Panther jet?

« **on:** March 23, 2009, 03:26:59 PM »

I just got a new Omega boat with a Panther jet. When I first got it I hooked it up to the hose and ran it on the trailer. The pump sounds a little noisy and seems to vibrate a little. Sorta sounds like bearings could be a little wore out. I had it in the lake yesterday and it seems to quiet down when their is more water flowing through it. At certain rpm it seemed like I could feel a vibration sometimes. The u joints looked fine. I also checked the little dip stick and it had gear oil right to the mark. Is their more than one spot to put gear oil in? Any tips on maybe grease or something that can help it? I would like to run it this summer and hopefully rebuild it in the winter. Also is reverse in these pumps a pain in the ass to manuver? Thanks for the help. TC

« **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2009, 04:25:46 PM »

I have no idea if it will help but there is a grease zerk if you look up the "ass end " of the jet. To confirm if it's the jet or the motor, best to pull the drive line and run it and see if it eliminates it or not. Btw all jets back up "special" and you will probably be hard pressed to find a panther fan......anywhere. There are options if/when you decide to upgrade. Good luck just my 2 cents worth.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2009, 07:36:45 PM »

Thanks for the reply. I searched this forum for Panther info and learned alot. It seems its not the pump of choice. Im already not a big fan of the linkage setup. Seems cheap and lose. Im sure if the pump is new a tight it might be ok. I think this winter I will look into a rebuild or the conversion. Thats a good idea to unhook the u joint and see if the vibration goes away. Does anyone know if this pump can handle 500 horse or is their different models like the Berk pumps. Im trying to keep everything going for this summer since I just got the boat. Thanks for the help.

« **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2009, 07:48:19 PM »

Here is a crappy picture of the jet. Wish there was a Berkeley sitting there.

« **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:01:00 PM »

You'd be surprised what Tom has done with panther pumps. Not popular because you don't have loads of options, parts, factory and aftermarket available for them. Kinda makes them speshul. As far as 500HP, with an energizer kit and a good rebuild of it, you should be perfectly fine. A conversion, well, that's another major undertaking. I'll wait for Tom to post pics od what's involved with THAT. He's the expert there.

Ray

« **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:09:26 PM »

I wonder if a rebuild kit to make this pump new like it came from the factory would be fine for many years. I heard one positive thing is the ss impellar. I would love to do what Toms does but money is always an issue here. I cant wait to see what Tom recommends.

« **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:20:02 PM »

Quote from: TCRUSH on March 23, 2009, 03:26:59 PM

I just got a new Omega boat with a Panther jet. When I first got it I hooked it up to the hose and ran it on the trailer. The pump sounds a little noisy and seems to vibrate a little. Sorta sounds like bearings could be a little wore out. I had it in the lake yesterday and it seems to quiet down when their is more water flowing through it. At certain rpm it seemed like I could feel a vibration sometimes. The u joints looked fine. I also checked the little dip stick and it had gear oil right to the mark. Is their more than one spot to put gear oil in? Any tips on maybe grease or something that can help it? I would like to run it this summer and hopefully rebuild it in the winter. Also is reverse in these pumps a pain in the ass to manuver? Thanks for the help. TC

Running water from the hose will get you by, but doesn't have enough pressure to keep the Impeller centered in the bowl thats the noise you here,so when you back your boat up in the water the pump is fully submerge you have water all around the impeller and now its centered and not hitting the bowl no more noise.This is how i see it.

« **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:26:01 PM »

The pump deffinently got quieter when I was in the water. I was a little worried when it was running in my drive way. One good thing is the pump was full of gear oil like it had no leaks.

« **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:38:08 PM »

Fwiw when I swapped the panther out of my old boat(about 500 hp) the r's dropped from 5900 to 5300 and I picked up 9 ish mph. Btw when I say swapped I mean the energizer kit Tom offers. I didn't cut it out. Maybe someone(smarter than me) will explain the difference between axil flow and mixed.

« **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2009, 08:41:16 PM »

I was looking at the stuff Tom has done. The Energizer kit looks sweet. Lower rpm's with more speed sounds awesome. I feel like the pump cant keep up with the motor. I can be cruising at a good speed and easily rev this motor to 6 grand in a second.

« **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2009, 09:06:54 PM »

GPS'D her yet?? I couldn't get past 60 a 5900 r's.(with the panther)

« **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2009, 09:07:55 AM »

We are going out again this Saturday and Sunday. I hope to get some good numbers posted. Get an idea of what this pump is doing. I hope a friend of mine lets me barrow his gps.

« **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2009, 09:58:50 AM »

The panther is a good pump on a bigger boat because they produce a better hole shot which is what a heavier boat needs.
Stainless impellor too.
T, if your lookin for big numbers, the Omega isnt going to do it.
I look at a boat and regardless of what the owner says, I'm rebuilding the pump.
That would be my suggestion to you.

