17s weak??

[Overthehood]

I ran my 16 Axys 1300 miles and got what I thought was a good trade value on a 17. My 16 ran flawlessly for the first 600 or so miles then I started to have rpm struggles. When new it would hold over 8300 even above 8000 ft with Polaris 64 weights. I gradually had to drop to 60s at that elevation. Yes I changed the springs, had the clutches, both of them refurbished at SLP shop here in town had tps reset and ecu refreshed but nothing helped much so I made this trade....
Well I have 200 miles on the 17 and it just hasn't come to life. I'm running 61g SLP adjustable weights and it would hold 8150 at around 8500 ft. My brothers was holding 8400 with mtx 68s.
Should be out of break in by now....way different than my experience on my 16. Any thoughts?

 

[SRXSRULE]

I have pretty much the same results as you. 16 and 17, both had slp pipe, mtntk blow hole, tps adjusted, gates belt. My 16 ran awesome! Got stronger and stronger through break in, then after 500-600 miles I had to start searching to get rpm back. Got most of it back with fresh clutch parts, spark plugs and power valve service.
My 17 never ran as good, had to run 3-4g lighter weights and it never did come to life after break in. Eric

 

[ripnit]

There's something happening after about 600-800 miles on some Axys. Heard of this last year, the guy even put 58 gram weight and new spring in and still only got 8000 rpm. Mine was alittle better but not quite right.....New motor may be going in we'll see if it gets better rpm.

 

[Overthehood]

I have pretty much the same results as you. 16 and 17, both had slp pipe, mtntk blow hole, tps adjusted, gates belt. My 16 ran awesome! Got stronger and stronger through break in, then after 500-600 miles I had to start searching to get rpm back. Got most of it back with fresh clutch parts, spark plugs and power valve service.
My 17 never ran as good, had to run 3-4g lighter weights and it never did come to life after break in. Eric

I've read tons of your threads Eric, you are a fountain of knowledge, what do you think is going on here?

 

[Murph]

Both our 2016's cylinders were out of spec when I had Indy Specialties re-hone them. Both needed to be re-nicasiled. One had 1100 miles, one had 650 miles.

Your 2017 could have similar issue. Have you done compression or leak down?

 

[Sledbrain2]

My riding buddie bought a new 17 axys, (picked it up from Saratoga WY ready to ride) he is very meticulous (I do not think he ever bought a used sled) and was explaining to me the break in procedure. I can tell you if I bought an axys I would have a hard time following the procedure as I normally have broke in sleds like I stole it. 6 to 8 hours to over oil engine with no or very little wot. After that vary throttle until the 200 mile mark (that might not be correct but it is longer than what I have ever been told to vary throttle while breaking in a 2stroke). I am wondering if losing compression has something to do with breaking in the engine from the start.

 

[Overthehood]

Thanks for the replies. I compared the compression to my brothers 16 that rips still at 850 miles and his was maybe 2 pounds higher. Don't know what leak down is?

 

[ullose272]

Thanks for the replies. I compared the compression to my brothers 16 that rips still at 850 miles and his was maybe 2 pounds higher. Don't know what leak down is?

You basically pressurize the cylinder and see how much bleeds off

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[SRXSRULE]

I've read tons of your threads Eric, you are a fountain of knowledge, what do you think is going on here?

I think the entire drive line is wearing out very quickly on these sleds and all of these compounded together is why we see the loss.

Last year on my 16 it never lost any compression in 1100 miles but thats only a small part of the picture. It ran the best from 250-600 miles

The 17's.... I Dont know whats going on there. A friend of mine bought a new left over 16 and I had my 17, both had SLP pipes, we rode together on every ride this year and his sled always pulled more RPM, even after I switched to 2 gram lighter weights. If I had to guess they may have de-tuned them some, or there is some weak 17's out there.

I gave up on mine and sold it at the end of Jan. Had way too much work lined up and knew I wasnt going to be riding anymore this season so kicked it down the road. Eric

 

[980K]

Idk. My 17 163 2.6 pulled 8150 at 8000+(Togwotee area)before break-in ended with the 64s in. After break-in it pulls 8250-8350 with the 64s in at Togwotee area. Sled is bone stock. My Dad has a 16 SKS that has never pulled RPM like my 17. He's running 62s at 8000+(Togwotee area) and it pulls about 8000-8100. His SKS has around 600 miles on and mine is around 400

 

[Overthehood]

My 11 and 12 Pros were strong but my 14 wasn't great. 16 Axys started out great and faded despite a few hundred dollars worth of clutching etc. This is b.s. Polaris has to do better in their quality than this, there shouldn't be this much variability. I'm kind of missing the old days when you could just change a carb jet....

