Thanks for the post. I have a '74 295 Eltigre in my garage that I have been planning on bringing back to life. Nice to see the similiar 440 in action. When my 295 ran (I bought it back in 81) it was actually quite fast for a little free air (could approach 70mph)and had an extremely durable motor (plus a few items that you still see on today's motors -CDI Ignition, Twin mikuni's, throttle shut offs, etc) Hoping my teenage sons get some use out of it.
That looks exactly like my El Tigre, but mine is a 275cc. The motor is from another sled, so it's not origional. I was just riding it today! We just got a bunch of snow here in Wisconsin, so I figured I'd jump over some snow-drifts. I got it stuck a few times, but that sled is so small and light so I just wiggled it around and it moved right along.
i used to have a '72 cheetah 440 and a '72 Panther 292. but both are gone now. now i have a '85 Jag 440 and a '73 TNT 340 (being restored) along with a '71 Scorpion Stinger II
i still got my dads 75 5000 just dug it out and after not being run for 7 or so years put new gas and plugs and it fired up. just needs to be adjusted and it will be running good as new
My dad still has all his in his yard from the 70s all the way up to this year's model. Can't call him a pack rat or a hoarder if they all run and get used lol
Had one, with the metal bar track, problem with these sleds is you dig yourself a hole and the footrests hang onto the snow and you get stuck and go nowhere.
Change track suspension set up so the front swing arm will give and allow the suspension to collapse so the track can climb over the snow. Also added box paddle studs to the track cleats so you have a couple dozen shovels digging. It’s a lot better set up this way. Not as good as a wide track Panther, but better than bone stock.
@quincee33 Kawasaki engines were used in almost all of the Cats in the early to mid 70's. The 1975 Jag was the last Cat to use the Kawi F/A and then they switched exclusively to Suzuki.There were the odd Sachs Wankel rotary's,a JLO in an early 70 and perhaps a Liquid Kohler in one of their Z's in about 76.El Tigres before 76 used free air kawis and then for the rest of the 70's the Tiger's used Free Air or liquid Suzukis.
Nice quote. Last cat to use a Kawasaki was the leftover 1976 low production Lynx 250 FA twin. Most people forgot it. It’s on the back of the 76 flyer. Don’t be annoyed most folks forget it because the Suzuki powered Jags outsold it ten to one . The Jag was a lot better.
@quincee33 I never got into the Kawasaki sleds but I would imagine they had a lot in common with the Cat engines.The Kawasaki Snow-Jet as well I would think.You have a good eye.I loved the looks of the Kawi sleds too.
do people snowmobile in kansas city.... just curious, i live in toronto so i'm not familiar with how much snow you guys get.... probably not enough to sled eh??? let me know, if u get a chance
@noblepuker lol, 3 years is a long time. i've always thought a great heist movie would be to have the robbers take off on snowmobiles.....perhaps ththey're waiting for the storm of the season...would be a cool idea....since it hasn't been done yet. i think the 2nd Die Hard had Yamaha Phazers in it, but not too many movies with sleds.
Agree but Hollywood always has to hate on snowmobiles. Every movie I’ve seen with a sled in it they mock the owner or wreck the sleds. They can’t help themselves.
@MrVintageCat interesting. So i guess the kawasaki invader, intruder and drifter were probably the same engines - 340 c/c and 440 c/c....... must have been the same speed too! i used to love the look of the Kawasaki invaders! too bad they stopped making sleds.
Thanks for the post. I have a '74 295 Eltigre in my garage that I have been planning on bringing back to life. Nice to see the similiar 440 in action. When my 295 ran (I bought it back in 81) it was actually quite fast for a little free air (could approach 70mph)and had an extremely durable motor (plus a few items that you still see on today's motors -CDI Ignition, Twin mikuni's, throttle shut offs, etc) Hoping my teenage sons get some use out of it.
Did you ever restore the '74 295? I bought a '72 Massey 440 in 1982 while in high school, it was a nice sled at the time with only 500 miles on it.
Best looking sleds.
Sweet El Tigre!!! Just picked up a 1973 400 that runs great!
