The Trailfire was introduced for the 1979 model year. Which means they were produced in 1978. We introduced them at West Yellowstone in early 1978. We had a large number of pre production machines manufactured at Horicon and shipped them to West Yellowstone. We gathered a wide selection of competitive sleds as well. Our intro meeting was in the Firehole Room of the Yellowstone Lodge. From mid January to late February we brought our dealer organization in as I recall 300 at a time. First the Intro program and the next day the dealers were split. Half went to classes on the new Trailfires and the other half went on a ride and drive into the mountains on a designated trail. They were there for three days and left and another group of 300 came in. I was part of the intro and had a class on the Trailfire with Tom Wehner of Fond du Lac. We are close friends today. We had service people there to keep everything running. They were out early getting machines started and fueled. We were supposed to intro the new Liquifire too but that was the machine we skipped a year. The first Liquifires of the the new profile were intruded for the 1980 model year. Too many development problems caused the delay. That was the year JD skipped producing the one model. I was following Stan Hayes on a mountain. He led us to the top and went over the edge ! I couldn’t believe what he did but others followed but most of us said no thanks and went back the way we came. Stan beat us back by an hour. What a time we and the dealers had at the Trailfire intro meeting. Lots of adventures and stories that I don’t have time nor space to share here. Regards Bill Lee long retired Div. Mgr. Snowmobiles John Deere Horicon Works.
Awesome bit of history you just shared!!!!! You might be glad to hear that I raced this sled at West Yellowstone circa 2012. It did very well! As a kid, I had a '79 Trailfire (damn steel tunnel with all the rust!). That's so cool to have a bit of Stan Hayes history from your post as well! Thanks for sharing...
I have a 79 340 TrailFire she hauls ass! I been 55mph with it Mine has the factory tach ... Mine has the metal belly thin metal it’s definitely got a few dents ha ! It’s a bitch to start ! But once she’s lit she runs ! I did the crank seals I was looking for the 440 jugs that would be nice ! That 440 must run strong!!
It is a Kawasaki motor. And it's actually 436cc. They can get away with rounding the displacement to the nearest 10 for sales bait. I saw one at the JD dealer in Woodsville, NH. It was beat to heck and the track was snapped in two but the engine looked like it would start with some minor work.
In 1979 they were making 1980 models I believe john deere took a 1 year break I believe in 78-79 until the developed this design. The tunnel have always been all aluminum except for the front of the tunnel it was steel. Also the carburetor was a mikuni 34mm powerjet. Great sleds in deep snow the front end just floats on top like a boat. Owned 2 1980 sportfires. Still have 1. Enjoy your day
Here's a great article on the Trailfire: snowgoer.com/snowmobile-features/john-deere-trailfire/2484/ It discusses the steel tunnel in the first year model. I had one as a kid and can verify the steel tunnel because it was rusting and I sandblasted it myself. I couldn't believe, in the humid Midwest, it only took a day or two to rust again because I was too slow to get it primed! On the '81, one source says it is a 32mm carb: www.snowmobile.com/manufacturers/others/john-deere-trailfire-vintage-review-1715.html Enjoy that Sportfire - I always wanted one of those instead of the Trailfire!!! Have a great day!
Are you looking for brand new or anything that will work in good condition? There's a Facebook group that just focuses on John Deere sleds. A guy there has two.
@@oilypatch323 I forget what size/pitch the tracks were. I'll do some research. If you're on Facebook, I recommend joining m.facebook.com/groups/275408332615206/permalink/2116590121830342/. There are a lot of folks who know a lot more than I do.
I think '72 was the first year? The last year was '84. Of course in the '70's everyone seemed to make them... even Sears, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, and many, many more. Deere's were very popular. Too bad they stopped!
IMO these were some of the most attractive sleds ever made - LOVE them……..!!!!!!
My favorite is the '83 Sportfire!
