Panther 440 Not engaging reverse

[Tiz]

Hey,
I have a problem with my dad's friend's Panther 440. I took it out for a ride saturday, 10" of light and fresh powder over some really hard ice...( It has been hot and cold all winter long...) So basically, i was having fun, until i had to put it in reverse to turn around and it didn't engage... It makes a weird grinding sound, and when the engine is off, if you pull the lever, and let it go, it makes a metallic sound... I'll take it apart saturday and see the inside, but when i look at the bottom of the chaincase, it seems like something is broken... Could i have broken the chaincase?? If so, i really can't explain myself how...
Any suggestions or thoughts in what could be wrong?

Thanks and cheers

Tiz

 

[Tiz]

any hints?
thanks

 

[Idcatman1]

My guess would be that the linkage isn't moving the shifter fork far enough. The grinding you hear is probably the three pins on the gear not making solid contact with the moveable reverse gear. I would still take it all apart and clean and check all the parts. Looking at a parts diagram would probably help. It can be found online at brownsleisureworld.com. Hope this helps

 

[Tiz]

thanks for the hint, i tried to pull the fork linkage directly with my hand, disconnecting it from the reverse lever, but it still makes that grinding sound and still doesn't engage...
thanks

 

[Idcatman1]

The pins I mentioned will get worn to to point where they won't engage enough to not slip. That is still my best guess. They can be replaced without having to buy a whole new bottom sprocket. 0602-133 is the part number.
Good luck.

 

[Tiz]

Today i took the dropcase apart, and both sides of it are broken... while i was taking it out, i noticed that one of the 3 bolts that hold the bottom bearing was missing. my best guess is that the bolt went flying out of the gears, and hit the dropcase and broke it. The bolt that hold the chain tensioner is also broken and the slip pins and the spring retainer are damaged. Probably due to the bolt coming out too much.
Now i looked at arcticcatpartsnation, and articcatpartshouse, but i can't find the dropcase for the reverse ( ESR) version of the sled... the Drive/Reverse dropcase assembly in the schematics don't include those parts... the only included are the ones for the non reverse version... Where could i get those parts for cheap? Any other hints on what could have broken the dropcase??

Thanks tiz