1981 Arctic Cat Panther project - Page 11 - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

**RJ Gleason** · 03-07-2012, 03:54 AM

Reuse them.
Get some red loc-tite and put a drop on the threads when reassembling.

98yota · 03-12-2012, 06:34 PM

Well with 70 degree temperatures in the weather forecast for the next ten days I regretfully decided it was time to "summerize" the sled today. This is how I get a machine ready for storage:

I sprayed fogging oil down the throat of the carb with the engine was running until the smoke looked like an old locomotive and shut the motor down. I removed the plugs an spayed fogging oil for ten seconds each cylinder. The last tank of fuel was filled with Stabil marine fuel stabilizer so the little bit of fuel in the tank should keep (the tank is pretty much empty.) I removed and blow dried all of the fuel lines including the primer system and fuel pick up. Next I drained the fuel bowl on the carb. I plugged the intake and exhaust pipe with rags to keep the mice from making a home out of my motor. I removed the drive belt and spare and stored them flat in my tool box. I greased all of the moving parts and sprayed all the parts with a light anti rust oil. Next I changed the chain case oil to prevent rust, just in case any water made its way in. This is pretty much the same process I've used on all my machines (boats, jet skis, motorcycles or trucks...) before storing them and they all start up just fine when their seasons start. The sled should be ready to go with minimal problems next season!

The Old Cat is all ready for it's summer hibernation!

I can't wait to get it out on the snow again! (Only 6 more months!)

Hope everyone gets more riding in than I did this year! Have a great week everyone!

bakon · 03-12-2012, 09:11 PM

Where's the cover? Don't let the weather get to all that hard work!

98yota · 03-12-2012, 10:42 PM

Don't worry, I always cover her up after a good day of riding or wrenching!

**RJ Gleason** · 03-13-2012, 03:40 PM

Mice like rags, use steel wool instead. They won't chew it at all.

98yota · 03-13-2012, 11:39 PM

Thanks for reminding me about using steel wool! I've actually used steel wool in other stored vehicles in the past. I replaced the rags today with steel wool today, hopefully the mice don't have a 9volt battery...thanks again for reminding me!

98yota · 03-18-2012, 10:03 AM

Wouldn't you know it, I get the sled stored for the summer and the mountains get over six feet! Why didn't I "summerize" my sled earlier! Who knows, maybe could have had snow all season!

Always a nice suprise when I get off of a long nightshift and find the mountains covered in a fresh blanket of snow! I guess the season isn't quite over yet!

jjcsnlynn · 11-26-2012, 02:00 PM

I have a 73 Panther 440 that I'm putting back together. It was dismantled for parts due to a blown engine and I got an engine and put it back together.

I have quesion about the primer. I now the primer pictured in this post but it's used and I don't have the directions. Am I able to just put it inline? If so, do I put it on the feed or return? Due to the size of the nipples on the primer, I put it on the return and it doesn't work right. I even tried swapping it around but it keeps sucking air.

I see a T-joint in the picture, but I don't have that. I could get one, but I just need help in figuring out how to plumb it in.

Thanks,
Jon

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98yota

Well I got the primer and choke switch installed! It sure is nice to pump the primer twice, give the rope one pull and the Old Cat starts after a week in the cold... Nice!

The aluminum choke handle fit perfectly and feels really solid!

The only fittings on the intake manifold are for the old injection so I decided to drill a small hole were the newer Cats with same carb have a nipple. I JB welded the nipple fitting that was supplied with the primer kit. It squirts the fuel perfectly into the throat of the carb.

98yota · 11-26-2012, 04:08 PM

I ran the ran the inlet to the primer from the feed line to the fuel pump. The staggered nipple on the primer is the intake, the straight runs to the carb. The tee can be found at any parts at any parts store. Good luck, sounds like a cool project! I'd like to build an early 70's Cat one of these days!

jjcsnlynn · 11-27-2012, 09:12 AM

Ok, still confused. The lines from the tank feed are larger than the nipples on the primer. How did you get them to stay on the primer? And If I got this right, it goes from the tank feed to the primer staggered nipple, then out the straight nipple to the carb? What is the T for?

