had an 84 just like that . the track rumble would make you go numb. replaced everything and it still rumbled. dealer told me from the beginning that i was wasting my money. i was. good dependable sled but too much rumble for me. it still exists and runs to this day
Funny fact about the 1981 Pantera Hood Design Change. That Wedge design, was actually submitted to Arctic Enterprises by an 18 year old from Colorado. As part of an open invitation for Pantera Hood change ideas. He won the Design, and was presented the First 1981 Pantera off the Assembly Line.
Man what a great old sled. If I could, I'd send ya some snow. God knows I have enough up here. Glad to see a new video from you. *:-)* Take it easy man. :)
I got an '81 Arctic Cat Panther too. The sled needs new slides for the track and exhaust manifold gaskets. Other than that the machine runs and goes around in my backyard. Then I'll have to register the machine to take it out on the trails.
toocheaptosmoke forgive me for asking, but I’ve seen a few things in your videos that stirred my curiosity. Once I saw a note pad from advance bronze, and also a phone number on your workbench with a 330 area code. Are you in the Lodi area??? Don’t want your address or anything... not a stalker! Lol
had a 68 panther skis were mostly out front of the sled so all the weight is on the track it got stuck a lot. the old polaris txl are getting hard to find
@@toocheaptosmoke haha, when I first heard mine I thought my crank bearings were shot. After a couple searches I was surprised that it's a normal sound for those grenades.
Just picked up an '81 Pantera, my first "non-Polaris" ever, but it looks good, runs, and might be a good candidate for restore. Look mom, no mice! Really enjoyed the video! Hope you find some snow soon!
Maybe Im mistaken but I think... THINK that 80 & 81 were built in Polaris factories when Cat near went under. Maybe check me on the year but im thinking 80 & 81.
@@32degreesretarded62 Interesting. I know Cat went under. There are no production sleds for '82 thru....??? Seems like it was a 3 year ordeal, but possibly only 2. Seems odd that Polaris would step up for one of their larger competitors. I wonder, if they did it, what was in it for them? Just Googled it... they went under in '82, for 2 years. "Arctco" kept them alive until the Arctic Cat name returned in '96.
@@kennethgoin628 theres a good documentary on TH-cam about Cat. If I can find it, ill post the link. Has a couple of the original engineers on there talking about how in 80 or 81, he broke down in tears in the engine assembly room because his empire was crumbling. Polaris industries stepped in for a brief period and kinda helped em with assembly. Im a sucker for history and it was interesting to hear that stuff.
i have 2 80 n im guess after watching this maybe 2 81s the hoods are a little different in the 2 along with the carbs are a little different with the added nipple for air that goes inthe the airbox
I recently sold a 1981 el tigre. It ran poorly when I first bought it. I had to short the kill switch and key wires together. It then ran awesome. That's the only sled I ever owned where the ignition circuit was that way. I only say that because you mentioned the only reason you need the key is to shut off the engine.
@@toocheaptosmoke many many cats after 1980 (late 90s and beyond I think)were made with that damn normally closed ignition system. Anti theft was the idea I think
Soo, I guess "fresh" is more of a relative term then i previously thought... and I see they sell the same brand of track lift devices in your area as they do here in Sweden, the trusty Woodpole 3000, "for all your sled testing needs". (Just remember not to point the sled being tested at something expensive and/or easily breakable and you'll be alright...). Me I'm kind of fancy so I use the "Jerry Can special" (The "special" part is the piece of two by four I lay on top to get the correct height...)😉👍
i bought one of these several years ago for 100 bucks. i got it running and the primary clutch wouldnt engage so i lost interest and i havent touched it. i am getting bored and need a project. i love vintage sleds, that is the reason i bought it. i grew up on a 1984 pantera 440 and a jag 340 and some 70s skidoos. Is this sled worth fixing up? its a 440 single carb and it did run great. all it would take is a carb clean and fresh fuel and i bet it would fire right up.
Them civil war era 440's were real runners!! haha Think a 38mm would pop right in there, just didn't feel like making even more work. Voltage regulator crapped out after filming.
Why are the mikuni's bad? I mean, I've had a lot of problems with them, actually an odd issue with one of my sleds flooding to death out of seemingly nowhere. I have to let it sit for a bit, cool down, then hold it wide open and crank it until it fired. Why do they suck in your experience?
