I just bought a 2003 vertical escape and it is really doggy on the low end and mid range. It also has problems on the top end, its tempermental on the top end sometimes it will pull 8000 rpm but other times it will only go to 6500 to 7000 depening on the mood its in. Also the temp light comes on and blinks or stays on the whole time and other times it doesn't come on at all. Is there any suggestions on what the problem could be. Thanks
03 Vertical Escape doggy on low to mid range
- Thread starter snowjerke
- Start date
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boxster7614
Well-known member
A blinking temp light means you are having detonation issues. Either you are having detonation or your Det sensor is going bad. when this happens the computer will limit the top end and the temp light will flash. First off I would make sure you are running good high octain fuel. Does the sled have a high compression head on it? if it does you might need to mix a couple of gallons of race fuel otherwise you get detonation. If you dont know the only way is to pull off the head and look. The stock head will be one piece and and aftermarket will have domes that you can switch out for different compression levels read what numbers are on the domes and look them up on SLP's website. One trick however was to just shave the stock head to raise compression levels. Just to warn you in 03 that DET sensor is pricey in 04 polaris switched to a different sensor thats only around $40
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Desperado
Well-known member
Before we can help more information is needed. Is the sled stock, does it have venting, air box mod, jetting, current clutching setup, miles on sled, has the crank been replaced, elevation you are riding at vs what the sled was set up for before you got it etc etc..... I own an 03 escape and have had stripped down to nothing. Your problem could be as simple as exhaust valves needing cleand or a broken primary spring or as dire as a broken pto crank.
what they said
things to check/replace/clean
clutch springs
fuel
power valves
det sensor
also vert. escapes came with reg./prem. key option if its flashing
try switching to reg. see if it makes a difference
basicly figure out what your running jets/clutching/mods
and there's a bunch of guys on here that can set you strait
good luck
things to check/replace/clean
clutch springs
fuel
power valves
det sensor
also vert. escapes came with reg./prem. key option if its flashing
try switching to reg. see if it makes a difference
basicly figure out what your running jets/clutching/mods
and there's a bunch of guys on here that can set you strait
good luck
Reply
Ok I just bought the sled and here's what i've done to it so far, 380/390 jets, 56 weights in the primary, slp twin pipes (not race pipes just twin pipes and a can), the airbox is gutted, I cleaned the exhaust valves and the carbs. The needles in the carbs are all the way down, tried pulling them up and it ran worse, changed the pilots but ended up changing them back because of it being too rich. I'm running 91 octane gas, the head is the stock polaris head. The temp light thing is weird because sometimes it will flash like detonation and other times it will stay solid right when I start the sled and the sled itself is cooling fine. I'm waiting on a helix to put in the team secondary and a spring to put in the primary for clutching, but other than that I'm at a loss as to why the sled's symptoms change so often. Thanks again
Ok I just bought the sled and here's what i've done to it so far, 380/390 jets, 56 weights in the primary, slp twin pipes (not race pipes just twin pipes and a can), the airbox is gutted, I cleaned the exhaust valves and the carbs. The needles in the carbs are all the way down, tried pulling them up and it ran worse, changed the pilots but ended up changing them back because of it being too rich. I'm running 91 octane gas, the head is the stock polaris head. The temp light thing is weird because sometimes it will flash like detonation and other times it will stay solid right when I start the sled and the sled itself is cooling fine. I'm waiting on a helix to put in the team secondary and a spring to put in the primary for clutching, but other than that I'm at a loss as to why the sled's symptoms change so often. Thanks again
what elevation you riding at ?
how do your pugs look?
what clutch set up did you have in it when you rode it last
the temp light sounds like something is wrong there
solid light means over heating /flash = det
you gotta give us all the details for us to figure out your issue
twins take some tinkering to get right if anything is to far off they don't performe
how do your pugs look?
what clutch set up did you have in it when you rode it last
the temp light sounds like something is wrong there
solid light means over heating /flash = det
you gotta give us all the details for us to figure out your issue
twins take some tinkering to get right if anything is to far off they don't performe
F
freak58trio
Member
One thing I see is that your primary needs more weight like 62 to maybe 64 grams .
I would try this 140/320 in the primary with 10-64 in the secondary I would go 54/40.46 Team red/black with 2 delrin washers. Also depending on elavation the SLP twin's required a race fuel mix up to like 3000 ft. your needles should also be in the middle your jetting should be in the ballpark maybe go up too 400 and work your way back down. If i'm not mistaken the escape's had issues with twins because of the DET now that I think of it.
I would try this 140/320 in the primary with 10-64 in the secondary I would go 54/40.46 Team red/black with 2 delrin washers. Also depending on elavation the SLP twin's required a race fuel mix up to like 3000 ft. your needles should also be in the middle your jetting should be in the ballpark maybe go up too 400 and work your way back down. If i'm not mistaken the escape's had issues with twins because of the DET now that I think of it.
D
Desperado
Well-known member
What elevation are you riding at? I know with slp twins carls recommended one runs a couple gal of race fuel with it, that was back in 03/04 though. Those jets seem pretty lean too depending on elevation you are riding at. As others have also said the weights are also pretty light. If it were me I''d first figure out why your det or lights flashing, I do not think any clutching would cause that, at least from my experiece with my escape. Simple thing to try is add a couple gal of race fuel or av gas and see what happens. I bet the det goes away. Have you been able to look into your cylinders and see what your wash looks like? If you see small pitting on the top of your pistons then it is detonating some. Also what do your plugs look like, are they a nice cocoa brown tan or are the pretty white?
Reply
I'm riding in the Crazy Mtns anywhere from 8000-10000 feet I think don't quote me on that. The plugs are a nice chocolaty brown and haven't changed because i've periodically checked them. My biggest worry is the behavior of doggy running isn't consistent because sometimes it will run perfect and climb with the ski's coming off the snow at 8000 rpm, another thing i forgot to say was when I was climbing last weekend it started at 6500 rpm for about half way up then all of a sudden jumped to 8000 rpm. When I first got it they ran it on the regular setting and it ran better than it did on the prem setting when I was testing at about 5000 feet. A new spring in the primary could be the problem and I do have a new one coming, but the temp light is still a mystery. Thanks guys if there's anything more you need to know just tell me.
I'm riding in the Crazy Mtns anywhere from 8000-10000 feet I think don't quote me on that. The plugs are a nice chocolaty brown and haven't changed because i've periodically checked them. My biggest worry is the behavior of doggy running isn't consistent because sometimes it will run perfect and climb with the ski's coming off the snow at 8000 rpm, another thing i forgot to say was when I was climbing last weekend it started at 6500 rpm for about half way up then all of a sudden jumped to 8000 rpm. When I first got it they ran it on the regular setting and it ran better than it did on the prem setting when I was testing at about 5000 feet. A new spring in the primary could be the problem and I do have a new one coming, but the temp light is still a mystery. Thanks guys if there's anything more you need to know just tell me.
my 2003 verticle escape had det flashing issues after I had it serviced in town. I put off buying the sensor due to the high cost and looked for other problem sources. As it turned out, the sled had been power washed and water remained in the connections causing the det to flash and timing to retard. Hope that my experience helps you or someone else.
put a new temp sensor in the top of the head, discovered a broken wire on the sensor. Took it out and rode it shortly today at 3000 feet hoping the light would go away and it did. It's still doggy in the low end and only pulls 6000 rpm down here, I'm hoping clutching and a new set of plugs will bring it around. Thanks again
