Don was interested in this, so I'll post it here so everyone can see it.
According to what we've been told, work was begun on the design of the 340S in March of '74, and they were built in Oct. of that year. In November, they traveled to Alaska to test and work the bugs out.
Quite a number of issues were identified, and fixes were suggested to owners. In the case of the ABS pans, I believe aluminum replacements were sent to all 340S owners.
It was felt that the suspension was too prone to bottoming out on the underside of the tunnel, so the fix was to relocate the mounting points lower to provide more clearance.
Attachments:
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
-
400brian
- Posts: 5894
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: James T. Kirk
- Location: South Central Wisconsin
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
-
HoosierDeereMan
- Posts: 1089
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:00 am
- Real Name: Troy Miley
- Location: Oakland City, IN
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
I know this is trivial but would lowering the track not change the balance on the skis? One of the race mods I have suggests drilling the front ski saddle holes 7/8" back or forward (can't remember) from their present location. This is suppose to reduce ski darting. Will it not effect the balance of the sled? Are these two modifications to be used together?
'72 400
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
'75 340/S 2011 & 2012 Vintage Challenge finisher.
'76 (2)400's
'78 Liquifire 340,440
'79 Spitfire
"If it has Tits, Tires, or Tracks it's gonna cost you money!"
'73 400, (2)500's, 600
'74 295/S (restored) 2010 HOF poker run survivor.
'75 800, JDX8,
'75 340/S 2011 & 2012 Vintage Challenge finisher.
'76 (2)400's
'78 Liquifire 340,440
'79 Spitfire
"If it has Tits, Tires, or Tracks it's gonna cost you money!"
-
400brian
- Posts: 5894
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: James T. Kirk
- Location: South Central Wisconsin
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
On the mono leaf set up, I don't see where I can relocate the holes.
'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
-
JoeRainville
- Posts: 4362
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: "John Deere Joe"
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- Contact:
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
Linder,
According to your paper work, I belive Deere sent glass pans to 340/s owners. Remember that the Cyclone pan propably wasn't tooled up yet...
Troy,
Yes, raising the back of your sled a few inches changes the caster angle of the front spindle, effectively flattening it out a bid. Sounds like testing showed is was OK with the suspension lowered out the tunnel.
-Rainville
According to your paper work, I belive Deere sent glass pans to 340/s owners. Remember that the Cyclone pan propably wasn't tooled up yet...
Troy,
Yes, raising the back of your sled a few inches changes the caster angle of the front spindle, effectively flattening it out a bid. Sounds like testing showed is was OK with the suspension lowered out the tunnel.
-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.
-
400brian
- Posts: 5894
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: James T. Kirk
- Location: South Central Wisconsin
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
The document I believe Joe is referencing, is dated 12-17-74.
It is stating that all 340S owners are going to be shipped a replacement pan ( to their dealer ) . It doesn't say what kind of pan is being shipped, or a part number.
Being as we see so few glass pans, I've always assumed it to be the aluminum one, could be wrong. The instructions for installing the metal pan has no date on it.
I don't have Ed's e-address. Joe, you want to give him a yell and see if he remembers?
It is stating that all 340S owners are going to be shipped a replacement pan ( to their dealer ) . It doesn't say what kind of pan is being shipped, or a part number.
Being as we see so few glass pans, I've always assumed it to be the aluminum one, could be wrong. The instructions for installing the metal pan has no date on it.
I don't have Ed's e-address. Joe, you want to give him a yell and see if he remembers?
'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
-
WinnipegStPaul9
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Don Amber
- Location: Churubusco, IN
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
Replacements were not aluminum.JoeRainville wrote:Linder,
According to your paper work, I belive Deere sent glass pans to 340/s owners. Remember that the Cyclone pan propably wasn't tooled up yet...
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
-
WinnipegStPaul9
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Don Amber
- Location: Churubusco, IN
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
I'm certain that we did not change the front end configuration after we modified the rear suspension (lowered). Don't remember that it steered any differently. DAJoeRainville wrote:Troy,
Yes, raising the back of your sled a few inches changes the caster angle of the front spindle, effectively flattening it out a bid. Sounds like testing showed is was OK with the suspension lowered out the tunnel.
-Rainville
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
-
400brian
- Posts: 5894
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: James T. Kirk
- Location: South Central Wisconsin
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
If the replacement pans were glass, I've got to wonder if Deere replaced these twice?
Almost all of them are aluminum now, and I find it hard to believe all the owners would have sprung for a new pan on their own.
Almost all of them are aluminum now, and I find it hard to believe all the owners would have sprung for a new pan on their own.
'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
-
ICCSF 108
- Posts: 4369
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Kenny Heins, AKA Grumpy
- Location: Blue Springs Mo.
- Contact:
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
I wonder what an NOS fiberglass pan would be worth today?
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?
Lowering the suspension on the 340S
No aluminum pans during the 1975 race season, Rich has the facts correct! Riding the 340/s with the skid frame rear arm out of the tunnel did change the handling, add solid Woody's carbide, multileaf skis, and a steering system with a lot of play and huge front end darting issues prevailed....it was junk to ride with the only fix option to tighten the front arm and try to offset with ski lift. You can see this clearly with the picture of my #54 340/s on the Race and Rally cover, the front end is going straight at speed and the rear is all out of shape. So use as little carbide as possible, stock JDX rods work fine, front arm tight by half, and become used to point steering. It's kinda like your first date, a bit uncomfortable and ackward, but well worth it as you get used to it! JRC