If your really lookin to off load some cash, convert it.
Otherwise, I'd rebuild it and run it forever.

-beerjet-

« **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2009, 10:37:41 AM »

Panther Jet? Whooooooooo's Panther Jet?

« **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:05:12 AM »

Quote from: Brad @ SoCalJetBoats.com on March 24, 2009, 10:37:41 AM

Panther Jet? Whooooooooo's Panther Jet?

You should repost the panther videos brad!!!

« **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:40:27 AM »

I like the idea of rebuilding it this winter and have fun this summer. I think a stock rebuild would probably be fine. Any guess on hom much a stock rebuild kit would cost? What about a stock rebuild and add a jet a vator (if you can on these pumps)? I'm actually not worried about being the fastest boat around just being reliable. I feel its already fast enough. My wife gave me the look everytime I got on it anyway. Thanks for the help. TC

« **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2009, 12:23:04 PM »

Quote from: ryanbrindle on March 24, 2009, 11:05:12 AM

You should repost the panther videos brad!!!

http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=1156.msg12646#msg12646

I emailed Panther a few weeks ago asking about the rumored 3rd video....never got a responce.

TCRUSH - you can order parts from http://www.pantherjet.com/ or JBP

« **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2009, 01:48:27 PM »

Thanks Brad. I will check out these videos. I will also check out the web site. I will have to talk to Tom about parts too.

« **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2009, 09:52:11 PM »

Panther jets work OK as designed and are OK for general useage ,They dont seem to respond well to Horse power IMO , clearly not my "weapon of choice" Thats why Josh and I did the "pioneer work" on the conversion , if your jets starting to fail it will sometimes start to show in the 1 to 2 oclock area (veiwed thru the intake) the damage will begin as "grinding" of the impeller against the inner wear surface of the housing . This is the "kiss of death for this jet and means rather "spendy repairs" We do not sell Panther parts with the exception of a basic seal/gasket/bearing/oring type kit Big stuff other than used has to come from PJ in Oregon and from what I hear for the past few months you can no longer call them you must email and hope for some kind of response We do know quite a bit about the jets after our R&D and will happily help you if you call Tom

ps I do have one "very good " (freshly overhauled) used PJ for "cheap" if you need it T

PSS the reverse can be "improved with "tedious" adjusting

www.jetdriveconversion.com

« **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2009, 11:42:14 AM »

That sounds good. Can you pm me and let me know whats "cheap". I was looking at the pump last night where the pto shaft hooks on and their is some play side to side from the shaft that goes inside the pump. I think it would need a rebuild build soon. If you have a great deal on the pump I might not have to wait till winter. Can you explian a little more on the reverse adjustment? Thanks alot.

ps. After buying the boat the funds are a little low. Please let me know about your pump. Thanks TC

« **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2009, 12:07:56 PM »

i have a panther in my 21 ft crusader. it will run 55 at abou the same rpm. not bad. my friend just bought a commander with a 502 and a berk and we raced a bunch and it was too close to call on whos was faster. I would really like a trim control but as far as i know unless you get the energizer kit there is none available.

I had a weird vibration and rattle for a while i changed engine mounts and used a dial guage to make sure everything was lined up i could not figure it out. then i checked the fireing order and found 2 plug wires crossed. it sounded like a bad bearing somewhere but ened up being that. swapped the wires back and it runs like a champ. so double check the wires.

« **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2009, 08:06:22 PM »

TC please check PMs Tom

« **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2009, 11:27:21 PM »

How you guys doing new to this site. I have a 79 ranger jet boat with the a Panther Jet. I havent had any probablems yet!! Ive pushed mine as far as it will go witch is 5600 rpms and it will only go 56mph (Gps) was used. I have heard from a berkley jet mechanic that anything over 450 Horse power is bad on the panther jet. But he also was trying to have me convert to a berkley pump. I have a ? about the ruster tail mine seams to work but it dont fly as good as a berkley. Is there anjustment to make or im i stuck with what I got? Also I dont have the cover over the jet is that the reason for all the back splash that I get in the back of the boat?

« **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2009, 12:01:42 AM »

Ranger Bob, (sorry, it was RIGHT there), call Thomas (Bunny boy to us that know him, he likes that, trust me) at JBP. (Jet Boat Performance)). He's prolly done more conversions than anyone on the planet.

While I like the old Panther commercials, and the Panther drive on 21' and over boats for cruising, the sad fact is if you want a runner, Berk and /or AT is the way to go, or some combination of the two on a jet drive.

Converting from one to the other is a major issue. Fiberglass work, etc, let alone the hull integrity issues. Call Tom on this.

Tom's gonna KILL me, my Diverters gonna cost me like 3k now! Lol.

Ray

« **Reply #24 on:** May 15, 2009, 07:45:27 AM »

Ray, I know where you live !

Bob call me if I can help you

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