I purchased a 340 el tigre new back in 74. Got rid of it a couple of years later. Yes it was very fast, the power rolled off big time after 30 or so minutes of running, the suspension was very limited and it was heavy. I currently have a 72 Puma and 83 EXT love them both, more fun than the 74.
I remember being , kid back in the 70s , Wisconsin, we. Or me personally loved to adventure out on my sled my dad bought me , aritic cat one of my favorite, along with snow jet super fast
Nice to see one not chopped up and left stock. Glancing through the comments I'll say a few things. 1. I'm an old fart and I remember these sleds well. 2. The twin plug heads are for the T7 Series Kawasaki engine. First made famous in the 1973 model EXT oval racer, (And the rare Formula II 295), but also used in the 1973-74 El-Tigre 400 and 440 twins. The El-Tigre smaller models still used a version of the T-1 series that were descendants of the 1971-72 EXT racers, in 250/295 and 340cc sizes. Those were single plugs. Yes all versions of the 1975 Z were twin plug heads and on most of them the heads were wider with more fins than the El-Tigre. (The fluke was the 1975 340 El-Tigre that finally got the smaller finned twin plug heads on the trail sled. That was the only year for that.) The "Tigger" was detuned to try to get some more reliability into it. A more mellow set up than the race sleds. Now, reliability/quality control back then was not what it is now, not even close. The Kawasaki engine had some quality control and sealing problems. If you got a good one, it was a great sled. If you got a bad one, it was an invitation to the discount bulk Tylenol section at your local drug store. I've seen it both ways. One friend had a 400 that was an overhaul once a month. Another friend had a 440 that was really quite good and even ran well in spring temps. Today, I tell guys that ask me about restoring to be prepared to go through the engine from the crank to the top and make it all new and correct if you want it to run right. Also do the same with the clutch and drivetrain. It does not tolerate lack of daily maintenance at the vintage aircraft level of being persnickety. Best thing to do if you want to keep and feed one. Just my .02, your experience may vary. Thanks and enjoy that kitty!
Thanks for looking.. My cousin was mechanic for an arctic cat dealership from 1972 to the late 70s. So I had a lot of help with my sleds.. Thanks for all the great info.. Really appreciate it!! ( wish I had a 1973 ext)
Nice vintage tiger. I had a 79 6000. If the gold braising on the manifold breaks... clean it off and braise weld it with a metal coat hanger. It will never break again.
Thanks for posting this. Always loved those sleds. They did come with an air-box but ,many (if not most) have lost them over the years. I believe the two plug heads like yours were from the 'El Tigré Z'' racing model. Switching to them was a popular mod back then. Liked your video,one thing though...It's not pronounced ''L TIG ER'' it is ''L TIG RAY''. It's Spanish for ''The Tiger''.
Back in 1974 ,I wanted to buy the Arctic cat El Tigre 440. But I already had a 1972 Arctic Cat 440 Puma. I was married, had 1- child. So no money , to go to buy a new different snowmobile.
I remember my best friends family had this one. It was a load of fun on the trails a farm fields. Used to do donuts with it, so I think the cleats were removed?
What I have been told is that the Kawasaki engine used in the arctic cats used 2 plugs per cylinder in there 440 cc and 340cc free air machines, the 292 and the 400 free air had only 1 spark plug per cylinder. All fan cooled had 1 plug per cylinder. Maby some one could clarify this as we only had this 440 El tigre..and our other cats with kawasakis were fan ciooled.
