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800 Recall question???

Man you should be greatful at least they are finaly standing behind something and not letting us hang with anbig bill like the 800 crank bearing that still hacks me off.
 
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dont get me started on Polaris warranty, i still ride my 03 800 and still really like it, but there warranty and stepping up to the plate for customer service, and pride in there reputation really sucks. except for know, i hope this fix works, it should cant believe they ever put a single ring in there in the first place.
 
2010s' have all the new stuff that the update kits do plus the new style cylinders......or so the dealer says...

Wonder what is different in the "new style" cylinders? They are putting a new set of cylinders on mine with the update as there were cracks in mine between the ports.
 
There is no new cylinder in the recall. It only gets replaced if it is damaged.

Thats right, there is no new cylinder in the recall but if they inspect it and there is a flaw it will be replaced. Thus the cracks between the ports on mine so they are replacing it with the recall kit. If there is any scoring marks after honing I am told they are to replace them also.:beer;:)
 
Actually..the 2010's do have a new cylinder...the 08's and 09's dont get ....the cylinder for the 10's is identical to the older cylinders but it has a longer thicker skirt section to better support the piston..this cylinder will not fit the older engines unless you change the upper half of the case......
 
Actually..the 2010's do have a new cylinder...the 08's and 09's dont get ....the cylinder for the 10's is identical to the older cylinders but it has a longer thicker skirt section to better support the piston..this cylinder will not fit the older engines unless you change the upper half of the case......

What a mess :confused: It is really great that Polaris is taking care of everyone on this, but it is really sad that it was produced in the first place. This is the type of stuff you would expect of a first year motor back in the 70's not 2008.
I'm going the aftermarket route and becoming a guinea pig for everyone. Aftermarket pistons are on the way. I will document before and after compression as well as piston to cylinder clearance. May get the 08 head mod and will be using an aftermarket fuel controller. I don't have access to a dyno, but if I can track one down I will do that too. Oh, and I better take AKSNOWRIDER's advice and get a Ford fuel filter on there too. ;)
 
Just curious Monte, why not go with the updated engine, extended warranty and then look at mods? Most AM pistons are billet, the cast factory type are almost always better. Billet need more clearance since they expand unevenly where the material is denser around the crown and in the center pin area. At Mn compression should be great with a stock motor, it's at altitude where we lose 3% per 1m feet that they may need a bump in compression.
As for mapping that remains to be seen but you can bet they will be rich on top end. If that's the case an AM exhaust, i.e. SLP single will lean you down, maybe just right for the stock fuel map. At least that's the way it worked with the 08/09 map, it was low RPM mapping that was lean.
Anyway, just curious about your logic, obviously you gave this some consideration.
 
has anyone ran this new update yet? i see some dyno testing but how about real world riding? funny every time mine goes to get a update the dealer says the same thing.." oh it`s way better now" but i never get the wow that i expect after the update.
 
Just curious Monte, why not go with the updated engine, extended warranty and then look at mods? Most AM pistons are billet, the cast factory type are almost always better. Billet need more clearance since they expand unevenly where the material is denser around the crown and in the center pin area. At Mn compression should be great with a stock motor, it's at altitude where we lose 3% per 1m feet that they may need a bump in compression.
As for mapping that remains to be seen but you can bet they will be rich on top end. If that's the case an AM exhaust, i.e. SLP single will lean you down, maybe just right for the stock fuel map. At least that's the way it worked with the 08/09 map, it was low RPM mapping that was lean.
Anyway, just curious about your logic, obviously you gave this some consideration.

Hey Ron,
Yeah, I've been back and forth on this for some time. Talked with quite a few people on what to do. And yes I would prefer a cast piston too. My sled never experienced any motor related issues. Always ran great. So for me to get the pistons I would have to sacrifice a map that I know works and a higher compression head. I did tear it down before last year just to look for any scoring. The piston to cylinder clearance that Polaris is using just doesn't make sense or sit well with me. The piston wear was obvious from where it was trying to tip in the cylinder. In 700 miles, pistons shouldn't look like that. You won't find such poor tolerances from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki etc..Just my thoughts on it, I'm not a professional engine builder. :rolleyes:

