Question on a 1996 Pantera 2 up sled

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scott_l

Member
A family member is looking at purchasing two 1996, 580cc Panteras (2 up sleds with electric start and reverse) to keep at the cabin and basically just fool around on the lake and general area. He knows very little about sleds and I know some (but by no means a mechanic) so he asked me if I would go with him to take a look at them.
The sleds have not been started in two years and the owner just wants to get rid of them. Over all they are in really good condition for the year, one has 6400 miles and the other has 6600 miles. Any things to watch out for these sleds, what should the compression be around? Suggestions on a fair price?
A question I had (take a look at the pictures) there is the “arm” that I am holding in the first picture (two “arms” on each sled) that I have no idea what they are for (they move up and down freely). My first thought was they are some kind of “suspension stiffeners” for when two people ride the sled but I see no way how it could work. I am positive they are factory installed.
 

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indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
They are factory, you want to release the tension on them when riding 1-up, but when you have 2 people, they stiffen the suspension and make the ride better.
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
scott_l said:
A family member is looking at purchasing two 1996, 580cc Panteras (2 up sleds with electric start and reverse) to keep at the cabin and basically just fool around on the lake and general area. He knows very little about sleds and I know some (but by no means a mechanic) so he asked me if I would go with him to take a look at them.
The sleds have not been started in two years and the owner just wants to get rid of them. Over all they are in really good condition for the year, one has 6400 miles and the other has 6600 miles. Any things to watch out for these sleds, what should the compression be around? Suggestions on a fair price?
A question I had (take a look at the pictures) there is the “arm” that I am holding in the first picture (two “arms” on each sled) that I have no idea what they are for (they move up and down freely). My first thought was they are some kind of “suspension stiffeners” for when two people ride the sled but I see no way how it could work. I am positive they are factory installed.
Click to expand...

Those are Overload Springs which are standard on that particular Two-Up sled. I have not owned one, however, do remember when they introduced them. I believe that the elongated block underneath the overload spring is suppose to swing up which supports the overload spring. If he doesn't have an owners manual, you could verify it on line at arcticpartshouse.com where there are a number of microfiche views available which can help. As far as compression, 120-125 per side, I would get some fresh fuel into them & run them first, then check the compression warm if possible. As far as a suggested fair price, that is going to depend on how they run, how they look & what if anything they are going to need. Being as they are '96's maybe $900 a piece as a starting point provided they are in decent shape & they run, however, alot depends on the what, if anything they may need-Mezz
 
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lvr1000

New member
spring overload tool

sled came with a funny looking tool that used with spark plug tool made setting overload springs easy (flippping up or down the block)
 
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anonomoose

New member
That's a good motor and solidly built sled. They are fan cooled, with no seals to go bad, but as any onlder sleds, they probably need a good going over....which might be worth your while to take to a GOOD dealer who can go thru them and replace aging stuff. Chain case oil should be replaced too.

Worth depends upon how they were used. Sounds like they got used up until recently..but filters, fuel and oil lines, carb seals, all need to be replaced.

If you can get the sled turned on it's side, you can grab the drivers to the track and wiggle them to see if they is any play which will tell if the PTO side bearing is gone. If it is not, I would replace it before it does go out....on a sled that age. This also gives opportunatey to inspect the track, rollers, hyfax, and carbides

No doubt the TORs system will need cleaning and oiling...or it will cut out when you hit the throttle.

I would also go thru the hyfax....and check to see if there is any carbide left on the skis.

Those overload stiffeners work well, and any lug wrench or socket set will rotate the cogs that activate them.

While these machines might look like a good deal on the front side, depending upon how they were maintained and used, they may very well work out to be a bad deal if you have to dump a bunch of money into them to bring up to speed.

Sleds this old and with that many miles will need the entire drive train and clutch assembly check and parts replaced.

The Cat has had those motors, and that chassis around a long time, and most of the design bugs were out by then....any good dealer should be able to tell you the particulars of that sled...and any issues it had that no doubt got corrected by the original owners.
 
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scott_l

Member
thanks for the replies and info, we are going back on Friday to give them a better look over and go from there.
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
Anon, zl550 is right, they are LC, in fact, that engine is a 580EFI which was a pretty darn good mill. Pre-Batteryless EFI, nontheless, a good fuelie. The only thing I can recall as being a pain in that year was the brake pucks and the "quick adjust" brake. I know they did come out with better grade brake pad's (pucks) later, so not much of an issue anymore. Good luck on the prospects.-Mezz
 
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