The butterfly mikunis are hard to start and finicky at times, and not all the parts are easy to come by for tuning. They can run alright though and be fine in stock applications. Mikuni round slides are common and easily tuned.
Been working on exact same sled today will not idle I did everything.Do you have a suggestion for a different carburetor I can put on it . I'll even mix gas if I have to getting frustrated . Thank any help would be nice
If you rode each one of the sleds you have resurrected on TH-cam for one hour since the beginning of you TH-cam channel, how many hours of riding would you be able to do? :)
You should be fine, it's not needed to run. Just make sure the positive battery cable is wrapped in tape or something to keep it from shorting to ground.
Had a 1981 pantara 5000 when i was in hight school love thoes old cats
had an 84 just like that . the track rumble would make you go numb. replaced everything and it still rumbled. dealer told me from the beginning that i was wasting my money. i was. good dependable sled but too much rumble for me. it still exists and runs to this day
Funny fact about the 1981 Pantera Hood Design Change. That Wedge design, was actually submitted to Arctic Enterprises by an 18 year old from Colorado. As part of an open invitation for Pantera Hood change ideas. He won the Design, and was presented the First 1981 Pantera off the Assembly Line.
Panter!!! Good looking sled my first sled was a 86 panther fat ass no reverse.
Man what a great old sled. If I could, I'd send ya some snow. God knows I have enough up here. Glad to see a new video from you. *:-)*
Take it easy man. :)
Thanks man! We got like 1.5" this weekend, but not enough to ride yet, all mud underneath. Keeping fingers crossed!
I got an '81 Arctic Cat Panther too. The sled needs new slides for the track and exhaust manifold gaskets. Other than that the machine runs and goes around in my backyard. Then I'll have to register the machine to take it out on the trails.
Just bought a 78 today, great video! I noticed that this video was a little light on your usual sarcasm, hope you are alright, keep up the sled vids
Thanks man! Think I was fighting the dreaded "3 week cold" that's been going around when I was working on this sled, haha.
toocheaptosmoke forgive me for asking, but I’ve seen a few things in your videos that stirred my curiosity. Once I saw a note pad from advance bronze, and also a phone number on your workbench with a 330 area code. Are you in the Lodi area??? Don’t want your address or anything... not a stalker! Lol
Don’t feel bad I had the same trouble this morning with my 1990 ski-doo Safari L wouldn’t start until we put in
Marvel mystery oil
had a 68 panther skis were mostly out front of the sled so all the weight is on the track it got stuck a lot. the old polaris txl are getting hard to find
Nice to hear I’m not the only one that hates those damn butterfly carburetors! I’m trying to find a replacement for my 1980 jag 2000.
Haha, they are frustrating...
Love the part where you came to your senses and didnt use new parts lol your videos are awesome man
It was close dude, not sure what I was thinking! Must have needed another beer...
I put a Comet Duster clutch on mine... it's a match made in heaven!
I would miss that hex clutch growl though, haha.
@@toocheaptosmoke haha, when I first heard mine I thought my crank bearings were shot. After a couple searches I was surprised that it's a normal sound for those grenades.
Looks like that cat don't hunt. Great video. We're also suffering through a warm, rainy January here in southern Maine. Snow? Well, maybe next year...
Thanks man. I know, this winter is tough thus far!
Just picked up an '81 Pantera, my first "non-Polaris" ever, but it looks good, runs, and might be a good candidate for restore. Look mom, no mice! Really enjoyed the video! Hope you find some snow soon!
Thanks man! Good luck on the cat side of things, haha.
Maybe Im mistaken but I think... THINK that 80 & 81 were built in Polaris factories when Cat near went under. Maybe check me on the year but im thinking 80 & 81.
@@32degreesretarded62 Interesting. I know Cat went under. There are no production sleds for '82 thru....??? Seems like it was a 3 year ordeal, but possibly only 2.
Seems odd that Polaris would step up for one of their larger competitors. I wonder, if they did it, what was in it for them?
Just Googled it... they went under in '82, for 2 years. "Arctco" kept them alive until the Arctic Cat name returned in '96.
@@kennethgoin628 theres a good documentary on TH-cam about Cat. If I can find it, ill post the link. Has a couple of the original engineers on there talking about how in 80 or 81, he broke down in tears in the engine assembly room because his empire was crumbling. Polaris industries stepped in for a brief period and kinda helped em with assembly. Im a sucker for history and it was interesting to hear that stuff.
