Trailfire liquifire sportfire carb recommendations

[High Top]

After just getting my sleds to fire up for the first time after I purchased them I knew things weren’t exactly right with either machine as far as running well and staying running. Snow was on the ground so I did what I could and took them for a test a run not getting too crazy. Found that one had bad crank seals so focused on the other and would address the seals when time allowed. I pulled the carb back off the running machine as it was over fueling way too much, plugs both wet and smoking bad. Took everything out of it and got the fine tune manual that we miraculously had in the lawn and garden shop at the dealer I work for. Went to the page that showed what I needed and found that it had main jet way too rich and E clip was in wrong groove. Got the correct parts and new needle and seat. Got it back on and geez it was totally different machine. Checking plugs religiously and seems to be right with the tan color I’m getting.
Time to attack the next machine….
Pulled the engine, new crank seals and back in it went. Pulled the carb off this one again and everything checked out except the needle jet. Factory recommendation for Trailfire 440 is 166-Q0. This one had 166-Q2. It was one off to the rich side so I put it back together and figured I would see how it run. Did not want to idle well at all. Had to keep the throttle open or it would die. Also was bogging when trying to open up the throttle. It would run better at higher rpm’s though. Got correct needle jet and now it is idling good and accelerates up to high rpms as it should.
Here are the pages I was using to see what I had compared to the recommendations for temp and altitude from the fine tune manual.

[ammon]

I am so glad glad I found this thread of yours. I have a 1981 Sportfire that is pretty much a collector sled. 338 actual miles and original "Sport" seat in beautiful condition and no rust anywhere on the sled. I opened up the carb yesterday and was able to read the pilot jet number but couldn't see the numbers for the power jet or main jet. So now with this info that you posted, I will order the 3 new jets for this old sled. It lives on a 4 foot high table but I want it right for the 6000 feet and above altitude of where I live. Here are a couple of pictures that I took of it last week. I pulled it down from the table 2 days ago since 2015 to spruce it up some. I had new fuel lines and pickup, fuel pump guts, and crank seals replaced in 2012. Thankyou abunch!!!

[High Top]

Glad it helped out! Mine sure seem to run well having the recommended jetting for where I’m at. That is a nice looking machine! Looks identical to the one I have just a lot more mint condition!

[ammon]

I took it off its shelf Saturday because I thought the electric starter had broke. Turned out that all it needed was a new battery. Turned over and started right up!! When yours sits for a long period of time, does it take awhile for it to start? Mine seems as if the gas backtracks into the tank over a months or so time. So it seems to have to pump it all the way through the line from the tank. It turns over alot before it starts. I wonder if an inline fuel shut off valve would help.

[High Top]

I haven’t had my mine for all that long really but I’d say that yes it takes a little cranking to prime the fuel back up after sitting for a longer period of time. I do not have shut off valves on any of mine at this time but I’m thinking of adding them just to keep fuel where it belongs while storing.