I had one of these exact models.I loved it but it was not very durable or reliable.At 1050 miles it would no longer run as the crankshaft seals were leaking so badly it could not get a rich enough mixture to fire.Arctic Cat also wanted nothing to do with the warranty and they were known to wear out very early.How many miles have you personally put on this sled?My experience would say it would have had to be rebuilt at least twice to get your history. Regards, Brair
Can,t say I had to many problems with the Kawasaki engine. The cdi box (ignition) gave some problems and exhaust was prone to developing cracks. We used the el tigres a lot in the 70s. Had this 74 then a 75 and 79. The 75 and 79 had Suzuki,(spirit engines)
This guy Anders d is trying to tell me his 74 Scorpion Super Stinger 440 was faster then the Arctic Cats of the day. I had 2 of them and just about any Arctic Cat 340 and above would smoke my Super Stinger....speedo up to 55MPH so top speed was around 45 GPS. Here is the link to the page. I just want the dude to know the truth! th-cam.com/video/rWoxMlBc8sQ/w-d-xo.html&lc=UgiQEwhMn9ocaHgCoAEC.8KmyAIEH1NR9K8I-ahTHia&feature=em-comments
sorry i do not know of anyone who does rebuilds. Check with your local snowmobile club. Some one there might be able to help you.(might even know of an old machine with a good engine you get get for little or nothing!
Not trying to be a grape here: That model number comes back as the 1975 440 El-Tigre stock trail engine. Perhaps you can check the serial on the chassis? Should start with a 5. If its a 4 then it's been swapped. Just trying to help.
Being a dealers kid we got good at studding and fixing them so they wouldn't slide on ice so much. But other guys would look at the amount of work we did to keep running and get annoyed. LOL. When the 1978 6000 El-Tigre started using the 3/4 lug rubber paddle track like Yamaha and others it kicked off a revolution. I adapted one to a 1978 Jag and holy moly, once I got the stud pattern down and the clutches set up to take advantage of the lower weight, it felt like the sled gained 10hp!!!! So much less dead weight. Easily 5 to 7 mph more top end and for once I wasn't always behind everyone else.
@@glenmallory9982 I had an old 73 Polaris TX400, and a 76 Yamaha SRX340, and the both had the steel cleat riveted tracks, and the cleats would always break in half. If they were used just on flat lakes and ice they lasted, but using them for everything else wrecked them.
@@johnb5519 Sorry for your experience. Yea the long cleats are labor intensive. The 2/3 cleat Cat tracks were better because they would flex around the rail. I wore mine out on my Jag after six seasons and thousands of miles. Another reason I upgraded to the rubber 6000. To keep a 1972 Cat track running we learned to keep the suspension working right and avoid rocks or stumps in the snow. Even then, I'd replace about 4-5 a year, maybe more. Never put studs in the middle either. Best to use box studs on the outside of the rail for a full cleat. There was a reason they went away...Thank goodness! I didn't have the bad time in the snow that some other brands had. But yea the constant repairs and the white knuckles on ice every weekend got old. First thing I did when I bought my 50 year old Cheetah is buy spare cleats.... I'll leave it stock and set it up like the old days, but it's a show sled. In 50 years I think track tech has probably been the biggest improvement. 😁
Love the old cat's beautiful sled
They were very nice. We have cats from the 70s 80s and 90s .Like them al. ! Thanks for looking!
I purchased a 340 el tigre new back in 74. Got rid of it a couple of years later. Yes it was very fast, the power rolled off big time after 30 or so minutes of running, the suspension was very limited and it was heavy. I currently have a 72 Puma and 83 EXT love them both, more fun than the 74.
Still looking for a 73 or 74. My God Father let me run his. 14 then 60 now. One of my best memories. Thanks for posting.
a lot of memories on this one too!
Thank you for an EXCELLENT video of this sled. Wish more people were as succinct as you. Just awesome!
Thanks for looking!
I remember those, I had the El Tigre and two Cheetahs. All with the 440. We’ve come a long ways since then.
Nice vintage El Tigre.
I currently own a aritic cat 89 cougar super nice , and a 76 Polaris free air 340, track sled , insane fun
Very nice!
77 was my favorite! ...
It still has class to this day.
All these old sleds do, you can't even find a 340 or a 440 anymore so if you want that size engine you're going vintage
I remember being , kid back in the 70s , Wisconsin, we. Or me personally loved to adventure out on my sled my dad bought me , aritic cat one of my favorite, along with snow jet super fast
Thanks for sharing!