The Trailfire was introduced for the 1979 model year. Which means they were produced in 1978. We introduced them at West Yellowstone in early 1978. We had a large number of pre production machines manufactured at Horicon and shipped them to West Yellowstone. We gathered a wide selection of competitive sleds as well. Our intro meeting was in the Firehole Room of the Yellowstone Lodge. From mid January to late
February we brought our dealer organization in as I recall 300 at a time. First the Intro program and the next day the dealers were split. Half went to classes on the new Trailfires and the other half went on a ride and drive into the mountains on a designated trail. They were there for three days
and left and another group of 300 came in. I was part of the intro and had a class on the Trailfire with Tom Wehner of Fond du Lac. We are close
friends today. We had service people there to keep everything running. They were out early getting machines started and fueled. We were
supposed to intro the new Liquifire too but that was the machine we skipped a year. The first Liquifires of the the new profile were intruded for the 1980 model year. Too many development problems caused the delay. That was the year JD skipped producing the one model. I was following
Stan Hayes on a mountain. He led us to the top and went over the edge ! I couldn’t believe what he did but others followed but most of us said no
thanks and went back the way we came. Stan beat us back by an hour. What a time we and the dealers had at the Trailfire intro meeting. Lots of
adventures and stories that I don’t have time nor space to share here. Regards Bill Lee long retired Div. Mgr. Snowmobiles John Deere Horicon Works.
Awesome bit of history you just shared!!!!! You might be glad to hear that I raced this sled at West Yellowstone circa 2012. It did very well! As a kid, I had a '79 Trailfire (damn steel tunnel with all the rust!). That's so cool to have a bit of Stan Hayes history from your post as well! Thanks for sharing...
You’ve got a nice sled there! I have a 79 340, there fun sleds when they work...
Thanks! It's certainly not perfect. I really should restore it next year!
I have a 79 340 TrailFire she hauls ass! I been 55mph with it
Mine has the factory tach ...
Mine has the metal belly thin metal it’s definitely got a few dents ha !
It’s a bitch to start ! But once she’s lit she runs ! I did the crank seals
I was looking for the 440 jugs that would be nice ! That 440 must run strong!!
Clutch is a comet design ive had an 81 since i was a kid it still pulls. I drove it today actually!
Awesome!
It is a Kawasaki motor. And it's actually 436cc. They can get away with rounding the displacement to the nearest 10 for sales bait. I saw one at the JD dealer in Woodsville, NH. It was beat to heck and the track was snapped in two but the engine looked like it would start with some minor work.
In 1979 they were making 1980 models I believe john deere took a 1 year break I believe in 78-79 until the developed this design. The tunnel have always been all aluminum except for the front of the tunnel it was steel. Also the carburetor was a mikuni 34mm powerjet. Great sleds in deep snow the front end just floats on top like a boat. Owned 2 1980 sportfires. Still have 1. Enjoy your day
Here's a great article on the Trailfire:
snowgoer.com/snowmobile-features/john-deere-trailfire/2484/
It discusses the steel tunnel in the first year model. I had one as a kid and can verify the steel tunnel because it was rusting and I sandblasted it myself. I couldn't believe, in the humid Midwest, it only took a day or two to rust again because I was too slow to get it primed!
On the '81, one source says it is a 32mm carb:
www.snowmobile.com/manufacturers/others/john-deere-trailfire-vintage-review-1715.html
Enjoy that Sportfire - I always wanted one of those instead of the Trailfire!!! Have a great day!
i had a 1980 340 trailfire. fun lil sled. good looking to..
We have one in our scrap yard, still is basically good, I need to get the tank cleaned and carb cleaned
Hope you save it!
I have a 1979, 2nd owner, garage kept, 1,500 original miles. Neat sled...
I had a '79 too! Fun machines for sure...
Sweet.
I have a '79 and '80 trailfire. Where would I get a new track for them?
Are you looking for brand new or anything that will work in good condition? There's a Facebook group that just focuses on John Deere sleds. A guy there has two.
@@oldsledstv2532 new would be optimal as these machines have been completely restored.
@@oilypatch323 I forget what size/pitch the tracks were. I'll do some research. If you're on Facebook, I recommend joining m.facebook.com/groups/275408332615206/permalink/2116590121830342/. There are a lot of folks who know a lot more than I do.
@@oldsledstv2532 I would appreciate that good sir, and I will definitely check those folks out on fb. Thanks!
John Deere made sleds?! 🤯
I think '72 was the first year? The last year was '84. Of course in the '70's everyone seemed to make them... even Sears, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, and many, many more. Deere's were very popular. Too bad they stopped!
@@oldsledstv2532 would be pretty cool to see a new deere sled. That rips! 🦅🇺🇸🦅
Cool as Fuk ++!!!!¡