenny Heins, AKA Grumpy
Location: Blue Springs Mo.
Contact:

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by ICCSF 108 »

Brian, WOW you found a NOS " Premium Fuel Only " Cap for the rear tank?
Get that thing All Juiced Up, Bled, Warmed Up, Re-Bled, Re-Torqued & then post a video of it running so we all can hear that Dator run .. I can hardly wait to hear it....
Look'n great so far..
Grumpy
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

ICCSF 108 wrote:Brian, WOW you found a NOS " Premium Fuel Only " Cap for the rear tank?
Get that thing All Juiced Up, Bled, Warmed Up, Re-Bled, Re-Torqued & then post a video of it running so we all can hear that Dator run .. I can hardly wait to hear it....
Look'n great so far..
Grumpy
Well it's not NOS, but it's a pretty darn nice one. It pays to have good friends to help you out with building your dream sled!

Hopefully I'll be able to help you out with a video eventually :)

-Brian
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
cfedorowich
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by cfedorowich »

Amazing!!! Hope you keep posting... Am going to love to see the final product!
User avatar
johnnycyclone
Posts: 867
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:00 am
Real Name: Terre
Location: Dundee, Mi

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by johnnycyclone »

80spitfire wrote:Thanks guys! I'm glad you like it!

-Brian
Brian, I think the word "like" is an understatement on your project. Your attention to detail is outstanding and it shows in your sled. Great job! I would love to see it in person.
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

Thanks man! Hope you can see it in person someday!

-Brian
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
cledussnow77
Posts: 573
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Ed Jones
Location: northwest ohio

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by cledussnow77 »

That thing is so beautiful it's sexy, :drool: awsome job. :beers;
Nothing Runs Like A Deere
Kurts
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:40 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by Kurts »

Are those plastic fittings in the coolant lines factory?
Kurt.
295/s
'72 400, Modern suspension, mod 440/5, hoping to be 65hp
'91 Eagle Talon 10.9@140, street tire E85 3400lbs.
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

Kurts wrote:Are those plastic fittings in the coolant lines factory?
Good eyes! No the 90 is not factory. Originally that hose was a short hose with two 90 degree angles in it and it ran from the water pump to the radiator. The reason why mine is the way it is, is because it has a 78 LF cooler in the front of the tunnel to help keep the motor cooler. Dators stock can't run long under 50 mph without getting hot so that's why many of us have these installed in our sleds

-Brian
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
Kurts
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:40 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by Kurts »

Make sure that they are up to the temperature. I work part time in a sled shop at home over break, and we a had a basically brand new Arctic Cat Sno Pro 500, that was dead due to a hardware store plastic Tee put in the coolant line that got soft, and blew all the coolant out. She was well done, after that.
Kurt.
295/s
'72 400, Modern suspension, mod 440/5, hoping to be 65hp
'91 Eagle Talon 10.9@140, street tire E85 3400lbs.
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

Kurts wrote:Make sure that they are up to the temperature. I work part time in a sled shop at home over break, and we a had a basically brand new Arctic Cat Sno Pro 500, that was dead due to a hardware store plastic Tee put in the coolant line that got soft, and blew all the coolant out. She was well done, after that.
Dang that sounds like a fun time! I knew enough to not buy just plain hardware store fittings as I'm in automotive school so I fortunately understood what could happen. I ordered these from a local parts store and they are intended for use with coolant. I appreciate you checking to make sure though!

-Brian
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

I wanted to wait a little bit longer, but I decided I can't wait any longer lol The Dator is done (almost)! The only thing that I have left to do is to put the NOS windshield on it which I still need to pick up at Waconia tomorrow morning. So late tomorrow night the sled will be 100% done. I'll try to take a bunch of final after pictures of the sled once it's lined up on the snow at Waconia Sunday, but for now, here she is 99% done.

Thanks,
Brian

ImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
User avatar
80spitfire
Posts: 804
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:59 pm
Real Name: Brian Kottke
Location: Southern Minnesota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend

Post by 80spitfire »

I'm so excited that after 3 years my masterpiece is finally done, but I tell ya what I could've never done it without you guys. I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you who helped me out with parts or technical advice with my sled. The list of guys is huge and to be honest I'm not even going to try to say them all right now for fear of forgetting some people. You know who you are and I hope you realize how thankful I am for the help in building this sled.

Thanks,
Brian
72' 500 Restored
74' 295/S Unrestored
75' 340/S Rider
76' Liquidator Restored
77' Liquifire Rider
80' Spitfire Restored
User avatar
WinnipegStPaul9
Posts: 5577
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Don Amber
Location: Churubusco, IN

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend UPDATED

Post by WinnipegStPaul9 »

Great job Brian, it's just plain BEAUTIFUL!!!!

DA
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
JDT
Posts: 5561
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Todd
Location: Milbank South Dakota

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend UPDATED

Post by JDT »

Congratulations Brian.

Heads will turn at Waconia. :sled:
Todd Schrupp

Milbank SD
User avatar
nick80lf
Posts: 1133
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:45 pm
Real Name: Nick
Location: The snow free zone of Ohio

Re: The restoration of a John Deere legend UPDATED

Post by nick80lf »

Looks great but.....are you sure it's done......where's the pin striping? LOL

Sent from my Motorola RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk
80 Liquifire (purchased 1996 ~ Running)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2010 ~ Running....Now)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2011 ~ Not running - I officially have a problem now)
83 Snowfire (purchased 2014 father/son restoration project)
78 Spitfire ~ sold (should have been shot for this)
Post Reply