@@kennethgoin628 th-cam.com/video/FL0nx_BWWNw/w-d-xo.html
That's in good shape 👌 like those.
I rode it around a bit the last snow we had, it runs much better than the 1980 I had.
My son and I have an old Pantera in the shop that we are going to tear into shortly. I got it to fire, but it's rough.
i have 2 80 n im guess after watching this maybe 2 81s the hoods are a little different in the 2 along with the carbs are a little different with the added nipple for air that goes inthe the airbox
I recently sold a 1981 el tigre. It ran poorly when I first bought it. I had to short the kill switch and key wires together. It then ran awesome. That's the only sled I ever owned where the ignition circuit was that way. I only say that because you mentioned the only reason you need the key is to shut off the engine.
Yup, had to do that on my first '80 panther, definitely one of the few sleds that's wired that way.
Do you still have the centurion?
@@toocheaptosmoke many many cats after 1980 (late 90s and beyond I think)were made with that damn normally closed ignition system. Anti theft was the idea I think
Good comment on battery. Wish you could use one of those lawnmower batteries in other sleds
Yeah, wish more mfg's had done it like that.
Soo, I guess "fresh" is more of a relative term then i previously thought... and I see they sell the same brand of track lift devices in your area as they do here in Sweden, the trusty Woodpole 3000, "for all your sled testing needs". (Just remember not to point the sled being tested at something expensive and/or easily breakable and you'll be alright...). Me I'm kind of fancy so I use the "Jerry Can special" (The "special" part is the piece of two by four I lay on top to get the correct height...)😉👍
Great video as always.
So cool I love this
And snow you shall get ! Someday ! Lol. I hate those butterfly carbs also , give me a slide carb any day ! Lol
If you wanna ride it, SLIDE it! lol
Bill Cosby juice always gets them going!!
i bought one of these several years ago for 100 bucks. i got it running and the primary clutch wouldnt engage so i lost interest and i havent touched it. i am getting bored and need a project. i love vintage sleds, that is the reason i bought it. i grew up on a 1984 pantera 440 and a jag 340 and some 70s skidoos. Is this sled worth fixing up? its a 440 single carb and it did run great. all it would take is a carb clean and fresh fuel and i bet it would fire right up.
If it's in good shape, I'd say it's worth it. Probably throw some new hex bushings in the clutch to get it going again.
I love the Panthers man!!very nice video!!! WTS up with the arctic cat Z??
Thanks man! The Z is sitting in storage waiting for parts to accumulate, haha.
Love your videos
Thanks man!
The intake manifold looks the same for most any Suzuki 440 from 1812- 1992 should be able to use a standard mikuni round slide
Them civil war era 440's were real runners!! haha Think a 38mm would pop right in there, just didn't feel like making even more work. Voltage regulator crapped out after filming.
Why are the mikuni's bad? I mean, I've had a lot of problems with them, actually an odd issue with one of my sleds flooding to death out of seemingly nowhere. I have to let it sit for a bit, cool down, then hold it wide open and crank it until it fired. Why do they suck in your experience?
The butterfly mikunis are hard to start and finicky at times, and not all the parts are easy to come by for tuning. They can run alright though and be fine in stock applications. Mikuni round slides are common and easily tuned.
Been working on exact same sled today will not idle I did everything.Do you have a suggestion for a different carburetor I can put on it . I'll even mix gas if I have to getting frustrated . Thank any help would be nice
Should be able to get a smaller carb boot, and probably run a 34mm up to a 38mm mikuni round slide.
Nice!
If you rode each one of the sleds you have resurrected on TH-cam for one hour since the beginning of you TH-cam channel, how many hours of riding would you be able to do? :)
Man, not sure my brain wants to try and comprehend all that! haha
Had one started to fix a 670 in it and I never finished it and than I sold it wish I would of finished it
Was thinking about dropping a wildcat 700 motor into my '80, maybe someday...
@@toocheaptosmoke it would be a hell of a sled
Mine doesn’t have a battery is that bad?
You should be fine, it's not needed to run. Just make sure the positive battery cable is wrapped in tape or something to keep it from shorting to ground.
Battery was for Electric Start.
Are you on the east coast?
Yeah, PA
old polaris and cat share some parts
Yup, and some of the older sleds had quite a bit of "universal" parts.
Is this guy Canadian
Only when I go there on vacation, haha.
Now how about a Wankel??
Hell yeah!!!
Any stink bugs???
There's ALWAYS stinkbugs... haha!