Vintage Challenge Sleds

[guitardude081]

I'm hoping to have the spare time to go to this event. I usually do a ride in the Ironwood-Bergland, MI area every year, so it won't be a stretch. If I go, I'll be riding my Trailfire or Sprintfire. The TF is awaiting a 440 donor motor. It'll see a primary and secondary cleanup/rebuild, all new bearings, hifax, NOS skis, a sport seat with saddle bags, an engine rebuild, and the windshield off of my old Liquifire. If I finish the Sprintfire resto in time, that'll be like a brand new sled. They won't be the fastest sleds in the ride, but at 30+MPG, who can complain?
Paul, are you riding the Liquifire you finished last season, or a completely new one? It sounds like you'll have a pretty nice looking sled for the ride. I remember when I had mine up for sale you were looking for a rich aunt to buy it. Now you'll have a nice resto. and you can feel the pain of every scratch and ding on the trail. After a long days ride, dulls the pain a little bit.
~Jack

[feere the deere]

Joe, just being a little sarcastic. Could always weld a little before but after the john deere obsession seem to have gotten alot better. Ron

[Danzig]

Jack-
I am running the Liquifire that was made famous last year on the u-tube video. She had a pretty good shake down and ran well, that was my goal to ride it like I stole it and then this summer fix whatever had broken...nothing really broke...except my wallet on a septic system... I am impressed now knowing what was lurking in this sleds closet of skeletons and it ran as well as it did. Considering the cluthes were smoked, bearings on the drive shaft waiting to explode on the left side, I think we should be in great shape this year with the new and newer components. I may play with the jetting a bit on the carbs after noticing last year I was still on the rich end of things. The night we road last at the HoF ride, when Troy froze off his fingers, the sled performed excellent, a cold front had pushed in and I think it got down below zero. Earlier that day when the Illinois gang and Troy was out riding, which started out to be a problematic day for many, the sled was not up to parr, it was warmer and keeping the sled idling at stops was not going well, I had to manually overide the throttle a little tiny bit to keep in from loading up, not sure what the temp was but is was just below freezing if I remember right. As the day progressed a cold front came pushing in with a vengance, we had a white out the trail for about 20 minutes, that is when the old girl came in to play, she ran excellent from that point on...now to get it back and back together...my painter is on vacation...I may have an idea for this sled yet too....still pondering about it....

[JoeRainville]

Joe, just being a little sarcastic. Could always weld a little before but after the john deere obsession seem to have gotten alot better. Ron

Hi Ron,

Really, I took it as intended. Sorry my reply was a little dry. Let me decribe my aluminum welding experiance: RIT circa 1989...bzzz....bzzzzt...splat...@#@$@&^!!...start over... repeat!

I think for my first resto I will let someone that wont trash my tunnel take care of it. Yea, I would like to take an aluminum welding class, or practice on a 300 or something!

Keep the stories coming guys!

-Rainville

[WinnipegStPaul9]

When I get back from Hay Days I'll start posting about my 340/S. Da

[Matt]

I had intended to use the Sportfire I picked up last winter, but I'm running into problems. It had crankshaft issues, and it looks like I'm going to need a crank specifically from an '83, as it seems the cranks are not all the same. I may have to shift gears and start going through the 295/S or JDX8 if I don't find something real soon.

[jdsledhead]

Well, I just purchased a 340/s in running condition. It needs to gone through however. The rear sus. needs the be removed and rebuilt, the engine needs new gaskets and seals to be up to my specs. All of the chassis bearings will be replaced, carbs rebuilt, fuel system cleaned, juice brake fluid change etc. Then after updating parts, I need to buy some carbides and throw some star studs in the cleated track. If the trails are anything like last year on my firecat, I DEFFINATELY need "studs" on a 340/s.
As of right now that will be my sled for the ride. I am also going to replace all the chassis bearings in my 82 liquifire and go through it, because I plan on bringing that as my backup sled.
Pics and more info to come!

[kwc]

I started out the summer with one 1975 JDX8 to restore for the ride and now there are three of them in the shop. I have enough parts, a straight tunnel and 440/22's to get the job done.

The parts guy at the local Deere dealer knows when I start a new JDX project, the sales on Blitz Black paint always goes through the roof!



Attachments:

• sled_1.jpg (29.55 KB)
• sled_2.jpg (28.58 KB)

[kwc]

One more ...

Attachments:

• sled_3.jpg (27.41 KB)

[kwc]

Hi Rich - the plans might change if the 340/s I bought is in real good shape.....this is a long-shot bet for sure!

Right now, the X8 is the sled that will be in St Germain, along with a backup machine.

Kevin

[HoosierDeereMan]

Kevin, is the backup machine by chance going to be a Whirlwind?

If so better bring a few cans of Blitz Black. I'll bring the Mean Green and we'll fix you right up!

[Jack Frost]

My cc skid has only taken me about two weeks to rebuild! But now it is ready for blasting and then powder coat.

Attachments:

• CC_resto_Sept_08_001.jpg (1.34 MB)

[Jack Frost]

The skis have also been strenghtened and rebuilt and will be sent for blasting and powder coat.

Attachments:

• CC_resto_Sept_08_002.jpg (1.42 MB)
• CC_resto_Sept_08_003.jpg (1.38 MB)

[Jack Frost]

Rear idlers have been rebuilt as have the front idlers. Still waiting for donors for the center idlers.

Attachments:

• CC_resto_Sept_08_011.jpg (1.41 MB)

[Jack Frost]

I still need to clean up the hood, recover ths seat and go throught the motor. Oh and wait for my nos.... cat track to come in. Then put it all back together. If I remember how.
:eek: