2012 Polaris RMK's Running Hot?

[rockinmranch]

I run rentals here in Alpine, Wyoming since 1998. All of my 2012 rmk (not pro's) seem to be running hotter than normal (190-200), compared to past years. Yes, most of the riding is trail riding and trails have been harder and drier than we are used to this time of year, but I have seen much worse trails in the springs with less trouble. Air temps have been 0-20 degrees. We are hoping to see some fresh snow this week. I am not going to jump to any conclusions until I see how they are responding with some new snow, but something doesn't seem right. Everytime I check the coolant bottle it is plum full, no gap at the top. Two 800's went out today, 2011 pro running 130 degree with (w.p.s.) wire scratchers. 2012 800 RMK, no scratchers, 200 degrees. All of my 2012 600's and 800's seem to be running hot. Standard rmk's have two coolers not one like the pro. Problem seems worse at slow speeds. May have a lean conditon at low rpm or it may just be lack of lubrication/snow. Anyone having the same problems?

 

[barry1me]

my guess is due to no scratchers down. If there is minimal to no loose snow on trail if I dont have my scratchers down on my 2011 it will get hot too.

 

[deten8]

200? your cooking the thing. get scratchers on it. should stabalize at 120-130
temp lights flash at 167

 

[Outlaw525s]

deffinetly put on the polaris ice scratchers... on hardpacked trails they are a must and the sleds will occasionly overheat if not down!

 

[Oregonsledder]

Like has been said.... must have the scrathers down ALL THE TIME when the snow is hard. I'm not digging this attribute, but the remidy is more snow!!

 

[rockinmranch]

I agree with all of you about scratchers. Unfortunately in the rental business the stiff wire scratchers last a few days before getting torn off and the flexible don't work as well and make it about one season, which is fine. Point being, I never run scratchers on my standard RMK models with little to no problems. I am just throwing a line out there to see if anyone else running a 2012 standard RMK is having similar issues. Here in a few days, I will get more aggressive in persuing this with my dealer after I see them run in new snow. It could just be freakish type snow condition that we do not see very often. I personally took a little trip up the trail today and would never have believed I would be having heat issues in these conditions. Seems to be plenty of loose snow on the trail. Also, my rental ski-doos are not having any issues.

 

[Demo250]

My Pro runs at 125 all day. We have decent snow right now though.

 

[rockinmranch]

All of my 2012's also seem to be going through half as much oil as normal. I am adding some to the tank until I reslolve this. Let me rephrase the original question. Does anyone know if polaris changed anything regarding the cooling or oil delivery system from 2011 to 2012 for the standard RMK models?

 

[poorider]

hey rockin, this was a pretty well documented.....issue? last year and this year. The pros have smaller tunnel coolers than the iq chassis, and they don't have a front bulkhead cooler. On my '11 pro the scratchers are down all the time if I'm running in less than a few inches of fluff, and even then the temps start to climb unless you're blipping it quite a bit. If it's hardpack or frozen, it overheats for sure even with the scratchers down. I wouldn't even think of running without spring wire scratchers on a trail. It's gotta be cheaper for you to buy cheap scratchers in bulk and replace as necessary than be constantly changing hifax or blowing motors up, no? Why not charge your renters when they come back with broken scratchers?

 

[m8sandman]

the standard pro has coolers, the pro's have no coolers front or rear unless you call tubes going up the tunnel or the sqaure tube across the rear that connect them a "cooler" i'd call them coolant lines! if theres less than 5-6 inches of fresh pow you have to run the scratchers and then if your moving slow you have to watch the temp gauge constantly. in hard pack or setup conditions we run ours up to 180-190, try to shut them down before 200, thats when they like to start puking coolant. you could try water wetter or some other type of cooling system additive but don't think anything will prevent the problem in setup conditions except to add a true heat exchanger...

 

[WHEREDAFUGAWEE]

Yes i have used Red Line Water Wetter SuperCoolent in my two sleds, an 06 polaris 755 Rmk and now in my 12 pro Rmk. I also use it in the coolant of my 2010 Ktm 400 XCFW dirt bike. This product is wonderful and i believe it works. I have noticed temperatures of both sleds reduced by close to 20 degrees while riding in less than ideal conditions.

