RARE, John Deere experimental sled

[MBSleds]

Hi guys, This is my first post on this sight. I have been in to vintage sleds most of my life and now have 100's of them. I was asked to put pics of this sled on here and let you guys try and figure it out. i bought it from someone who bought it from an older lady around 2000. prior to that the sled sat since the mid 70's. The guy I bought it from never did a thing with it but store it in his shed. It is believed to be a 1972-73 test sled. let me know what you guys think.

[MBSleds]

[JoeRainville]

MB,

Thanks for posting over here, where we speak all Deere, all the time:>) I hope some of the Horicon guys can help you find out more about your machine.

Guys,

This was posted on the VS site, where I asked the owner to post pic's over here so the hardcore Deere guys can get a look at it. Please help out MB if possable. From what I can tell this sled is a miss match of 73-77 parts. The easy things to spot are the 73 JDX-4 hood and 73-74 era steel bumper. Here is a copy of my post over at VS:

Looks to be a later generation bogie wheel tunnel because of the extrusion the cross shafts mount to. I think that tunnel came out in 75, "I think." But, it has mixed wheels and mounting systems that date back to 73. Only the 73 JDX-4 had aluminum center bogies, but all hte 74's did. The 72-73 sleds all had steel bogies, except the X-4 of course. They changed the mounting system after 74 I believe, removing the clips for co-axial bolts in the ends of the cross shafts.

The green chassis bracket look to be 74 or older, as the green sleds when to the dark "Mean Green" color in 75, the same color used on the 74 295/s, 75 340/s and the 76-77 Cyclones. The brighter green was used on the 72-74 100 series sleds, but the brackets were steel in 72 before going to aluminum for 73. The fuel tank is the steel unit used from 73-74. The 72's were green, while the 75's were plastic. The motor cover was attacked by a hole saw, and the top cover is the updated one with vents to help prevent vapor lock.

The muffer looks to be 74-75 vintage from that angle. The motor does look to be a case reed KEC-340. That motor did not come out until 75 on the JDX-4, and was then used on the 76-78 Cyclones. The CDI looks like the dealer installed option that came on the 75 800 or JDX-8's. Wally carb looks typical of that era.

Track is the later Gates unit with the thicker, non-cog-tooth edge. I see a Comet drive, but can't tell if it's a 100, 101 or 102-c. But the dust can was last used in 76, on the 102-C.

The really cool part is the tag. That says that it was a Deere owned sled, probably a development sled of some sort. I have never seen a bare aluminum tunnel for the mid-motor sleds, as they all came from the factory painted, even the replacement ones. You might have something there! I would really like it if you posted these pic's over at www.jdsleds.com. Some of our members were Deere engineers and technicians. Ed Kruel, for example, was a test rider for every sled Deere every built, and he may be able to shed some light on your sled. I have only seen one other sled wth a "Property of John Deere" tag on it.

Thanks for post the pic's!
-Joe Rainville

[400brian]

this sled is the darnedest mix of parts I have ever seen. It's like it was built out of parts they found laying around the shop.

The tunnel; JD Joe is off by a year, the bogie shaft mounting design changed in '74. This sled is showing both, but the tunnel has the tabs, so my guess is '74.

The muffler; Rainville, put on your glasses. That muffler doesn't mount to the engine plate, It also has 2 ball joints, where the later mufflers had one. That makes it more like a '73 500, 600, or X8 in my book.

Joe is right though, the tag is interesting. Have we ever saw that before?

[HoosierDeereMan]

This is a very interesting sled! I'd say the serial number tag is pretty much a dead give away as to what this sled is.

I'm going out on a limb here but the sled looks to be '74 vintage. Most of the idler wheels are the '73 steel type. The engine is a reed valve using the "A" style Prestolite ignition system. It also looks to have a Walbro WRA-31 carburetor judging by the cap over the idle screw. There are also extra exhaust holes in the frame ahead of the chaincase. I wonder if this wasn't a engine test sled. The '74 295/S was the first to use the "A" style ignition. Then for '75 they switched to the "B" style.

Hopefully Ed Kruel can help us out on this one.

Troy

[Matt]

I was thinking that it may have been put together in late '73- early '74, as the hood stripe decals and CDI are right off the 295/s parts table, or it started life in 'late '72-early '73 and was modified the following year.

[HoosierDeereMan]

Not sure how the serial number applies to experimental sleds but with a 0957M number would that not make it a '72 model?

Troy

[Matt]

Not sure how the serial number applies to experimental sleds but with a 0957M number would that not make it a '72 model?

Troy

If it were a '72 chassis it would have the flat lip on the foot rest rather then the round lip.

[Wildfire II]

I'm Checking guy's. Brian is right it looks built from parts laying around. Nothing exp.there. The tunnel is the only thing thats of interest. Thats what i'm checking on. Don't think we used that ser tag on our test sleds. looks like a tag that would be for any type of equipment in the factory. All were stamped on production sticker. I have idea where unpainted tunnel came from. Will add anouther post later. If you are serious on the history I need the past owners name and address. I have a hunch. send pm Don't get too excited yet

[JoeRainville]

Ed,

Thanks for posting! I was hoping you could add some insite to the background of this machine. Thank you:>)

Guys,

As much as I hate to admit it, Lindner got me, not once, but twice. I was pretty sure it wasn't a 72 era tunnel due to the edges of the running board not being square. I knew the bogie wheel mounts changed, but I wasn't sure if it was 75 or earlier. And how I missed that muffler is beyond me:>) It does not attached to the motor plate, and appears to have a larger diameter bottom like the 73 X-8. What threw me off was that it's not bright silver like I think the 73 X-8 muffer was.

Troy, I can't remember if the 75 340/s used the "A" style Prestolite? I though they were about the same as the 295/s, while the "B"' came out in 76? Or it could be that I am off a year. And for some reason, I can remember if the 75 800/JDX-8 CDI kit was a B? Considering that I've restored a 340/s and rebuilding another one, you would think I could keep that straight.

I need to bring some of my reference books down to Texas with me. While I admit to not being a mid-motor expert, I own enough of them to keep the the technical details in line. Thanks for the help guys!

-Rainville

[HoosierDeereMan]

Joe,

The the '75 340/S also used the "A" style just like the 295/S. However I'm thinking regular production sleds starting in '75 used the "B" style with the single rectangular plug. My 75 800 and JDX8 both have "B" style boxes.

Troy

[80spitfire]

That is a very interesting find. I can't wait to see how this one plays out

[MBSleds]

I got it off the trailer, gonna give it a quick bath and take a few more pics. I would like to find the history of it, but the guy I got it from doesn't know anything about it. He had adds in the paper for clearing out estates and that's where he got alot of his stuff. I bought 11 sleds, a cutter, and a bunch of parts from this guy. He was full of alot of BS but no real history on anything. I thought he said this sled may have come from Peshtigo, a cabin on the water, or possibly down by Madison/Watertown area. Yeah, I know there's 5 hours inbetween Peshtigo and Madison. He had a pole building just jam packed full of junk and 11 treasures. Thanks for all the great info so far.

[JDT]

The red rear reflector makes me think that the tunnel was stipped of paint in a qusi-resto project that was never seen through.

It was reassembled as it sat for a quick sale or lack of funds or whatever.

The tag may have been added to make for a good story.

[JD600]

Anyone ever think to call the phone number on the tag and try and get some info? Very cool Sled MB. I hope Ed can get some info on it.

DE