I was riding the Panther today and the suspension spring end pulled out of the collar it rides in. I think this happened because the suspension bump stops broke off.
This can't be the first Panther to have this happen. What was the fix? How did you replace the bump stops?

I took the spring off and welded a bolt on the end, then cut the head of the bolt off. I put it back together and then put a washer and nut on the bolt. This way, if the suspension ever goes fully down the spring can't just pull out. I was lucky, the spring didn't shred the track.
BPJ

Restomajic,
The springs are stock. I stared at everything a long time until I figured out what had happened. The spring can only pop out if the suspension were fully suspended like if I actually caught some air on a bump. The rest of the time the spring is forced through the collar and just pokes out the other side. So in welding the end, yes it may have softened the end but two things should work for me. One, the emmense load the suspesion carrys (My fat @ss) should keep the spring in the socket. Two, spring pressure is still on the tempered portion of the spring. The welded part only comes into play when I fly over bumps.
Thats the theory. What I'd really like to do is fix the bump stops, as thats what the engineers put on the suspension to prevent the spring moving that far in the first place.
I wondered what those rectangular pieces the track spit out one day....hmmmm. Run old stuff, find parts laying in the snow.
BPJ

I will ask at Kiilunens about the springs...I'm sure he'll have some in the back shed. The magic shed!
The bump stops could be made from anything, car tire included....the dilema is how to attach them. It appears the originals were riveted on. If thats the case... their replacements will have to wait til summer because I will have to take apart the suspension to acess the rivet heads.
Good call!

arctic resto sells repopped stops, they are $23 for the entire skid.

http://www.arcticrestoration.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&produc...

I am sure you could build something out of rubber cheaper if its a rider/beater and your time/patience is more available then $$$.

From what I have found, most originals are now very fragile.  I have some that I pulled off parted out sleds in the late 80s/early 90s and have been in storage.  I have tried to rivit them on some of my riders and they bust when you rivet them down.