The new twin ring should dissapate heat better and keep the piston from tipping. Still seems like a lot of clearance. I spoke directly with Wiseco. Their forged pistons that we consider to expand quite a bit are still running a tighter tollerance than Polaris and they are a twin ring. They convinced me they have minimal expansion and will be a long life piston. It's sorta a have your cake and eat it too thing for me. :D

All my riding is done out west so I prefer to maintain the higher compression that the original head has. Plus if anything goes wrong I can blame myself and not worry about what Polaris is or isn't going to do.
Good to see you back on here Ron.
:beer;
 
Thanks & one for you:beer; hell it's Sat night here's some more:beer;:beer;:beer;

I leaving in the morning for 10 days so will have to be a part time SWer for a while. I had the same experience as you, bang, clang at idle, only a matter of time til a skirt would have gone. I kept an eye on my engine since I'm also ported, piped, milled head. Everything was clean, no scuffing so I debated the update for a while.
I gave up my high compression head after looking at the new one. (Full engine update done to mine now) Polaris has made an interesting change to the shape. I'm not very good at descriptions and didn't get a pic but the plug area protrudes further into the head. Guess it's a cleaner, more efficient burn, might make a little more power! I got my sled back last week and will run it as is before making any changes. Likely will have the head milled to get back some of the 20%+ compression we lose from sea level.
As I recall you have a fuel controller so you got rid of the lean spot and can run tighter clearances?
Supposedly on the update the tolerances have been tightened up-they were excessive in 08 and ridiculous in 09. Haven't seen the specs for 2010 yet. The 10's have a longer sleeve so that will help stop piston rocking.
Let us know how this works out for you.

Ron

Hey Ron,
Yeah, I've been back and forth on this for some time. Talked with quite a few people on what to do. And yes I would prefer a cast piston too. My sled never experienced any motor related issues. Always ran great. So for me to get the pistons I would have to sacrifice a map that I know works and a higher compression head. I did tear it down before last year just to look for any scoring. The piston to cylinder clearance that Polaris is using just doesn't make sense or sit well with me. The piston wear was obvious from where it was trying to tip in the cylinder. In 700 miles, pistons shouldn't look like that. You won't find such poor tolerances from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki etc..Just my thoughts on it, I'm not a professional engine builder. :rolleyes:

The new twin ring should dissapate heat better and keep the piston from tipping. Still seems like a lot of clearance. I spoke directly with Wiseco. Their forged pistons that we consider to expand quite a bit are still running a tighter tollerance than Polaris and they are a twin ring. They convinced me they have minimal expansion and will be a long life piston. It's sorta a have your cake and eat it too thing for me. :D

All my riding is done out west so I prefer to maintain the higher compression that the original head has. Plus if anything goes wrong I can blame myself and not worry about what Polaris is or isn't going to do.
Good to see you back on here Ron.
:beer;
 
09 Update

Picked up my new 09 Dragon 163 today. Engine sounds real crisp, sharp and quiet. Quite different than my 08. It is a lot noisier, a more loose rattling kind of noise. It has ran perfectly however, for the last 700 miles. Both with stock exhaust. A question though about the oil. Polaris wants you to run the "improved" VES. What did they improve? I know Redline is a popular alternative, but nobody in town carries it. What are some other options to consider?
 
Recall Letter

I thought it said in the recall letter that the cylinders would be changed to a new dual ring. Isnt this correct?

The letter said that the piston's on the 08/09 800's would be replaced with new two ring designed pistons, new head and an ECU reflash. Also suggested was a change in the can/muffler if you were at a low/lower elevation. That however, would be at your cost.
 
I thought it said in the recall letter that the cylinders would be changed to a new dual ring. Isnt this correct?


Cylinders replaced only if damaged was my understanding, I'm assuming the 2 ring reference you mean pistons.
 
I thought it said in the recall letter that the cylinders would be changed to a new dual ring. Isnt this correct?

The old cylinder is to be honed unless damaged, only then will it be replaced.
New 2 ring pistons
New head
Reprogram the ECU

Polaris is also requiring the customer to buy a new fuel filter as a maintenance item. Last season I discovered that the fuel filter was restricting fuel flow under certain conditions and is IMO, one of the prime sources of the piston scuffing. Based on my research, the fuel filter needs to be replaced EVERY year.
 
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