1980 Liquifire engine problems
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- Posts: 170
- Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
- Location: De Pere, WI
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
No, this was a barn find and the engine was partically taken apart.
83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
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- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:55 am
- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Did you ever find the issue with this problem, I am having the same issues and want to know what you found? I had it running without the wiring harness plugged in and it ran ok, not great, but at least it started and idled. Plugged in the harness and I can't get it to run at all, with or without it plugged in. Is there a change from 1980-81 and later engines, if so, can a guy update this sled?
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- Posts: 170
- Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
- Location: De Pere, WI
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Still not running, but we haven't even tried since last winter. Trying to find some time to look at it before the snow falls.
83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
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- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:55 am
- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Ok, Ill let you know if I find something that gets mine going.
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- Real Name: Paul File
- Location: Van Orin, Illinois
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Did you ever try running it off a gas can instead of the fuel tank ? Stick hose in gas can and hook other end to the fuel pump.
Are the choke plungers set correctly and sealing off ? How did you set these plungers and how did you test them ? What jets in each carb ? CDI changed ? What spark plugs you running ?
Are the choke plungers set correctly and sealing off ? How did you set these plungers and how did you test them ? What jets in each carb ? CDI changed ? What spark plugs you running ?
1973 JDX8
1978 Liquifire 340
1980 Liquifire 440 CC Racer
1980 Liquifire 440
1982 Liquifire 440
"Gotta Lick It Before You Stick It"
1978 Liquifire 340
1980 Liquifire 440 CC Racer
1980 Liquifire 440
1982 Liquifire 440
"Gotta Lick It Before You Stick It"
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- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:55 am
- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
It is not a fuel or spark problem, as I've checked and changed everything possible, I also am a mechanic by trade and worked on many different sleds, this one is very challenging.I got this sled running, but only for about 10 minutes, I took off the centre crank oil injector and blew it out with air, then pumped oil to the centre seal. It fired up and ran, then went to a low idle then it quit. Can a person get new check valves for the oil injectors or is my injection pump to weak to open the injectors. I am going to try put air to the injector to see if check valve is stuck, it's hard to get to as its behind the water pump. It's a labarinth seal so it needs oil in order to seal between the cylinders.
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- Real Name: Lloyd
- Location: near Port Elgin, Ontario
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
The seal should work with out oil to the center. Remember that the Sportfire's have the same seal and no injection line to them. Also a Kawasaki Intruder has the same set up as a Sportfire.
Hate to see you spending a lot of time chasing this and it not be the problem
Hate to see you spending a lot of time chasing this and it not be the problem
Several Deere's
Several Kawasaki's
ACSCC #1534
Several Kawasaki's
ACSCC #1534
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- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Ok, well I'm all out of ideas, what else could cause this sled not to run, if you can help me that would be greatly appreciated? Thanks
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- Real Name: Lloyd
- Location: near Port Elgin, Ontario
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
I have never liked diagnosing sleds over the net. It is much easier if you can see and hear them.
What are the carb boots like? They must seal or you get the same issues as a blown crank seal.
A recent experience I had with a sled. It had an aftermarket fuel pump that did not have arrows on the nipples. I had the lines on wrong. It would fire but not run.
Another thing to check that has caught me. How good is the gas?
Lloyd
What are the carb boots like? They must seal or you get the same issues as a blown crank seal.
A recent experience I had with a sled. It had an aftermarket fuel pump that did not have arrows on the nipples. I had the lines on wrong. It would fire but not run.
Another thing to check that has caught me. How good is the gas?
Lloyd
Several Deere's
Several Kawasaki's
ACSCC #1534
Several Kawasaki's
ACSCC #1534
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Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Normally, if the start and run for a few minutes then die it is one of a few things. The choke plungers are lifted, crank seal is leaking or the coil has a broken wire in the windings.
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- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
I've changed gas three times, carb boots like new, changed ignition coils internal and external, cdi, spark plugs, spark plug boots, checked timing on stator, checked fuel pump, new lines everywhere, checked crank case pressure, new Pistons, cylinders redone, seals all redone, unplugged all electrical to engine to see if that was the problem, now all I can get it to do is back fire. When I first redid the engine and cylinders it ran for a bit too. The last time it ran I pumped oil to centre seal it ran for a bit, then it when to a like a low idle and would not rev without just about dying. Then it died, now only when I pull it, it's like a back fire, crankcase are not flooding either, checked that too.
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- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:55 am
- Real Name: Shawn Zorn
- Location: High River, AB. Canada
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
Sorry forgot to mention, carbs cleaned and checked several times, and crank was sent to CV Tech to get checked for timing and centre seal. I would greatly appreciate any help as I've just about given up, this sled is near mint, it came from an old John Deere dealer that had it stored for the last 20 years in a warm garage. It only has about 1000 km on it
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- Posts: 170
- Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
- Location: De Pere, WI
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
We can now get the sled running if we disconnect all the wiring. The original not starting problem was corrected by adding a new coil and replacing one of the jets in the carb.
It runs good a low RPM, but gets boggy when you give it more throttle. When we hook up the wiring the sled will not fire?
It runs good a low RPM, but gets boggy when you give it more throttle. When we hook up the wiring the sled will not fire?

83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
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- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Pat Scott
- Location: Southeast Pa.
Re: 1980 Liquifire engine problems
The kill button circuit is a grounding type meaning when you turn off the ignition key or kill switch, it grounds out the cdi. If the engine will not run with the wiring plugged in, something is grounding out the circuit. Back in the beginning of this post, you mentioned that you placed a jumper in the switch circuit. Remove it if it is still there. I found I had better spark with non resistor plugs and I also tried irridium plugs.
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'76 440 cyclone
'76 440 liquifire
'78 440 Cyclone
'75 JDX8 (sold to a member here)
'78 Liquifire(CrossCountry Clone)
'80 Liquifire(sold)
'76 440 liquifire
'78 440 Cyclone
'75 JDX8 (sold to a member here)
'78 Liquifire(CrossCountry Clone)
'80 Liquifire(sold)