80 Liquifire Track swap into 81 Trailfire Questions

[smitfire]

I put a rubber Liquifire track in my 82 Trailfire. The only thing I changed was the drivers. I kept everything else Trailfire. I didn't have to drill any holes or weld anything. Very straight forward swap. I have put many trouble free miles on it. You are over thinking it.

Yes this works too, but you have 4 less idler wheels, you may wear out your slides fast.

[Hec In Omaha]

I put a rubber Liquifire track in my 82 Trailfire. The only thing I changed was the drivers. I kept everything else Trailfire. I didn't have to drill any holes or weld anything. Very straight forward swap. I have put many trouble free miles on it. You are over thinking it.

Tasky,

Thanks so much for your post! You are probably right, I am overthinking it. I seem to always do that! Is there any chance you can post pics of your set up?

For what it's worth, I have found posts out there on this Track conversion installed exactly as yours (Using the Liquifire Drivers only). The consensus about this approach was that it will work but for how long? The person who posted on this conversion didn't ride the sled much so there is no longevity data to report. All he could report that it did work and only time will tell how well.

This is what I have gathered from this Set up:

Pros: Your conversion is the simplest way to do it! No new holes to make. Fewer Parts to obtain.
Cons: Less Idlers used than what Deere Engineers felt necessary for the '80+ Liquifires and '82+ Sportfires.
Concerns raised: 1.) This set up may result in increased Hyfax wear due to the lack of idlers. 2.) The Rear Upper Idlers tunnel holes have been reported to crack due to increased pressures put on them by the rubber track.

I am glad to hear your set is working for you and has been trouble free! How many miles have you put on it?

Hec

[smitfire]

Using the liquifire skid is definitely the better option. You have all the parts to do it, the factory did it this way.
So do it! Haha

[Hec In Omaha]

Using the liquifire skid is definitely the better option. You have all the parts to do it, the factory did it this way.<BR abp="730">So do it! Haha

Smitfire,

I know, I know. I just want to make sure I get all the right info, which it looks like I have, thank you! I only want to do this conversion once! Here is another example of my overthinking this. I have discovered that the John Deere Parts illustrations show that the '80+ Liquifire, 82'+ Sportfire, and all Trailfire use the Trailfire style tunnel mounted rear upper idler set up. We all know that isn't true. The JD draftsman goofed here. This only added to my confusion. But it's all getting sorted out.

Here are all three diagrams side by side.

Hec

[Hec In Omaha]

Howdy All!

Long time no post! Well a couple of years has passed and I haven't done anything with the sled till now. So here is an update on my Liquifire Track Swap. I have purchased an 82-84 Sportfire Rear Arm from Smitfire. Should be here this week. I am told that the shaft is stuck. If worse comes to worse I will submerge the shaft in Muriatic Acid to dissolve it out of the arm and replace the aluminum shaft with a steel one. I have been inspecting the Liquifire Drive Shaft assembly and the bearings feel a little gravely. So they will be replaced next.

So the plan is to use the Liquifire suspension, track, drive shaft, with the 82-84 Sportfire rear arm installed using the idlers off the rear Liquifire Arm. I will not be using the Trailfire upper idlers. I will keep you posted on the progress. Right now I am going through the 440 Engine. I am replacing crrankshaft seals, outer crankshaft bearings, pistons and rings and fan belt. I hope to install the engine back in the sled this weekend. Well that's the plan anyways. No snow predicted for at least the next 10 days!

Hec