When the John Deere name was mentioned as a possible suitor for Bombardier's Recreational Products Group, which includes Ski-Doo, it prompted a look back at Deere & Company's history in the snowmobile business. Although they exited the market in the mid-1980s, John Deere made a significant impact on snowmobile technology and design.
The Rise of John Deere Snowmobiles
John Deere entered the snowmobile market in 1972 and quickly established itself with models like the 400 and 500. The 400 was powered by a 339cc Canadian Curtiss-Wright engine, producing about 28 hp, while the larger 500 featured a 436cc engine with 36 hp. These sleds had an aluminum chassis, fiberglass hood, comfortable seat, and standard features for the time, such as headlights and taillights. Suspension systems consisted of bogie wheels and leaf springs.
With all this going for them, the John Deere snowmobiles took off like a deer. As a matter of fact, one of their slogans became something of a marketing icon, namely “Nothing runs like a Deere.” That slogan soon became the mantra of the company.
The machines were produced by the John Deere Horicon Works of Horicon, Wisconsin along with lawn and garden products. The slogan "Nothing Runs Like a Deere", still used today by Deere & Co., started with the John Deere snowmobile line in 1972.
Enduro Team Deere
In 1974, a factory-sponsored cross-country race team was assembled to coincide with the introduction of the 295/S, Deere's first purpose-built snowmobile for cross-country racing. The team would eventually be known as "Enduro Team Deere". The team had many wins, the most notable being the 1976 Minneapolis - St. Paul International 500. Brian Nelson brought home the trophy on his Liquidator. His sled is currently on display at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Germain, Wisconsin. 1977 was the last year for the factory program.
Read also: Overview of John Moore's NHL Career
История снегоходов Lynx - Пять десятилетий, пять историй - Фильм - Глава 1 - Начало
The Direct-Drive Innovation
One of John Deere's most notable contributions to snowmobile technology was the creation of direct-drive sleds. The first such Deere came in 1977. The Spitfire was a very lightweight sled with a modest air-cooled engine and the first direct-drive system in Deere's line.
The advantages of direct-drive are simplicity. By eliminating the traditional secondary clutch, chaincase and chain drive system, Deere's concept immediately eliminated parts and certain problems. In striving for a lighter weight sled, the direct-drive system eliminated weight. Deere felt that the system also added dependability, while lowering maintenance costs.
The Spitfire: A Test Bed
A moderate success, Deere engineers used the Spitfire as a test bed to (a) assess the marketability of such a drive system and (b) determine costs savings in manufacturing, warranty service and durability. The fact that Deere slated two more direct-drive models to the 1983 model line-up indicated the company felt they had a success.
The Sprintfire and Snowfire Models
The two new direct-drive sleds introduced in late 1981 as 1983 models were the liquid-cooled Sprintfire and the air-cooled Snowfire, which was to be the successor to the free-air-cooled Spitfire. The Sprintfire featured the direct-drive system, liquid-cooling, oil-injection and a long travel suspension system.
Stan Kleis, John Deere's marketing manager at the time said, "I think it is an industry first, bringing all the basic technology, the best that exists in the industry, under one hood and chassis."
Read also: Discover the story of John Cullen
Engine and Performance Specs
The 339cc twin cylinder Deere snowmobile engines were built to Deere specifications by Kawasaki. The new 'Fire engines were both low-stressed, moderately powered, piston-port designs with capacitive discharge ignitions. A single butterfly carb controlled fuel flow. Deere's clutch system was a combination of Deere-specified Comet primary clutch combining with a special secondary drive that directly drove the sled's drive shaft.
Clean and simple in form and function, the two Deere's were said to get good fuel economy. Deere claimed that the air-cooled Sprintfire could squeeze about 165 miles out of its 5.5 gallon fuel tank. That's an average of 30 mpg!
The sleds measured just 100-inches in overall length and were 37.5 inches at the widest point. Ski stance measured 32 inches from spindle center to center. Official factory dry weight was claimed to be 330 pounds for the liquid-cooled Sprintfire and 15 pounds less for the air-cooled Snowfire.
Suggested retail prices for the sleds in 1981 was $2,749 (Sprintfire) and $2,499 (Snowfire).
Here's a table summarizing the key specifications of the Sprintfire and Snowfire:
Read also: Classic Snowmobile Review
| Feature | Sprintfire | Snowfire |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Engine | 339cc twin cylinder | 339cc twin cylinder |
| Fuel Economy | 30 mpg (claimed) | 30 mpg (claimed) |
| Dry Weight | 330 lbs | 315 lbs |
| Retail Price (1981) | $2,749 | $2,499 |
The Downward Slide and Exit from the Market
In 1982-1984, the snowmobile market was in a downward slide, and the driving force behind the snowmobile program, executive vice president Robert Carlson, had left the company. This made ending the snowmobile program an easy decision for Deere.
The parts supply and all snowmobile-related resources were sold to Polaris. There was an understanding that Polaris would continue where Deere left off, selling snowmobiles and parts to the Deere dealers that were interested. This never worked out.
Legacy
Despite its relatively short tenure in the snowmobile industry, John Deere left a lasting legacy. Their snowmobiles are still popular among enthusiasts, and the "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" slogan remains iconic. The John Deere snowmobile suits looked really good, way back when, a lot of ladies liked to look really good in the winter. Today, a fair amount of women also like to look good in the winter.
tags: #john #deere #sprintfire #snowmobile