98yota · 11-27-2012, 09:28 AM

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. You need to get smaller fuel line to plum the the primer (I believe it's 1/8".) You splice the tee into the feed line going from the fuel tank to the fuel pump (I believe 1/4" line.) The tee has 1/4" ends and the middle outlet is 1/8". I made the splice after the fuel filter to make sure filtered fuel goes in the primer. I ran the 1/8" line from the tee to the straight nipple on the primer, then ran an 1/8" line from the staggered nipple on the primer to small fitting on the carb. Hope that cleared it up a little for you. If not I can try to get some installation instructions in PDF for you. Let me know how it goes, maybe a picture of the install.

98yota · 11-27-2012, 09:43 AM

I'm sorry! I had the lines mixed on the primer! Oops

the inlet to the primer is the straight nipple, staggered is the outlet.

http://www.vintagesleds.com/library/...l%20System.pdf

The picture on pages 16 and 17 of this link shows how the primer should be plummed.

98yota · 12-18-2012, 01:44 AM

Finally got my Old Cat out of storage and to my new house! Amazing how buying and remodeling a house can stunt progress on a project sled. Amazing after all this time sitting, I gave the primer a couple pumps and she started right up!

The sled lives again! - YouTube

Going to start working on the clutches tomorrow!

98yota · 12-24-2012, 07:59 PM

Well I got to work on the Old Cat's clutching today. I put a new pink spring and F-2 weights in the primary and new glides and a new red spring in the secondary. I started the sled and the primary doesn't seem to engage all the way. The motor will rev high, the primary will move in toward the belt, but not enough to engage the track. Im not sure what is wrong. I double checked everything to make sure it was assembled properly, everything seems in place. I pulled the belt off and cycled the clutch manually and it will travel completely up the crank, not bound up. Does anyone have any ideas?

98yota · 12-25-2012, 07:32 PM

I thought about my sled's issue for a few hours and finally had an epiphany! I was either an idiot or had one to many New Castles (probably a combination of both!) I put the cams in backward

Well I put the clutch together properly this time and it works perfectly!! I am a little embarrassed! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!

**RJ Gleason** · 12-26-2012, 12:58 AM

That was certainly a "DOH!" moment.

98yota · 12-26-2012, 01:50 AM

Yes it was! The good news is my sled is ready to go and it is snowing right now! Looks like I'll be testing the new upgrades tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes!

98yota · 12-26-2012, 08:36 PM

Hi everyone! I got to go out on my first ride of the season! The new springs a weights I threw in the clutches sure made a HUGE difference! The primary clutch was very responsive and the sled accelerated faster than it ever has! This thing really pulled hard! I'm not saying the Old Cat would smoke a newer liquid cooled sled but I'd bet it would give other fanners a run for their money!

I put 40 miles on the sled and it ran flawlessly! Hope everyone had a good Christmas!!

87Pantha · 01-06-2013, 01:41 PM

Impressive! good to see that sled out on the mountains after reading this whole thread. now you just need another project sled! cheers

98yota · 01-28-2013, 02:14 PM

I decided to give my sled a quick inspection before going riding and found the B40 carb had fuel poring out of the bowl, I checked the gasket and tried to tighten the bowl. It still leaked. Well I decided this was the right time to convert to a VM34 carb. I already have a VM34 but am not sure what jetting I should use to get close. The carb flange that came with the VM fits perfectly on the factory manifold. I ride between 4000-8000 ft elevation. The main jet is a 310 now. The factory air box does not fit so I am going to have to fabricate something to get cold air to the carb. I am going to premix (for now) but leave the oil pump on with the arm at the idle position. If I decide to eliminate the injection, is there a block off kit? Anybody know the part number for an 1984 panther throttle cable for a VM carb?

Will the VM carb give me better performance? Maybe improve throttle responce or speed? Thanks!