1972 arctic cat panther engine failure - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

13zweifr · 07-26-2009, 10:52 PM

I have a old 72 actic cat panther that has a kawasaki 340 f/c engine. I just rebuilt from the bottom up and when i tried to start it it would try for about a second and quit. It has an old walbro wda carb on it that i also rebuilt so if you think its carburation problems its most likely not. All the gaskets on the engine are not leaking so the only thing it could be is related to the spark. I'm guessing the timing. I do not know the specific specs that should be for the timing so if any of you would know i would like you to share them to me so i can get it up and running for the winter ahead.

Thanks to all of you helpers out there.

deozpester91 · 07-29-2009, 10:51 PM

can you post pics of your panther cause i have one just want to see if i have the same year

oldie yungin · 07-29-2009, 11:42 PM

first of all verify you are getting spark. you know you are getting fuel...BUT walbro carburetors suck. when you rebuilt it did you get the leafs and springs back in properly (if they are still in there). the 72's had issues with stator plates. you can set the timing, but it will always be off because the stator is bad. get a stator off a 73 kawi and a tillotson hd carb.

TwinsofMLB · 07-30-2009, 12:53 PM

Check to see if the spark plugs are spaced properly. There are a couple tools to measure how much space there is in the gap of the plug. I don't know what the spacing is for that model but if you bought new plugs they may not be spaced correctly.

**RJ Gleason** · 07-30-2009, 02:58 PM

Correct plug gap is 0.018.

TwinsofMLB · 07-30-2009, 03:34 PM

Do you know what my mach 1 should be?

**RJ Gleason** · 07-30-2009, 05:57 PM

0.020 or 0.024

TwinsofMLB · 07-30-2009, 06:39 PM

The plugs that were in it were 0.027. It started with them but it won't idle. Do you think that's part of the problem?

**RJ Gleason** · 07-31-2009, 08:17 AM

Poor or no idle = dirty carb/plugged pilot jet.

oldie yungin · 07-31-2009, 11:18 PM

Scrap the carb.....that's just my opinion though. I've had hundreds of carbs apart and never had any trouble with any of them...except the walbro's. If you are missing any of the parts in the carb like (especially!) the fuel pump leafs or springs it will never run right and you'll never be able to adjust, or set timing or replace plugs and make it run right. If you are missing anything junk the carb and get a front pull tillotson HD carb. It'll bolt up exactly the same and nobody will know the difference except you...and the fact that it runs will be pretty awesome too.

oldie yungin · 07-31-2009, 11:19 PM

You can trust me! I have a 72 panther 340 too and have gone through 10 years of hell with it.

TwinsofMLB · 08-01-2009, 09:27 AM

I have dual mic carbs and something's up with them... would anyone care to take a look at the "pull cord compression" thread in the general section?

13zweifr · 08-04-2009, 09:39 PM

i have a old tilson carb in the shed that im going to put on the old thing now that you guys recommend that. when its was running before overhaul i have been having problems with the old walbros. Ill double check the gapping on the plugs and then see how things go.

Im working on the pictures.

Thanks