Runnin Great!

[Drifter]

Hi guys

Had the drifter out last week and she ran great! Other than the day it was fifty degrees and heavy air (rainy) where it ran fine for about five minutes until it heated up and would barely do 20 miles an hour.  After the temp dropped down again it was fine.  I talked to a buddy who is a mechanic and he said that was normal, although I do have other air cooled sleds that don't  run that bad when hot out.

I know it's only a lowly drifter, probably the most produced, least desirable of all the kawis, but I've never been more proud of a sled.

My wife especially liked the low speed maneuverability and precise steering.  It could creep along at speeds slower than the elan.  We never had a chance to try it out in deep powder.

We put her to bed for summer by putting a fitted flannel sheet over the hood before putting the nylon cover over it.  I'm sure the mice will love it so we put lots of poison in the shed!

Thanks to everyone on this site that made it happen!

Brent

Sorry never did take any pics of it on the snow.

[Lloyd (ljm)]

Hey Brent

 Glad to hear you got it running good.

 The Drifters are about the best all round sled built.

 They do have an issue with heating up in warm weather. So much so that Kwasaki had a kit to make that better, I'm not sure what all the kit entails but there are some NOS kits kicking around if you go looking.

 Lloyd

[Drifter]

Hey supper thanks Lloyd, I will go lookin for the kit.

I would love to see a picture of all your sleds lined up...probably enough to not see the far one!
Been watching kijiji ads for maybe the next kawi project...once bitten!

[Drifter]

Anyone happen to know the part number or have one to sell?

[Lloyd (ljm)]

 Hey Brent

 I seldem have them all out. I have a pic of 7 lined up in the yard from last winter. But I have sold 3 of them and added 4 that run  and a couple awaiting repairs. I actually now own two IFS sleds. Some of my older ones haven't been out for years.

 79 440 heavy duty cooling kit        99970-3510
 80 340-440 heavy duty cooling kit 99970-3532

 Lloyd

[flatlander]

Here are some shots of my Drifter.  I tell you what, we have a number of sleds from the 70's and 80's and the kids really like riding the drifter especially in a little deeper snow. 

I put on a NOS warm weather kit and I think it probably helps down here when we commonly ride in warmer conditions and I think the extra vents make it look cool too.  I have only seen a couple come up in the last year or so but I am sure they are out there.  I am sure I still have the factory installation sheet with all the details if you are interested in the exact parts and instructions.  I could scan it in or email it to you.

Flatlander

[Drifter]

Hey thanks Flatlander but I see yours is a 440 and the shrouds seem to be different part numbers from the 340s and even in 1980 the shrouds are mostly different again.  I will see if I can hunt down the proper kit...hopefully with instructions, but I see the instructions being sold separately for about 10 bucks on a site.

That's a good lookin sled you have also!

[kawhead]

the cooling kit air shroud had a rubber sleeve around the edge to keep hot air from heating up the carb, should be able to mod yours.... the vents had a habit of the tabs breaking off over time.....the large rubber 'funnel' you put on the airbox would bump them as the hood opened\closed,we took those off right away.

[gixxer6]

I think I have a few NOS vent pannels that come in the kit.  You can have them for what I have into them if you are interested.  I bought them at a swap meet thinking they were the Interceptor/82 LTD hood vents...I was wrong and have no use for them! 

[Drifter]

I was hoping I could find a complete kit.  Does anyone know if they were sold that way?  I see you can buy just the instructions.  Would that give you the part numbers you need to go hunting down the parts?  Does just adding the vents in the cowl in front of your knees help much on its own?  Still not sure of part number for 79 340.  The 440s and 1980 sleds have mostly different air shrouds so not totally sure they will fit.  It seems there is lots of differences in the kits from seeing the different instructions available.

Stumped but still lookin'