78 Liquifire

[air mechanic]

Question,my 78 440 Liquifire just has the 2 drivers on the front axle,no center wheel. Is this standard or is it missing the center axle wheel,looking at doing some distance vintage rides with my buddy who will be on a 79 Kawasaki 440 Invader. Looking at 30-40mph on groomed trails so high speed is not a issue,just distance durability. Also the 78's have the glove box built into the fuel tank,so instead of 8 gallions is she about 6.5 gallions.

[ICCSF 108]

it should have a round plastic wheel in the center, it probably split over the years & flew out, but the roll pin should have still been in place?? I'm not sure what pitch track the std. Liquifires used but If you were going to change the bearings then I would switch over to a hex shaft for more strength..

Grumpy

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

The 78 Liquifire had an upgrade to a hex drive shaft from the original round one they were built with. The two 78 440's I had did not have a center idler on the hex shaft. I have never seen a 78 440 with the original round shaft, but the parts book should show if it had center idler originally or not.

I hope this helps,
-Joe

[400brian]

Book shows center wheel held in place by a lock collar with set screws on each side.

Production sled used 2/3 cleated track with 2.52 pitch drive.

[harleysportster]

Looking at the parts book in detail, the front center and rear center idlers were eliminated from serial # 80,001 and up.
'76/77 front idler- M64837 WHEEL - 80000

I have a 78 Liq and cyclone with a hex shaft and no center idler.

[400brian]

Good catch Pat, I was looking at the serial numbers at the top of the page, and missed the break beside the wheel part number.

[air mechanic]

Good info! I will have to look close at the shaft,the 2 drive wheels are held on with through bolts,the right hand one has play so I know thats a issue. SER # on her is 082371 with a NOV 77 Build date. Would a CAT or POLARIS axle fit in her if need be? Have experance at pressing the HEX drive wheels on and off axles.

[harleysportster]

Good info! I will have to look close at the shaft,the 2 drive wheels are held on with through bolts,the right hand one has play so I know thats a issue. SER # on her is 082371 with a NOV 77 Build date. Would a CAT or POLARIS axle fit in her if need be? Have experance at pressing the HEX drive wheels on and off axles.

Not sure about the Cat or Polaris shafts as a direct fit. If you have a round shaft, the shafts from the 76/77 Cyclone and Liquifires are all the same.
If you have a hex shaft, the shaft is the same as the later Liquifire/Trailfire/Sportfire.
If anyone knows that I am wrong, feel free to correct this.

[air mechanic]

Well just looked under the sled and it appears to be the round shaft axle. Maybe she was replaced in the past. Need to take it apart regardless to check bearings and see what I can do with the loose drive wheel. Looks a bit spindly compared to the mortal remains of T-CAT axle I have,may run smaller bearings than the cat axles. Just looking in one of my older catalogs and it is showing the same axle bearings for Cat and the Deere. Also looking at drive wheel dimensions.It maybe posible to swap axles,will not know till get her apart latter this spring and can compare it to the cat axle I have.

[ontguns]

Good info! I will have to look close at the shaft,the 2 drive wheels are held on with through bolts,the right hand one has play so I know thats a issue. SER # on her is 082371 with a NOV 77 Build date. Would a CAT or POLARIS axle fit in her if need be? Have experance at pressing the HEX drive wheels on and off axles.

Hi there a polaris from early 90s bolts right in,suspension that is, also the drivers from a 1983 polaris 600 will bolt in as well, also you can use the chain case from the early 80s polaris

[ontguns]

I put the 83 polaris drive shaft in mine and the chain box and gears . I think i had to trim the spline half inch off. Keep in mind i never bolted it all up tight but just to see as i am doing a nut and bolt resto on mine.