LOL remember this machine in the showroom ....can’t believe we got excited over it
That looks exactly like my El Tigre, but mine is a 275cc. The motor is from another sled, so it's not origional.
I was just riding it today! We just got a bunch of snow here in Wisconsin, so I figured I'd jump over some snow-drifts. I got it stuck a few times, but that sled is so small and light so I just wiggled it around and it moved right along.
i used to have a '72 cheetah 440 and a '72 Panther 292. but both are gone now. now i have a '85 Jag 440 and a '73 TNT 340 (being restored) along with a '71 Scorpion Stinger II
i still got my dads 75 5000 just dug it out and after not being run for 7 or so years put new gas and plugs and it fired up. just needs to be adjusted and it will be running good as new
My dad still has all his in his yard from the 70s all the way up to this year's model. Can't call him a pack rat or a hoarder if they all run and get used lol
Had one, with the metal bar track, problem with these sleds is you dig yourself a hole and the footrests hang onto the snow and you get stuck and go nowhere.
Change track suspension set up so the front swing arm will give and allow the suspension to collapse so the track can climb over the snow. Also added box paddle studs to the track cleats so you have a couple dozen shovels digging. It’s a lot better set up this way. Not as good as a wide track Panther, but better than bone stock.
@quincee33 Kawasaki engines were used in almost all of the Cats in the early to mid 70's. The 1975 Jag was the last Cat to use the Kawi F/A and then they switched exclusively to Suzuki.There were the odd Sachs Wankel rotary's,a JLO in an early 70 and perhaps a Liquid Kohler in one of their Z's in about 76.El Tigres before 76 used free air kawis and then for the rest of the 70's the Tiger's used Free Air or liquid Suzukis.
Nice quote. Last cat to use a Kawasaki was the leftover 1976 low production Lynx 250 FA twin. Most people forgot it. It’s on the back of the 76 flyer. Don’t be annoyed most folks forget it because the Suzuki powered Jags outsold it ten to one . The Jag was a lot better.
I have a el Tigre it runs like a champ
@quincee33 I never got into the Kawasaki sleds but I would imagine they had a lot in common with the Cat engines.The Kawasaki Snow-Jet as well I would think.You have a good eye.I loved the looks of the Kawi sleds too.
do people snowmobile in kansas city.... just curious, i live in toronto so i'm not familiar with how much snow you guys get.... probably not enough to sled eh??? let me know, if u get a chance
a part of history
@beaverdammer i have a 76 also..only a 5000, got it restored and ready to go
@noblepuker lol, 3 years is a long time. i've always thought a great heist movie would be to have the robbers take off on snowmobiles.....perhaps ththey're waiting for the storm of the season...would be a cool idea....since it hasn't been done yet. i think the 2nd Die Hard had Yamaha Phazers in it, but not too many movies with sleds.
Agree but Hollywood always has to hate on snowmobiles. Every movie I’ve seen with a sled in it they mock the owner or wreck the sleds. They can’t help themselves.
@MrVintageCat i thought Kohler made the engines for CAT back in the 70's??????
Cat used several engine manufacturers back in the early 70's.
whats the song in the background?
It's 70's style lol. The '70s were a very musical time background music was everywhere. Lmfao
did he say Free - Air? was that a suzuki engine or kohler?
That year would be a Kawasaki Engine.
my dad has a 400 and its like brand new
my dad has a 74 el tigre 400 . its insanely fast
How lol?
@@markhutchinson8474 it’s in mint condition and runs like a charm
@@nugeXXX yeah but how would it be ridiculously fast it's a 400 I guess you think 53 mph is fast 😂😂😂
@MrVintageCat interesting. So i guess the kawasaki invader, intruder and drifter were probably the same engines - 340 c/c and 440 c/c....... must have been the same speed too! i used to love the look of the Kawasaki invaders! too bad they stopped making sleds.
Got a 74, 340
Own a 73 El Tigre 400! Awesome!
That is a Kawasaki free air not a Suzuki.
El Tigre.....Its a fucking tiger!
I'm I'm the process of buying a 75 arctic cat el Tigre 440 z
How's it working for you