Nice to see one not chopped up and left stock. Glancing through the comments I'll say a few things. 1. I'm an old fart and I remember these sleds well. 2. The twin plug heads are for the T7 Series Kawasaki engine. First made famous in the 1973 model EXT oval racer, (And the rare Formula II 295), but also used in the 1973-74 El-Tigre 400 and 440 twins. The El-Tigre smaller models still used a version of the T-1 series that were descendants of the 1971-72 EXT racers, in 250/295 and 340cc sizes. Those were single plugs. Yes all versions of the 1975 Z were twin plug heads and on most of them the heads were wider with more fins than the El-Tigre. (The fluke was the 1975 340 El-Tigre that finally got the smaller finned twin plug heads on the trail sled. That was the only year for that.) The "Tigger" was detuned to try to get some more reliability into it. A more mellow set up than the race sleds. Now, reliability/quality control back then was not what it is now, not even close. The Kawasaki engine had some quality control and sealing problems. If you got a good one, it was a great sled. If you got a bad one, it was an invitation to the discount bulk Tylenol section at your local drug store. I've seen it both ways. One friend had a 400 that was an overhaul once a month. Another friend had a 440 that was really quite good and even ran well in spring temps. Today, I tell guys that ask me about restoring to be prepared to go through the engine from the crank to the top and make it all new and correct if you want it to run right. Also do the same with the clutch and drivetrain. It does not tolerate lack of daily maintenance at the vintage aircraft level of being persnickety. Best thing to do if you want to keep and feed one. Just my .02, your experience may vary. Thanks and enjoy that kitty!
Thanks for looking.. My cousin was mechanic for an arctic cat dealership from 1972 to the late 70s. So I had a lot of help with my sleds.. Thanks for all the great info.. Really appreciate it!! ( wish I had a 1973 ext)
@@travistml Great!
Nice vintage tiger. I had a 79 6000. If the gold braising on the manifold breaks... clean it off and braise weld it with a metal coat hanger. It will never break again.
Nice El' Tigre I had a '73 400 back in the late '70s, the one thing i saw was the drive clutch doesn't look like the cat clutches of the time....
Very possible. ill have to check that out. Things get switched around over the years. Thanks for looking!
Great video
Thanks for looking!
my dad had a 340 that he bought new. I don't remember it ever having an air box. my dad wouldn't alter the factory set up.
Thanks for posting this. Always loved those sleds. They did come with an air-box but ,many (if not most) have lost them over the years. I believe the two plug heads like yours were from the 'El Tigré Z'' racing model. Switching to them was a popular mod back then. Liked your video,one thing though...It's not pronounced ''L TIG ER'' it is ''L TIG RAY''. It's Spanish for ''The Tiger''.
Thanks for the comment and info!!, Yes I love these old sleds to !
whowantstoknowido ya I thought the dual plug heads were only on the Z
Back in 1974 ,I wanted to buy the Arctic cat El Tigre 440. But I already had a 1972 Arctic Cat 440 Puma. I was married, had 1- child. So no money , to go to buy a new different snowmobile.
The 72 Puma was a great machine too!
Full cleat on racing models . I had a 340
It was a beast…
Thanks for the info. I know there were different setups..
I remember my best friends family had this one. It was a load of fun on the trails a farm fields. Used to do donuts with it, so I think the cleats were removed?
Lots of fun ! Thanks for looking
Very nice. I thought only the 440 Z had the dual ignition.
What I have been told is that the Kawasaki engine used in the arctic cats used 2 plugs per cylinder in there 440 cc and 340cc free air machines, the 292 and the 400 free air had only 1 spark plug per cylinder. All fan cooled had 1 plug per cylinder. Maby some one could clarify this as we only had this 440 El tigre..and our other cats with kawasakis were fan ciooled.
