Liquidator #229 find

General topics related to John Deere Snowmobiles
Post Reply
hounds84lhs
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
Location: De Pere, WI

Liquidator #229 find

Post by hounds84lhs »

Well never thought I would have the chance to find one of them, but I did! It was last registered in ID in 1977 and only 96 miles on the odometer. I am pretty sure it has been in storage for at least 15 years. Engine is free and everything else seems to be intact. :D
Attachments
IMG_20190112_121320683.jpg
IMG_20190112_121301617.jpg
IMG_20190112_162354309.jpg
83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
User avatar
JoeRainville
Posts: 4355
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: "John Deere Joe"
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by JoeRainville »

Excellent find any JD owner would be thrilled about.

Congrats!
-Joe Rainville
Honorary Tech Editor

Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
AirborneX4Special
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:54 am
Real Name: Pat
Location: N. IL

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by AirborneX4Special »

Excellent find. Looks like a '79 Trailfire came along with the racing relic.
Are you a member on Vintage Sleds? Would be a good candidate for Find of the Year....
TASKY
Posts: 732
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:00 am
Location: Duluth MN

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by TASKY »

Maybe a Spitfire in the back of the truck? Come on tell us the story.
AirborneX4Special
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:54 am
Real Name: Pat
Location: N. IL

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by AirborneX4Special »

Didn't even see that one. Quite the haul of iron. Definitely need to let the crowd in on the details. :popcorn:
User avatar
nick80lf
Posts: 1131
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:45 pm
Real Name: Nick
Location: The snow free zone of Ohio

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by nick80lf »

Nice find....congratulations

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
80 Liquifire (purchased 1996 ~ Running)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2010 ~ Running....Now)
80 Liquifire (purchased 2011 ~ Not running - I officially have a problem now)
83 Snowfire (purchased 2014 father/son restoration project)
78 Spitfire ~ sold (should have been shot for this)
hounds84lhs
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
Location: De Pere, WI

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by hounds84lhs »

Thanks guys.

Story: Got a text from my nephew with a picture of the Dator and the Spitfire about 1:00 PM on Friday. Owner had a storage unit they needed cleaned out and sleds needed to go. I had to take all three if I wanted one. I had no idea what shape the Dator was in, but I wanted it. Made an offer on all three and picked them up on Sat. Still can't believe it all fell into place. I didn't even see the Trailfire in the first picks. So I got the Dator, 79 TF and 78 Spitfire. All in pretty good shape, even though they were in storage for some time.

I'm sure I will be asking for advice when I get around to digging into it. Engine will definately need crank seals. How hard are engine parts to find?

I go out on VS all the time. Never heard of their find of the year.
83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
hounds84lhs
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:16 pm
Location: De Pere, WI

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by hounds84lhs »

Just a couple more pics of my haul.
Attachments
IMG_20190112_121210552.jpg
IMG_20190112_121320683.jpg
IMG_20190112_162708214.jpg
83 Trailfire
83 Sprintfire
81 Liquifire
80 Trailfire 340
80 Trailfire 340
78 Spitfire
76 Liquidator
AirborneX4Special
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:54 am
Real Name: Pat
Location: N. IL

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by AirborneX4Special »

https://vintagesleds.com/bs/index.php/t ... 289.0.html

Tunnel looks good on the Trailfire from the pictures.
Any backstory on the Liquidator? They weren't sold unless they were going to get raced; looks like some racing decals on the hood but the race career must have been short!
User avatar
WinnipegStPaul9
Posts: 5577
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Don Amber
Location: Churubusco, IN

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by WinnipegStPaul9 »

Great find, congratulations!!!! I'll help anyway can.

DA
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
User avatar
jep_800
Posts: 445
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:33 pm
Real Name: Jason
Location: Grand Forks, ND

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by jep_800 »

That's incredible!! All of us dream of stumbling onto the elusive "barn finds", and this one is definitely up there! Only way it could be better is if there was a 340s in there.
1975 John Deere 800
1975 JDX8 (VC Finisher 2019)
1976 440 Cyclone (VC Finisher 2022)
1974 El Tigre 440 (Sold)
1996 Arcitc Cat 440Z
User avatar
JDCornFlakes
Posts: 447
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:00 am
Location: SW Ontario, Canada

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by JDCornFlakes »

Sled being so original and low miles should be kept as survivor.
Then to have juice brake/twist throttle and what looks like light weight hood too.

Would be really nice to know the history of this sled ?

Great find be sure to preserve it !

Dave
DAVE
From Ontario...That's in Canada not in California eh !
sledhead16
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:39 pm
Real Name: Allan Campbell
Location: Saint Peter MN

Re: Liquidator #229 find

Post by sledhead16 »

what an awesome find. wow! so no other info on the dator?
1975 340/s Speed Run Sled
1975 340/s I500 #161
1980 Liquifire SN# 4995 From WA Speed Run Sled
1980 Liquifire SN# 4996 From MN
1983 Sportfire
1984 Liquifire Deep Snow Tunnel 4/6 motor
1984 Sprintfire (2)

***Duelling Deere Garage***
Post Reply