87 Panther mikuni carb tuning - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

87Pantha · 01-06-2013, 12:30 PM

Hi folks,
lil back story, got an 87 Panther for free, cant beat the price. tinkered for a year and have it running first pull, that makes me happy.I have nothing invested in this sled other than gas oil and elbow grease. looks ugly buts rides well now. seats torn and stuff, no windshield.
it has a Suzuki 500 and also reverse.which works!
So I took it for a romp down by the river and on the way back up the hill it died. ok open the hood, look at the engine, nothing obvious, pull and it starts right up, ok get on start up the hill and I realize it wants to die, so I pump the throttle and it stay going, but I had to keep pumping it. took a look at the plugs and they seem lean. now this has oil injection, I followed the prescribed method of synchronizing the injection to the carb and there is slack in the cable unless im at half throttle, the idle air screw on the Mikuni carb (round body style) is out 1.5 turns. I dont know how to check the rpms at idle. so heres some plug pics. https://plus.google.com/photos/10099...02244839236321
notice tre diode on the left cylinder plug is roasted, I had them gapped at 35 and not 26 could this be the trouble? or is it both the gap and the lean situation? any help or comments would rule!!! thanks Joe

**RJ Gleason** · 01-06-2013, 07:02 PM

Yep, gap is too large for one and how long had you run it before pulling the plugs?

87Pantha · 01-06-2013, 08:10 PM

not more than an hour of riding, but it was all unridden trail , so lots of hard throttle at low speeds.

**RJ Gleason** · 01-06-2013, 11:01 PM

Have you replaced any of the fuel lines, including the piece in the tank?

87Pantha · 01-07-2013, 04:48 AM

no. it does have a new filter

**RJ Gleason** · 01-07-2013, 07:51 AM

You might want to check in the tank, often that is the only one that is never replaced until it actually falls/rots off.
Also, make sure that all the connections are air tight [clamps will ensure this].

87Pantha · 01-07-2013, 09:02 AM

I had a feeling youd say that. once I tipped the machine on its side, and then it wouldnt start, so I tipped it the other way..and bam, it started..thanks.