Countdown to the RWTC

[400brian]

We are fast approaching one month out!

Preparations are being made all over the country in anticipation of another great event.

The X8 is getting some attention, and an upgrade.

[JDT]

Nice. It deserves it.

[JoeRainville]

Sweet update Lindner!

Be careful however. If history is an indicator, those sweet ski's will all the sudden make you ride like a freaking possessed mad man on a midnight booty run!

Personally, I still think Elder's throttle was stuck last year...

-Joe

PS: I guess I should put the crank back in the Liquifire...

[400brian]

One month out, things are pretty much torn apart.

[400brian]

Track re-cleat is underway! 48 cleats, 432 rivets.

[JoeRainville]

Looks good Lindner.

But it did occur to me that if you had the correct cleats, and threaded rivet at the HoF last year, our job would have been MUCH freaking easier. (Just in case that didn't come to mind)

Happy cleating,
-JDJR

[jep_800]

There has been a lot of work and hours put into preparation by our group... I think I've counted within the small band of guys I talk to on a regular basis, we've rebuilt no less than 10 engines between last summer and now. I just got my 800's engine re-installed yesterday and she took it's first breath of life! That was #2 for me, so with a little testing, and hopefully some good break-in miles, I will have them both on the trailer for WI in a month.

Happy wrenching!

Jason

[JoeRainville]

After being run a little low on oil last year, I figured it was time to freshen up the 80 Liquifire motor before the I-500/VC. I am planning to have it ready for the HoF this year just in case the Dator doesn't survive the I-500 again, because, well, things happen...

Since it has a scuffed up bore and piston, I did a complete tear down and ended up replacing everything from the crank, to the cases on up to the pistons and jugs. Richard is in training with learning to assembling Kawi motors. He helped to install the NOS cylinder studs into the NOS cases. He let me drop in the Jerome crank, but he put in the case bolts and helped snug them down...

If any of you guys wonder if nicasil is tough, this motor ran about 30-40 miles without out and still crossed the finish line at the I-500 last year. One bore and piston was OK, the other was rough. We re-oiled the motor at the HoF and then loaned out for the RWC for another 120+ miles. After about 1,000 race and Vintage Challenge miles, this little Kawi 440 owes me nothing. The jugs are going back out for re-plating, the crank is going back to Jerome for check out...and the pistons go on my 'trophie' wall

Later Liquidator!
-Joe

[JoeRainville]

Richard has been working away on the Liquifire rebuild. Motor should be all buttoned up by this weekend, and chassis work started going to. After 1,000 rough miles I figure she is due for drive axle bearings while the sled is down.

-Joe

[400brian]

With time growing short, sleds are furiously being prepped all over the country. There will will some surprises too.

The X8 track rebuild is finally complete! 432 rivets cut off, 48 cleats replaced, 432 bolts installed and locktited. That was a bit of a slog!

Cleats were obtained from 3 different sources. Source number 2 should have left me with 15 extra, but the majority of the cleats sent were for OEM Deere, and I was left 5 short. The last 5 were obtained off ebay, and while they were the correct length ( 10 1/4 inches ) the rivet hole spacing was off. 3 holes had to be moved to the left, 6 to the right, all about an 1/8th of an inch. A chainsaw file walked right through them, and I don't think it would go that well if you tried that on a original Deere cleat.

The drive axle bearings that were installed in '07 are being replaced. The right side bearing was getting rough sounding, and it appears it was starting to turn on the shaft. New Timken bearings will go on, and the right side will get some locktite.

Gotta keep pushing!

[JoeRainville]

Like Lindner said, wrenches are flying all around...

The Liquifire motor is buttoned up with the small exception of carb flanges. Found that the old ones from 8 years ago were starting to dry rot and crack, so a new set were ordered from New Breed. While I started with the same motor from last year, not much of it is left. The cases and studs are NOS, a new Jerome Kretzman crankshaft, fresh jugs with nicasil, new Wiseco's and "CD" rings, new coil, reconditions set of heads, plus an NOS stator. So it's basically the same flywheel, recoil, flywheel cover, gear box cover, water, oil pump and manifolds from last year

Then it was onto the chassis. Glad to took it down for inspection. I haven't had the track out since I powder coated the chassis back in 2013, and it was due. Left side drive axle bearing was staring to go, and the jackshaft was toast again. Darn bolt on the top gear came loose, so the bearing ate the shaft on the chain case end. Good new was that the track and drive axle looked ready to go another thousand miles.

The suspension had two locked idlers wheels, and a small one was missing, but otherwise looked ok with no damage. All parts are on order and the last minute dash is on. The wiring hardness was scrapped and an NOS one installed to finally eliminate the gremlins I have been chasing for years.

At least Adam tells me the Dator starts and runs great, and is already loaded for the I-500. He seems to have that one mostly sorted out from last year. We shall see as I have a week before I head north...

-Joe

[400brian]

The track is finally back in the sled, and the suspension bolted in! Track needs tightening yet in this photo.

[JoeRainville]

Well, the mighty Liquifire has the track, drive axle and suspension re-installed along with a new wiring harness. Had to replace a few idler wheel bearings along with the regular maintenance on the skid.

Motor is dropped in place finally. Now I need to put the hammer down and bolt up everything, loc-tite as needed, and hope this girl carries Adam across the finish line again. Whichever one survives the I-500 better will probably end up being my VC sled, although it would be fun to ride the Dator again in full race tune. If we trash both, well, there is always the Sprintfire or the 400...

Later Liquidator,
-Joe

[JD600]

I figured I should jump in here to show everyone what I've been working on. Started as a sorry looking machine

[nick80lf]

The front suspension looked a little unique in one of the photos I saw on Facebook.......do tell.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk