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A few days I mentioned a special project I’d like to take on in the future and I may be one step closer to it now. I have a deal pending on this beauty: a 77 Liquifire 340. Hopefully it will work out. Now I know you might be thinking: “All the hype for this?”. But don’t let its unassuming presence fool you, my plan is to try to put a very pe…Read More
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9 Comments-
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
I see he lowered his price to $200 on FB.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
He must have it listed somewhere other than Marketplace. It’s still on MP for $300 in Bayfield, WI. Unless it’s a different sled, which is unlikely, there’s no mistaking this sled. Thinking I was actually dealing with two people and the first person was all excited about the deal but the second person turned out to be a real tool. Do you have…Read More
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
The price is now listed as $400, marked down to $300. Yep, a real tool.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Thanks David,. That is the sled. He could have had this sale locked up but apparently doesn’t understand the concept of electronic money transfer or cashier check in advance of pickup. It will sell eventually for less than I offered him. Genius at work.
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
A pair of 440’s Liquidfires for $500 (wants gone asap)
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Yeah, this listing has been tormenting me for some time. It’s a good deal. He won’t separate them which is probably OK because you would probably need both to make ome sled. This is one problem with living up here on the fringe. it’s just too far to pull a trailer to pick up both. If I were still living in the Twin Cities, it would be a piece…Read More
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Kawasaki guys keep telling me they wish they had an Interceptor (the sled on the cover photo) so I did a little reading. Quite the sled: Liquid cooled engine with twin pipes and four spark plugs. Kawasaki made exactly 601 of these sleds, only for the 1982 model year, which makes them pretty spendy to acquire now. In fact, if you ever see one…Read More
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On the Kawasaki Project:
I did manage to get the skis finished a while back but just getting around to posting a photo. Kawasaki shocks are not to be found but with the help of a couple of shims, Arctic Cat shocks work nicely.![]()
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Sitting out on the deck tonight enjoying an incredible lake evening and wondering how far out in advance I can realistically plan projects. As you all know, I’m not exactly a picture of youth. I ask this question because my plan was to work the Drifter F/A next year and finish it in the winter of 27/28 and the latest acquisition is has raised…Read More
13 Comments-
![Profile picture of Hermie]()
If you still have the drive and you still have your health then why not do something you enjoy doing? Keeping moving and doing things is what keeps you going as you age. So are you going to give us any hints on this image?
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
I agree with you on the moving thing. I live in an area where a significant percentage of the residents are older and I see so many people that aren’t aging well. I think this is at least partly due to not continuing to stay active. Sometimes moving may not always feel that great but in the long run, it’s good for you. Something else that I thi…Read More
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![Profile picture of Eagle1]()
Ya my parents are getting close to 80 and have garden large enough to feed whole neighborhood. And still take care of pool and too. They only finally bought a riding mower this June!!! I swear I probably take more naps than they do!!🤪
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![Profile picture of Eagle1]()
…also there’s a few of us in/near Appleton that could help enable your addictio…I mean dream. 😁
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Always appreciate offers to help with the “dream”
. At first glance it seems to difficult to make happen but desparation may dictate otherwise. -
![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Good for your parents!! People like that are my inspiration to keep at it.
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![Profile picture of Neenah Gary]()
To paraphrase a song from Toby Keith, How old would you be if you didn’t know your birth date? And there’s your answer my friend.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
YES!
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![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
Kelly I agree completely with the comments listed and think no matter what it is to keep doing what ones doing because there will come a day when one wont be able to anymore and I believe it plays a huge part on ones longevity. Its clear you have the passion, the drive and are a true master at you craft. It is also clear you truly enjoy what you…Read More
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
There was a 90 year old member of my RV group. Former Vietnam pilot. He sold what he said is his last rv. This guy did circles around everyone modifying these Airstream vans. Bought one, made mods (beautiful woodworking skills), sold it 3 years later. He did this in his 70’s & 80’s. All of it by himself. But he bowed out when his vision began to…Read More
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
Hit the enter button before I was done. He modified several vans over the 20 years. Kelly, you are that guy with snowmobiles. I am still looking for my unicorn (although shoulder surgery put a stop on everything this year). Thank you for being you…
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
You guys pretty well nailed it with your comments and examples of people making the best of life in their later years. Jimmy Buffet wrote a song titled: “Growing Older but Not Up.” It’s words I’ve tried to live by.
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![Profile picture of Heckler56]()
That is exactly what that RV gentilemen would say 😂
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Ah, summer. Baseball, barbeques, and…..Snowmobiles (of course). It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That’s what I’m going with on this one. Supposed to be a parts sled but thinking it may be too nice to tear it down, just for parts. Seems to happen a lot.
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3 Comments-
![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
Cant see the whole hood but looks to be in not too bad shape and looks like you picked up a few other nuggets that could be useful in future projects, one has to wonder what other barn finds are out there yet just waiting to see the light of day once again.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
The hood is actually very nice, much better than what I started with on the current project. The engine in the sled is seized (oil injection failure) but he threw in a good 440 and another Cat/Kawasaki 440 in case i wanted to rebuild it. I thinking barn finds will continue to be discovered for some time to come. There will always be someone that…Read More
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![Profile picture of Mezz]()
You’re gonna need to build a Kaw Barn now!
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Loved the black Elan.
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Curios if anybody’s been following the Wausau auctions?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbl-MkxiCgi/?igsh=MWs1Zm05YmU2ZjRrNg==
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![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
one of my customers was one of the first to walk through and is wanting to make some purchases, he is a very avid Yamaha collector
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Been picking up pieces of info now and then. Some crazy sleds and some crazy prices.
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Some not so deep thoughts on a Sunday night.
August has arrived and it means that I’m starting to make some noises about getting my project painting done. The first step in setting up my “paint booth” is to move some sleds into the house garage to give me some room to paint.
I don’t normally see most of these sleds on a regular basis a…Read More
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![Profile picture of Snowtrailsusa]()
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
this is more true than you would believe.
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A little project diversion here. Finally picked up this little beauty today. Looks like the 2027 project is locked in. Long drive, but it was worth it. Nothing like that new sled smell. Gotta love the free-air sleds.
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8 Comments-
![Profile picture of Neenah Gary]()
A couple of questions here; What Is It? Without graphics, I can’t tell. Those handlebars look awkward, kinda like those on the bicycles of the 70’s. Anyway, glad to see you’ve got something to keep your head in the game for another year and congratulations on a new member of the family! We hope the Mrs. approves of another “rescue” at the table.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Sorry Gary, i guess I was a little short on details. It’s a 1980 Kawasaki 340 Drifter F/A, a one-year build sled and the only free air sled Kawasaki ever produced. The bars probably do look a little goofy but they feel right when you’re sitting on the sled. Kawasaki did take a page out of the bicycle book though and mounted the bars in a block…Read More
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![Profile picture of Neenah Gary]()
Tell your Mrs. all of us on SnowTrails appreciates her support. For you to rescue an old snowmobile that’s been abused and left alone in an old barn is admirable on your part. A little TLC, and a case of Hamm’s will go along way in bringing her up to speed on “Kelly Time”.
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![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
handlebars remind me of John Deere snowmobile handle bars
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![Profile picture of Mezz]()
It’s in pretty decent shape! 2 Kaw’s in a row, you’ll be in the groove when it’s this ones turn. Nice!
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Yeah it’s weird, considering Kawasaki wasn’t even on my radar a year ago and now I have two. The Drifter F/A is a unique animal. I’m thinking the windshield was an option. The shop manual I got with the sled shows it without one. Personally, I like it better without. I don’t think I’m even going to have to touch the hood, unless I want to add…Read More
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![Profile picture of Neenah Gary]()
I found this photo over on Bookface. Not much for graphics is there?
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
No, just a tiny “Drifter F/A” decal on the side. I think I mentioned this before, but it’s interesting that a windshield must have been optional. I’ve seen several photos now of this sled without one, including the cover of the shop manual.
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That sure looks like something Kelly would be riding……how bout it K Man?
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Yep, at least part of that is true. Thinking I waited a little too long to own one.
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Had the Johnson version. Tough machine and it fit three of us on it but it was pretty tired and top speed was just over 15 mph. I’ll agree with the 60 pounds lighter claim. My dad had a 67 and I swear it had to go 600 lbs. It would pull his aluminum beaver trapping boat through the woods and across dry land, no problem.
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Kelly, came across an interesting site you may be interested in or maybe you already use it… vintagesnow.com. The information and manuals that are available are pretty cool!
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Yes, I had found it and it has been an invaluable source of information, especially the manuals. But, in general, it’s a very cool site with a lot of historical info. Thanks for suggesting it though, as I think others will find it interesting as well!
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![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
Can’t say I have ever seen one of those, buddy of mine had a Suzuki 440 Fury
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![Profile picture of Mezz]()
My first snowmobile was a 1973 Suzuki XR440. fan cooled twin carb, motor was close to the handlebars & that fan blew the warm but albeit 2 stroke smell on you. Was never cold even on the most brutal cold days. Loved that sled, bought it with my own money at 16 years old in 1977 & put thousands of miles on it in the 4 years I owned it. Good times,…Read More
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Brian, I’m adding a post with another photo of the rear suspension to give you a little different angle. As you said, there is really no shock dampening on the front swing arm.
The curious thing is how it all really works. The coil-over provides all the springing on the rear of the suspension by pushing against a fixed shaft that is only c…Read More
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![Profile picture of Minnesota Kelly]()
Awesome photo! I doesn’t get more 70’s, one piece suits and sideburns. It’s pretty amazing to see the rider position on these sleds, compared to modern sleds. Wonder how many boots they melted on the pipes.
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On the Kawasaki “Kawa-Bunga” project.
Hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. Decided to create some fireworks of my own Saturday night (at least from a vocabulary perspective) and tear down the rear suspension.
There’s a lot not to like about the condition of the suspension. Some stuff is OK but I don’t think some parts can be…Read More
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![Profile picture of euphoric1]()
That is an interesting suspension, I take it the front swing arm is used only as an anchor for the rear shock? doesn’t seem like there would be enough movement in the front arm to really change positioning of the shock, when you put it back together would be interesting to see more how the rear arm actuates the shock, just doesn’t seem like the…Read More
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Kelly’s ”Time Machine” Shop
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Well gang, this deal fell through. After we had agreed on a deal, the seller changed the terms and I just couldn’t meet those terms. Disappointing, but I’ll find another one or maybe a Cyclone somewhere. In any case,, I’m still determined to find one and make it a future project.