Hi Guys,
On my way home from Hay Days this year, I stopped by Tim Spiegelhoff's in WI to pick up a sled for a guy back here in NY. On the phone Tim told me he was looking forward to showing the "Ultimate Liquifire" that he had told me about 2 years earlier.
It seems a JD Dealer wanted to build a custom sled to show Deere what a Liquifire should have been. He used some of the best parts from Deere and Kawi sleds to put together a very well thought out custom. And, it's very light too.
-Rainville
First Pic: The Black Beauty
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:30 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
He started out with a 1977 Cyclone chassis as a foundation for this project. The hood is a 1977 Dator Light piece to keep weight down. Aluminum ski's from a 295/s and mono-springs complete the front suspension. The front bumper is from a 1978 Liquifire and the decals are Liquidator stripes customized with the word "Liquifire" on the tunnel.
Pic 2: From the side
Pic 2: From the side
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
The seat, gas tank and dash are 78 Liqufire pieces, while the control grips are 76-77 parts from a Liqufire/Cyclone.
Pic 3: The seating area
Pic 3: The seating area
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Under Hood things get interesting. The powerplant is from a 1980 Kawasaki Invader, including the oil injection and oil tank. The majority of the cooling system is stock 78 Liquifire hardware, including the radiator and bulkhead mounted heat exchanger. Tossed in are some custom parts to make it all work together, some rumored to be Harley Davidson pieces.
The muffer appears to be from a 1980 ish Liquifire, due to the welded capital "L" on it. Manifold appears to be Liquifire also, but it could be Kawi. Air box is an 80's Liquifire unit.
The chain case looks to have been updated with the 78 Cross Country roller tensioner kit, simular to what Deere put into production for the 80 Liquifire. In this case, it looks to be a 76 chain case with the painted cover, and the roller tensioner bolt bracket is bolted to the side of case.
Pic 4: Underhood
The muffer appears to be from a 1980 ish Liquifire, due to the welded capital "L" on it. Manifold appears to be Liquifire also, but it could be Kawi. Air box is an 80's Liquifire unit.
The chain case looks to have been updated with the 78 Cross Country roller tensioner kit, simular to what Deere put into production for the 80 Liquifire. In this case, it looks to be a 76 chain case with the painted cover, and the roller tensioner bolt bracket is bolted to the side of case.
Pic 4: Underhood
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
On the clutching side of things, any Deere collector should be able to spot the Deere designed TR-800 and matching "wide belt" secondary. It was one of the most advanced clutches of its day. This also helps to date final assembly of this sled to around fall of 81, winter of 82 since that is when the TR-800 first used on the 82 Liquifire and was available as a kit for the 80-81 Liquifires.
Also note the custom aluminum belt gard too!
Pic 5: Clutching
Also note the custom aluminum belt gard too!
Pic 5: Clutching
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Joe...very nice! Jon
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JoeRainville
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Thanks Jon, wish I could take the credit for this beautiful machine...
Now back to our regular scheduled program... The suspension was a custom deal. Looks like 78 Liquifire rails mixed with 1980 rails, note the 7 1/8 rear idler with the 6 3/8" center idler. It also has custom fabricated chrome moly suspension arms. Very light, very trick!
I can not identify the track. It looks like a Dator track, and has a 3.29" drive lug pitch, but it's rubber, not cleated. Also looks to be about 116" long.
Even the rear snow flap was drilled and shortened to lighten up the sled. Final result is about 350 lbs!
Thanks for reading,
-Rainville
Now back to our regular scheduled program... The suspension was a custom deal. Looks like 78 Liquifire rails mixed with 1980 rails, note the 7 1/8 rear idler with the 6 3/8" center idler. It also has custom fabricated chrome moly suspension arms. Very light, very trick!
I can not identify the track. It looks like a Dator track, and has a 3.29" drive lug pitch, but it's rubber, not cleated. Also looks to be about 116" long.
Even the rear snow flap was drilled and shortened to lighten up the sled. Final result is about 350 lbs!
Thanks for reading,
-Rainville
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Last edited by JoeRainville on Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Honorary Tech Editor
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Polaris rubber light weight track?
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ICCSF 108
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
That doesn't look Yokohama, looks more like Kimpex or Kalamazoo, Joe anyway you can find out if that track has a name & part number stamped on it?? I could use a couple of those..
Kenny
Kenny
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
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JoeRainville
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- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Jon, Kenny and Guys,
Here is another view of the track. I could not find any info molded into it, but I did not want to put that sled on it's side either. After spending an hour plus taking pic and talking to Tim, all I could ask for was "DIBBS" if he ever wants to part with it!
-Rainville
Here is another view of the track. I could not find any info molded into it, but I did not want to put that sled on it's side either. After spending an hour plus taking pic and talking to Tim, all I could ask for was "DIBBS" if he ever wants to part with it!
-Rainville
Honorary Tech Editor
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Looks like the track Polaris scammed us on at Balsam for the ice
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ICCSF 108
- Posts: 4369
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Kenny Heins, AKA Grumpy
- Location: Blue Springs Mo.
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
It sure looks light weight, very thin also, Jon what track did they use for that?? As the Polaris's std track is thicker than this one..
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
-
ICCSF 108
- Posts: 4369
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Kenny Heins, AKA Grumpy
- Location: Blue Springs Mo.
- Contact:
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
look at how wide the holes are, almost looks like a lite weight 78 CC liquifire track??
wish we would have had one that thin on the CC liquifires.
Kenny
wish we would have had one that thin on the CC liquifires.
Kenny
AKA: Kenny, Grumpy, Mr. Richard Head
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
"I Hunt For it, Purchase it, Haul it, Sometimes Repair it, Sometimes Break it, Then Fix it Again, Label it, Warehouse it, Talk About it, So NOW, HOW Can I Take Any Less $$ For It?"
"God I love the smell of KLOTZ in the morning, That smell, you know that Gasoline/Oil Smell, MAKES the whole place SMELL like.. LIKE VICTORY. You know someday the 2 strokers are gonna end..."
Do Anti-War Protesters have reunions? If so what do they TALK about?
-
Rodimus Prime
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:00 am
The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
Its not a kimpex or from a cat since they are almost the same as the stock 80's liquid. Looks more like the polaris type but they didnt make any that lenght and pitch for solid rubber. Nor one of the few skidoo types that isnt internal drive.. i would guess some kawa maybe...
otherwise looks nice but doesnt look like it was ever seriously driven either.
otherwise looks nice but doesnt look like it was ever seriously driven either.
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400brian
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The "Ultimate Liquifire" Custom Sled
One very trick ride Joe! My one question was if it had been driven much?
It's pretty darn clean for being built 25 years ago.
It's pretty darn clean for being built 25 years ago.
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