@@travistml very nice. I had the 1987 eltigre 5000. It wasnt a world beater but it was a really nice trail sled. I managed to put 7000 miles on it.
I had one of these exact models.I loved it but it was not very durable or reliable.At 1050 miles it would no longer run as the crankshaft seals were leaking so badly it could not get a rich enough mixture to fire.Arctic Cat also wanted nothing to do with the warranty and they were known to wear out very early.How many miles have you personally put on this sled?My experience would say it would have had to be rebuilt at least twice to get your history.
Regards,
Brair
Can,t say I had to many problems with the Kawasaki engine. The cdi box (ignition) gave some problems and exhaust was prone to developing cracks. We used the el tigres a lot in the 70s. Had this 74 then a 75 and 79. The 75 and 79 had Suzuki,(spirit engines)
This guy
Anders d is trying to tell me his 74 Scorpion Super Stinger 440 was faster then the Arctic Cats of the day. I had 2 of them and just about any Arctic Cat 340 and above would smoke my Super Stinger....speedo up to 55MPH so top speed was around 45 GPS. Here is the link to the page. I just want the dude to know the truth!
th-cam.com/video/rWoxMlBc8sQ/w-d-xo.html&lc=UgiQEwhMn9ocaHgCoAEC.8KmyAIEH1NR9K8I-ahTHia&feature=em-comments
Crankshaft seals were the weak link..tho an inexpensive fix..worth it..theses sleds were screamers on a cold day
Basically it’s a 1972 EXT
I've got the 340
El Tigre
Great sleds!
I got a 2016 el tigre 600
I have a 74 Eltigre with the T7C436FR1 engine. Do you have anyone who can rebuild this engine?
sorry i do not know of anyone who does rebuilds. Check with your local snowmobile club. Some one there might be able to help you.(might even know of an old machine with a good engine you get get for little or nothing!
Not trying to be a grape here: That model number comes back as the 1975 440 El-Tigre stock trail engine. Perhaps you can check the serial on the chassis? Should start with a 5. If its a 4 then it's been swapped. Just trying to help.
Nice machines, but I hated those cleated tracks.
Being a dealers kid we got good at studding and fixing them so they wouldn't slide on ice so much. But other guys would look at the amount of work we did to keep running and get annoyed. LOL. When the 1978 6000 El-Tigre started using the 3/4 lug rubber paddle track like Yamaha and others it kicked off a revolution. I adapted one to a 1978 Jag and holy moly, once I got the stud pattern down and the clutches set up to take advantage of the lower weight, it felt like the sled gained 10hp!!!! So much less dead weight. Easily 5 to 7 mph more top end and for once I wasn't always behind everyone else.
@@glenmallory9982 I had an old 73 Polaris TX400, and a 76 Yamaha SRX340, and the both had the steel cleat riveted tracks, and the cleats would always break in half. If they were used just on flat lakes and ice they lasted, but using them for everything else wrecked them.
@@johnb5519 Sorry for your experience. Yea the long cleats are labor intensive. The 2/3 cleat Cat tracks were better because they would flex around the rail. I wore mine out on my Jag after six seasons and thousands of miles. Another reason I upgraded to the rubber 6000. To keep a 1972 Cat track running we learned to keep the suspension working right and avoid rocks or stumps in the snow. Even then, I'd replace about 4-5 a year, maybe more. Never put studs in the middle either. Best to use box studs on the outside of the rail for a full cleat. There was a reason they went away...Thank goodness! I didn't have the bad time in the snow that some other brands had. But yea the constant repairs and the white knuckles on ice every weekend got old. First thing I did when I bought my 50 year old Cheetah is buy spare cleats.... I'll leave it stock and set it up like the old days, but it's a show sled. In 50 years I think track tech has probably been the biggest improvement. 😁
I have a '77 it is scary fast but haven't gotten it out in 4-5 years as It needs clutch work or replacement
Thanks for looking! Yes they were very fast!
My dad had a 73 just like that
Awesome! they are nice machines!