 

[mtnsledder]

Rockin, we have had similar issues with the lack of new snow and hardpack on the trails.

My standard RMK runs 123* all day with scratchers down while my wife's Pro was hitting 190 to 200* with scratchers down.

Replacing the Pro RMK snowflap with an older IQ snowflap and adding Redline Water Wetter brought the temps down on the Pro to a max of 160* on hardpack with scratchers down.

 

[2XM3]

first thing to do is order a bunch of iq/dragon snowflaps and throw that pos flap in the garbage...we dropped 15-20 degrees on everyone we changed over.

 

[jdw1]

I would agree with the iq snowflaps for the rental's, i also know that a week ago i was out riding my new pro in our bean fields just to get some miles on the engine and sled and if i wasn't going at least 20 mph in about 6" of fresh snow my temps would start to rise, as soon as the speed was above 20 it would cool off. I know you have standard rmk's, maybe one thing to look at would be scrachers on the skis.

 

[sledfreak89]

We have Pro RMK Flaps in both standard lengths NON PORTED as well as our "Long" flap for spring conditions which is 24" long.

www.provendesignproducts.com

-Matt

 

[Bigrock33]

I have both the 2011 and 2012 Pro 800's with 155 tracks, set up exactly the same. Even after 150 miles on the 2012, riding side by side, same conditions, scratchers down, switching riders, the temps on the 2012 is significantly higher unless in 6" or more of fresh and going at least 20mph - then they both run close - the 2011 123* constantly and the 2012 125* constantly. The highest that the 2011 got was 138* on hardpack while the 2012 was 160*-170* UNDER EXACT SAME conditions. My dealer, who is awesomwe, has no answer at this point. FYI

 

[richracer1]

I agree with all of you about scratchers. Unfortunately in the rental business the stiff wire scratchers last a few days before getting torn off and the flexible don't work as well and make it about one season, which is fine. Point being, I never run scratchers on my standard RMK models with little to no problems. I am just throwing a line out there to see if anyone else running a 2012 standard RMK is having similar issues. Here in a few days, I will get more aggressive in persuing this with my dealer after I see them run in new snow. It could just be freakish type snow condition that we do not see very often. I personally took a little trip up the trail today and would never have believed I would be having heat issues in these conditions. Seems to be plenty of loose snow on the trail. Also, my rental ski-doos are not having any issues.

I installed the Slidekick scratchers last season (upgraded the std tips to carbide tips this season) and they are still working great. The highest temp I've seen is 130 - 135 running at slow speeds on the trail. I'm also using Engine Ice for coolant but I always have my Slidekicks down and they w/the carbide tips do seem to kick up a good amount snow. The key to them is to install them with the angled portion pointing straight down or even slightly pointing forward. I think some install them with the angled portion pointing toward the back which creates zero downward force. Now I have to admit, this is on a '09 RMK with both coolers, and we all know Poo reduced the capacity of the tunnel coolers in '11.

 

[tbeaton]

draining my coolant out and putting in engine ice now, removed the stock flap for provens long one. going to run scratchers on trail and might make up a ski scratcher if needed. out here in new england we don't get the snow like you guys out west, so my mods to this should get worked pretty good. we will see how it fairs if we ever get any snow.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

take a 5/16 or 3/8 bolt and install in the rear of the ski's pointed down to act as a scratcher(should just penetrate the ground when sitting on flat ground..)i have seen guys cut 1/2 way thru the bolt to allow it to snap off if it hits anything too solid so it doesnt hurt the ski..but that should get some good snow spray under the track and help cool it down...cheap,easy scratcher that wont care if it gets backed up on as well..

 

[tbeaton]

take a 5/16 or 3/8 bolt and install in the rear of the ski's pointed down to act as a scratcher(should just penetrate the ground when sitting on flat ground..)i have seen guys cut 1/2 way thru the bolt to allow it to snap off if it hits anything too solid so it doesnt hurt the ski..but that should get some good snow spray under the track and help cool it down...cheap,easy scratcher that wont care if it gets backed up on as well..

hm thats not a bad idea. i was going to use those slid kicks and drill into the side of the ski.