1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done

This is where you can post the story & photos of your John Deere Snowmobile project.
kube1
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by kube1 »

OK, my little crisis with the rings is over. The guy agreed to refund my money for the rings and I found someone else with a set of new chrome rings that are on the way. In the meantime I have been picking away at other stuff.

I media blasted the exhaust header and repainted with high temp paint.
Image


The carb cleaned up extremely well. It had been drained and stored nicely. Mostly dirty on the outside.
Image

Image


I reassembled the bottom end.
Image


The clutch is in pretty nice shape. Just needs a good cleaning and a little blast and paint on the spring. I made my own puller from a 5/8 bolt using the puller specs I found in the Rec Supply catalogue.
Image

Image
User avatar
skoalmint
Posts: 759
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: Circleville Oh

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by skoalmint »

Nice Work !!! :beers; Brock
kube1
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by kube1 »

Someone mentioned to me an another forum that this clutch is set up with the incorrect ramp and pucks for a Spitfire. Is this true? Any info? Just wondering how it will perform.
User avatar
skoalmint
Posts: 759
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: Circleville Oh

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by skoalmint »

Not sure about the pucks ,but it does have the early trailfire cover. This was a more aggresive style cover ,Notice the 2 diff angles on the cover. I think deere stopped using them because people were eating belts. Higher engagement rpms. Probably would make a spitty pretty wild taking off :sled: . Just my opinion , might be wrong hope this helps. Brock
kube1
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by kube1 »

I cleaned up the clutch yesterday. The spindle on the fixed had quite a bit of rust so I spun it up in the lathe and polished it off with scotchbrite. The spring was blasted and painted. The rest was degreased and the sheave faces deglazed.

Image

Image



I received these springs with my pistons but I can only guess what they are for. I assume they are designed to be used behind a ring? My old pistons did not have this spring. Can someone offer some insight?
Image
kube1
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:56 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab

Post by kube1 »

Really hit it hard today. Up at 5, out to the shop and dropped the engine in. I had the engine back together last night but I ran out of gas so to speak... needed some rest. Before I painted the muffler I torched the mouse nest out with the tiger torch. The a blast in the cabinet and some high temp paint. Only to put it in and discover a hole that made itself known ofter it was started. Guess I need another muffler.

I have seen many posts with people almost screaming that it doesn't matter what the arrow on the piston says ALWAYS put the ring pins to the carb side. Here is proof that pins don't always go that way. These pins are on the exhaust side, and for good reason. They run on either side of the exhaust port BETWEEN any other ports. If they were to go the intake side the rings would absolutely catch.
Image



The engine finally dropped in.
Image

Image



I was really kind of lost with the headlight harness. I had no idea where to route it, so I put it up the drive side away from the exhaust. Is there supposed to be a shield or something bolted in these holes behind the engine hole?
Image



Finally! Its all together and running nicely. It started quite easily after the fuel filled the carb. Although this engine obviously needed attention, I am a firm believer that you MUST rebuild an old engine. I don't care if the guy you bought it from says its running or its been sitting unrun for 10 years, its easy insurance to tear it down and replace all the seals and gaskets. This goes for the carb as well. And this engine proves it. A few pulls and it started and idled like a champ.
Image

Image

Image
User avatar
skoalmint
Posts: 759
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: Circleville Oh

Re: 1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done

Post by skoalmint »

Looks Great ! Nice Job. Brock
User avatar
427cobra
Posts: 2474
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:00 am
Real Name: Eric
Location: Metamora IL

Re: 1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done

Post by 427cobra »

Nice looking sled!
Eric A.

"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid" - John Wayne
Post Reply