John Deere 340 & 440 Liquifire Snowmobile Operator's Manual
This operator's manual covers the first-generation John Deere 340 and 440 Liquifire snowmobiles — the Kioritz-powered machines of the late 1970s — in roughly 52 pages of owner operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, storage, and specifications. Originally published by John Deere as part number OM-M6673 (Issue E6) and delivered here as an instant PDF download you can read on any device or print for the shop.
Coverage: John Deere 340 Liquifire & 440 Liquifire (first-generation, Kioritz engines)
About the John Deere 340 & 440 Liquifire
The Liquifire was John Deere's liquid-cooled performance sled and is one of the most sought-after machines on the vintage circuit today. It ran in two distinct generations: a first run from 1976 to 1978 powered by Kioritz two-stroke twins, and a second run from 1980 to 1984 powered by the John Deere/Kawasaki "Fireburst" TC 440 A. This manual covers the first generation — both the 340 and the 440 — and the KEC 340/23ALC and KEC 440/23ALC engine designations shown in its specifications correspond to the 1977 model year in John Deere's records.
The 340 Liquifire used a 339 cc Kioritz twin (58 mm bore × 64 mm stroke); the 440 used a 438 cc Kioritz twin (66 mm bore × 64 mm stroke). Both engines were built for John Deere by Kioritz Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, breathed through dual Mikuni carburetors, and drove a Comet 102C two-sheave variable transmission with a mechanical disk brake and slide suspension. The two models shared the same chassis, body, and 8-gallon tank, differing mainly in displacement and final drive ratio (1.86:1 on the 340, 1.67:1 on the 440). John Deere's snowmobile line was sold to Polaris and production ended in the mid-1980s, which is why original documentation for these distinctive green, black, and yellow sleds is increasingly scarce.
Note: if your Liquifire is a 1980–1984 model with the Kawasaki "Fireburst" engine, you'll want the second-generation manual (OM-M68919) instead — see the link below.
What This Manual Covers
- Safety & identification: Safety precautions, owner introduction, and snowmobile identification (model and serial number location).
- Controls & operation: Control layout plus full operating instructions — starting, running, and handling the machine.
- Service interval chart: A maintenance schedule laying out what to service and when.
- Maintenance: The manual's largest section — routine upkeep covering the engine, fuel and ignition systems, drive components, suspension, and track.
- Troubleshooting: A diagnostic guide for tracing common running and starting problems.
- Storage: Off-season storage and pre-season preparation procedures.
- Accessories: Factory accessories available for the 340 and 440 Liquifire.
- Specifications: Complete factory specs for both models — engine, fuel system, chassis, track and suspension, power train, electrical, and fuel/oil premix ratios.
- Safe snowmobiling guide: A general guide to safe operation.
Why This Manual Matters
- Covers both displacements. One manual handles the 340 and the 440 Liquifire together, with the spec differences between them spelled out — useful whichever one you own.
- Correct for the Kioritz generation. This is the first-generation (1976–1978) book, so the procedures and specs match the Kioritz-engined sled rather than the later Kawasaki Fireburst — an important distinction when sourcing parts and tuning.
- Two-stroke premix done right. The fuel-and-oil mixture tables (40:1 and 50:1, in both U.S. and Canadian measures) are exactly the reference a vintage two-stroke owner needs to mix fuel correctly and avoid engine damage.
- The maintenance an old sled actually needs. Carburetor, ignition, drive-belt, and track service are the recurring jobs on a 40-plus-year-old Liquifire, and the service-interval chart keeps them on schedule.
- Scarce documentation. With production long ended, factory manuals for these machines are hard to find — this PDF puts the original operator's manual back in your hands.
Manual code: OM-M6673 (Issue E6)
Customers Also Bought
- John Deere 440 Liquifire Operator's Manual (1981 / Fireburst, OM-M68919)
- John Deere 340 & 440 Liquifire Specifications (Specs Page)