John Deere Sprintfire 1983. Long time project....

[Matt]

No kidding. The best part is that every generation here is told in school that soon we will switch completely to metric, but it never happens.

[nick80lf]

The company I work for has standardised on the metric system. I actually prefer working with it, unfortunately things like metric tubing and steel are next to impossible to get here.

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[JoeRainville]

Hi Robert,

While I am working on your parts list, I wanted to let you know some one switched out your idler wheels. The ones at the back of the rail look like they should be on the top of the rear suspension arm. The huge ones on the arm look like they are off a 78 340 Cyclone or Liquifire (7.125" diam).

The rear idlers should be 6.375" (or 6 3/8") diameter PPD wheels. They have the diameter molded into them as "6375". I have some used ones if you need any, and somewhere I have NOS uppers...if I can find them.

Good to see the progress on your sled. I should have your box ready to ship out by Friday...

-Joe

[SS440-80]

Thanks for the info Joe. You got sharp eyes for details
Since I did not know that the idlers where non-original, I had no reason to add them to my "little" list of parts. I had planed to put the wheels in a turner and make them round again.
But tomorrow I will check what numbers they have, and maybe you have to search for your wheels and put them in the box to Sweden.... I mail you about them.

Today I started to dismantle the skid.

First a couple of "before" pics of the skid

Front swing and springs free

[SS440-80]

Drilled 4mm holes and welded on M6 nuts for grease nipples

The front swing and springs looks much better when sandblasted.

[SS440-80]

The rear swing before sand blasting

after...

[SS440-80]

Good hard brake caliper paint should be resistant against most things And it looks nice too

[SS440-80]

So now it's time for the rails.

As you can see, one rubber bumper is missing

But fantasy is the only limit, so....

Two new bumpers with really good bounce

[SS440-80]

No one likes oval holes

A few minutes of welding and grinding, the holes are round again

And some paint

[skoalmint]

Looking GOOD, Keep the pics coming. Brock

[SS440-80]

Looking GOOD, Keep the pics coming. Brock

Thanks I guess that it will be many pics before the sled is done

Today I almost finished the skid. It's just the front ends of the rails and the right wheels thats missing The rail fronts I will make myself and the wheels will soon land in Sweden in a box from Texas

[SS440-80]

Took the seat of today, and of course the plywood was half rotten.
Some previous owner has stretch a new cover on it but not so good

As I want to restore the sled the best I can, I think I will go away a little bit from original on the seat. In my opinion most of the older sleds has a "boring" look on the seat, and the Sprintfire do to. It's the same style as the Yamaha GP and Enticer.

But there are a really good looking seat on the Yamaha SRV 1982, and I think that the Sprintfire would like this seat....with the slim rear light from the JD instead of the big SRV light. Or what do you think?

[JoeRainville]

I dig the idea of a custom one-up seat. The Sprint/Snowfire's have a longer seat than the Spitfire they replace for the "two-up" riding, but they are a small machine for two adults. I say go for it!

As for your Texas care package, I have about half of it ready, including some of the motor parts, a rebuildable set of rear idlers, etc. I have a travel this week and next, but I will try to get everything together soon so I can get it shipped out.

Keep up the good work!
-Joe

[SS440-80]

Thanks Joe!
I will restore the original seat and also make a new seat with a more sporty look. That way I can shift seat and go standard if I want to.

Really nice to hear that the box are getting ready for a trip to Sweden
You know that it aint no hurry as the sled is a long time project, so it's better that the box stays with you a few weeks more and get filled with more missing parts.

So have a nice trip Joe.

[SS440-80]

The foam was a bit worn here and there... but the plywood was good enough to use as a template

Perfect

So I made two boards. One for the original seat and one for my own model