 

[rydningen]

Doesnt the 17 models come with a new map in the ecu compared to what oroginally came on the 16?

 

[Overthehood]

Doesnt the 17 models come with a new map in the ecu compared to what oroginally came on the 16?

I understand that they do. My understanding is that some of the 17s run strong. If mine would hit 8400 with the Polaris 62g weights over 8000ft. elevation I'd be fine but it isn't close to that.

Can you put a 16 ecu on my 17 without any issues? My brothers 16 rips that would be a good test to see if it is the ecu map on the 17.

 

[Icedog]

Seems weird to me. My '17 163 LE pulls 8350-8400 in Revy/Sicamous with a Jaws pipe kit, 66g weights, a custom cut helix, and a secondary spring swap. Gotta really be careful on the trail up and down cause she will spike to 8500 real quick.

 

[Overthehood]

Seems weird to me. My '17 163 LE pulls 8350-8400 in Revy/Sicamous with a Jaws pipe kit, 66g weights, a custom cut helix, and a secondary spring swap. Gotta really be careful on the trail up and down cause she will spike to 8500 real quick.

I've had really bad luck in the past getting dealers to fix these issues. I am buying my sleds from a different dealer now so there is a glimmer of hope there.
Those of you who have been around a lot of 17s, are you seeing the majority tach to 8450 with Polaris 64 g or equivalent like the 16s did??

Anybody know if my brothers 16 ecu will swap to my 17 or could that cause issues?? Thanks for any replies.

 

[Red Mtn]

The first motor in my 16 was a ripper. It might hit 8500 on the lower part of the trail on the way in and out but it would pull 8000-8100 in the snow too. Now on a factory replacement motor, installed in January. 7500 on the road, 7000 in the BC. Still super responsive down low. I rebuilt the clutch, new pins, rollers, buttons and installed the recommended 60g weights. I tried two dealers for a primary spring, waiting on an ordered one. Has a new belt, with 4 rides on it. Just feels like it bogs on top. Tried both fuel settings with no change.

 

[pinko]

I demo'd my dealers '17 for a weekend and coming off a Cat I wasn't impressed with the power. I bought a leftover '16 and it's night and day difference. The '16 feels a lot stronger than the demo I had. I would say this one is on par with the Cat

 

[bonecote]

Thats weird, my 17 definitely pulls harder than my 16 but i ride at low elevation

 

[Mnt.Tamer]

Sorry to here of your problems

Year after year polaris has motor and electrical problems and they don't fix them. Why? Because we keep buying them because they have a lite and cool chassis. But after so many motor problems I finally realized it does not matter how lite and nimble the sled is if you only get a 1000 miles out of it before the motor needs rebuilt or it spends much of its life at the dealer getting repaired. Our riding season is to short to deal with this crap. On top of this the sled prices keeps going up. Do the math 14,000.00 for a sled to get a 1000 miles out of it if your lucky.

I have taken a stand that I will not buy another polaris new or used. But if people are going rush down and buy the new 2018 believing that they have fixed all the problems when we know the 18 will most likely have the same motor as 17, this is NOT going to wake polaris up. We NEED TO STOP SUPPORTING THEM!!! They will listen if there numbers are down but only we can make that happen. What is the definition of insanity? (Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results)
I have decided to buy the 18 cat, they have a great reputation for being reliable, they are made in the usa and the 18 is very narrow, handles great and you can drop 18 lbs with just a can.

Polaris will most likely be under 400 pounds this year but ask your self if 8 to 10 pounds less will really matter if the motor and electrical plague continues ( and it will)

 

[phatty]

I run 9-11k feet.
On my 16 axys with SLP pipe sled would pull 8250-8300. I got 1000 miles solid, sold it, and the kid has put another 1000 on and its pulling 8350 for him (he is significantly lighter than I am).

On my 17 axys with SLP pipe sled was pulling 8350-8400. I just passed 650 miles and all the sudden I am getting RPM fade. I can barely get 8000 RPM at elevation (10k feet). Nothing has changed. Friday at 9k feet i was pulling 8350 in 5 feet of fresh, WFO all day long. Saturday at 10k feet in 3 feet of fresh i was barely making 8000 rpm. TPS? Exhaust Valves? Relays? WTF? Dropped sled off at dealer and told them I dont want it back until it turns 8350 again at elevation.