1981 Arctic Cat Panther project - Page 9 - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

**RJ Gleason** · 02-12-2012, 06:58 AM

It would out pull a 600 LC Pantera.
Engagement is basically near stock.

98yota · 02-12-2012, 10:00 AM

Wow that's sounds like the hot ticket then! Can't complain when your sled out pulls a sled with a bigger liquid cooled motor, nice! I think I'm going to give it a shot. I looked around last night and found the pink primary for $15, yellow for $20, and the F-2 weights for $12. For under $50 I can't really lose! I was supprised that tuning these clutches was so cheap! Im going to record my the top end this week with GPS so I can compare with the new settings. Thanks again!

98yota · 02-14-2012, 08:37 PM

Hi everyone! Well the weatherman continued his cruel games this weekend, instead of a foot snow as promised, we only got 12 inches of cold wind...

With the lack of snow, I was stuck tinkering with the sled on the trailer yet again. While the sled was running I checked the spark plug caps to make sure they were tight. PTO side good and tight, MAG side... ZAP!!! OUCH!!! I know better than to check wires on a running engine! I've been a mechanic for years! Well after shuting the motor down, I took a quick look around and to my relief no one saw my act of stupidity. The Mag side cap was only sitting on top of the plug. After closer inspection I found the screw on button had loosened and unthreaded in the cap. Weird!

I used a new plug to thead into the stuck button and got it out. I tightened the button back on the plug and decided I would test the spark with my inline spark tester to see if the spark doesn't miss at high RPM.

I know the spark is strong because it made me do a little dance and I hurt my pride a little! It was time to see how the ignition system is going through all RPM ranges. I pleased to report the ignition system is working great! The sled has VERY strong spark from idle to high RPM, no hick-ups that I could see. Pulled the plugs and it looks like the motor is running great! Hope everyone has a great week!

**RJ Gleason** · 02-15-2012, 07:02 AM

That is why I use the solid cap plugs, they never loosen up.

98yota · 02-15-2012, 12:40 PM

All the NGK BR9ES plugs I've bought have had removable caps.

**RJ Gleason** · 02-15-2012, 12:49 PM

Specify solid cap plugs next time you buy some.

98yota · 02-15-2012, 10:53 PM

I did a little research on the NGK BR9ES: 3194 is the BR9ES with a solid terminal cap, the 5722 has the screw off terminal cap. It's kind of weird that NGK has a different part number for every tiny different detail but the terminal caps being solid or removable doesn't warrant having a different number.

Oh well, guess I'll order a pack of 3194's.

JD8345RT · 02-15-2012, 11:13 PM

That's interesting...I'll have to keep an eye out for those too.

98yota · 02-20-2012, 06:41 PM

Finally got to take the Old Cat out for a couple days of riding with the family! Couldn't ask for a better couple of days! I'm at a season total of 110 miles!

I was starting to think I wouldn't get the chance to take it out again. I was wrong!

Sled's ready to go!

So is the baby!

I think my son is going to have to stick with this kind of sled for a while!

98yota · 02-20-2012, 06:56 PM

Pretty much a perfect weekend, as a matter of fact the only hick-up the whole time was when I shut the sled off to take a break, went to start it back up and the handle for the recoil rope came untied! OOPS!!! Time for a run... I knew I left something in the truck (parked 4-5 miles away of course)...tools are good! Hey I guess I won't need to go out for a run later, the glass is half full!

It was kind of funny to see the looks I got from the other people out sledding, it's like they haven't seen an old sled before. The Old Cat kept up with the others just fine, as a matter of fact a couple were trying to play "smoke the old sled" and actually found themselves left behind! I did a GPS run and hit 65 MPH on a flat (flat enough couldn't tell if it was completely level, might have been a little down hill as 65 suprised me a little) straight away it might of had a little more but I was content, the acceloration is great! not bad for a 30+ year old fanner!!!

I even got my wife to take it out for a spin (she won't touch my motorcycle so this was pretty cool!)

I made a couple videos too! I'll put them up later! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

**RJ Gleason** · 02-20-2012, 10:28 PM

I like the innovative use of the 2X4 as the tie down for the skis too.

98yota · 02-20-2012, 10:53 PM

Thanks! Sometimes you've got to work with what you have! Someday I'll buy a real ski hold down bar, but until then the old 2X4 will do the job.

**RJ Gleason** · 02-20-2012, 10:57 PM

I have a piece of 1" conduit pipe that has a hole drilled in the center. I used a piece of ready bolt and attached it to the deck and than just used a 9/16 end wrench with a nut welded into the box end as the crank.

98yota · 02-20-2012, 11:25 PM

I am going to fab something up during this summer, I'm just trying to get by for a couple months when the snow is gone. I like your set up, probably pretty close to what I'll put together. Thanks!

98yota · 02-22-2012, 10:25 AM

Here are the videos I made over the weekend!

I decided to open it up a little just to see what it has, not to bad!

Testing the performance of my Old Cat! - YouTube

My wife finally took her first ride!

My wife taking her first ride on a snowmobile! - YouTube

First ride of the day!

Riding my 1980 Panther at Smokey Bear Flats - YouTube

Sure was a lot of fun!

98yota · 02-22-2012, 10:32 AM

A little tour of the "Flats" of Smokey Bear Flats. This weekend my wife and I are going to ride the other trails through the woods and really put some miles on the old odometer! While we still can!

Riding my 1980 Panther outside of Mammoth Lakes Ca at Smokey Bear Flats - YouTube

Taking a quick ride around Smokey Bear Flat, sled sure was running good! - YouTube

This is right after I had to run to and from my truck for tools, I won't forget thoose again!

Taking the Old Panther out for a cruise at Smokey Bear Flat - YouTube

Hope you enjoy! Have a great week!

bakon · 02-23-2012, 09:09 PM

Wow, what a view....love the mountains in the background.

98yota · 02-26-2012, 11:16 AM

I was looking on eBay for last spring I need to tune my clutches and found this deal, a whole bunch of new springs, cam arms, helixs, cam arm washers and secondary ramp pads all for less than the price of one spring elsewhere! Nice!

I have the F-2 cam arms and a pink primary spring on the way too!

There is a storm coming in tonight and tomarrow so it looks I'll get to go out again! Can never tell with this winter!

**RJ Gleason** · 02-26-2012, 09:41 PM

Next question, what's the mrs think of all the time and money you have spent on this project?

And, are you planning on some clutch tuning experimentation?
If so, look up Olav Aaen's clutch tuning manual, it's available as a download.
I just don't have the link handy.

98yota · 02-26-2012, 09:58 PM

She actually doesn't mind to much, I'm always tinkering with something weather it be guns, trucks, sleds, boats or jetskis. Everything I have was bought cheap and restored slowly. I just pace myself and spread out the money and time. Sometimes I work on stuff, sometimes I don't. Hey I haven't had to sleep outside yet so she must not mind too much!

As far as clutch tuning, I do plan on trying a couple recipes. I am going to start with the recipe you gave me, sounds promising! I will check out or buy that manual as it sounds pretty helpful. Just curious, are those helix's off a more modern secondary Cat clutch? Are those clutches better or easier to tune? I ask because there are a bunch for cheap on eBay.