1978 Spitfire

WYBowman · Post by **WYBowman** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:50 pm

I may be picking up a couple of 1978 spitfires but know nothing about them. Any information would be good. Like is it any harder to find parts for them then the other deere sleds? and is there any big difference between a kohler and kawasaki engine?

Any help will be good, as most of you know I'm new at this.

WYBowman

JDFanPa · Post by **JDFanPa** » Sat May 05, 2007 11:26 pm

Personaly I think if your gonna own a spitfire the 78/9 sleds are the ones to have given their green color.

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Sun May 06, 2007 12:02 am

I agree with Andy, I like the green ones as well.

If you are buying Spits, look at the track. New ones are not available.

qwerty · Post by **qwerty** » Sun May 06, 2007 2:16 pm

i just bought a 78 spitfire with a kawasaki 340 f/a conversion. what is the horsepower of this engine?

ChickenRat · Post by **ChickenRat** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:40 pm

Supposedly the Kawasaki 339cc F/A motor put out about 25 hp in the Spitfire due to the F-piped exhaust. The same Kawasaki 339cc F/A motor in the '82-84 Snowfires put out about 30 hp due to the more conventional Y-Pipe.

Don't know the hp rating of the Kohler motor.

Robb

qwerty · Post by **qwerty** » Mon May 07, 2007 1:50 am

25 ponies in a 300 lb package should be a spirited litte ride. after slugging around on 600lb modern iron. and given the color, it definately has deere written all over it.
i cant confirm, but i was told it is the same kawasaki that was used in the arctic cats and the F/A drifters. so parts should be fairly plentifull.

WYBowman · Post by **WYBowman** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:29 pm

I'm going to get them, I figure out of two 78 spitfires I should be able to make one nice one. Both have good tracks and complete motors. One sled is missing a seat and carb but the other ran recently. I'll let you all know what I end up with.

WYBowman out.

Liquifire 4/6 · Post by **Liquifire 4/6** » Tue May 08, 2007 12:25 am

The Kawasaki engine used in the later Spitfires and the Snowfires was identical to the mill used in the F/A Kawasaki Drifter, but I do not know of any Arctic cat model that used the same engine. The early 3000 Jags did use a 340 Kawasaki free air engine, but it was considerably different as far as I can recall. Regarding the 25Hp in a 300 lb package making for a spirited ride....well, that's being a tad optimistic. Now, don't get me wrong, those Spits and Snowfires really are a blast to ride and have an uncanny way of putting a big smile on the face of anyone riding one, but fast, they are not. The compromised gear ratios resulting from the direct drive system just is not an efficient set up. Having said that, I still know you'll have lots of fun with yours.

Pete