Is It Fixed?

[inkstreme_05]

Is the clearace issues "piston slap" fixed in the 2014's?
Just re-did the top end of my 2012 SBA after 1167 miles due to "piston slap". and wanting sell it and purchase the 2014 RMK Assault. are the engine problems still there?

 

[OuraySledder]

The basic engine design is flawed, so YES, there are still issues. For '13 the cylinder skirts were made thicker, for '14 the part number for the pistons reportedly changed. I suspect they are still GARBAGE. There are several successful fix kits out there that more or less cure the piston problem.

Other problems likely to occur are sheared oil pump drive and coolant seal leaks into the crankcase. You probably can't do much about these until it is too late.

Turn up the oil a bit and hope you got a good one....

 

[Timbre]

The 14 engine is solid. You will be fine. There is no need for a fix kit. Just put fuel and oil in, and ride. All brands of sleds have their own set of "issues" and there are always a small percentage of each brand that have them. Due to the anonymity of the internet, these things get blown out of proportion. Sometimes this is due to those who have had an issue being VERY vocal about it in multiple posts, or perhaps more often, from those who own the "other brands" trying to make theirs look better. Take what you "hear" and assume at least 95% of it is false or at the very least . . . exaggerated.

Cheers!!

 

[Jaynelson]

Haven't heard of many motor issues from 2013's at all, even on polarisdoomsday.com....I mean snowest. 2014's even less...but likely not a lot of miles on those yet.

Side note....my 2011 snocheck is still going strong at 2100 hard miles. Stock everything except clutching and vents. Stock oil pump setting with a little extra oil in the fuel. Always warmed up, never overheated. VES gold, power valves stay clean. Not sure if there is any science in any of that. I keep waiting for it to blow up, but this is my 4rth season with this sled and it has had ZERO break downs of any type. I have replaced an a-arm because of me, and freshened up some clutch parts.

 

[OuraySledder]

The 14 engine is solid. You will be fine. There is no need for a fix kit. Just put fuel and oil in, and ride. All brands of sleds have their own set of "issues" and there are always a small percentage of each brand that have them. Due to the anonymity of the internet, these things get blown out of proportion. Sometimes this is due to those who have had an issue being VERY vocal about it in multiple posts, or perhaps more often, from those who own the "other brands" trying to make theirs look better. Take what you "hear" and assume at least 95% of it is false or at the very least . . . exaggerated.

Cheers!!

How do you breathe with your head buried so deep in the sand? You really think people are making up engine failures? Most come with pics so that is a fairly bold statement. I think most people come here looking for help with problems, the REAL problems that exist.

Now granted, ALL two stroke sleds are ticking time bombs, better be ready for major expenses at any time if you ride hard, like most mtn riders do. To try and deny Polaris specificly has major engine issues as well as quality control issues just makes you look foolish. Lord knows I pray I bought one of the good ones, and that mine will last for years without an engine failure. Fact is, lots of guys have engine failures. It is almost always piston related on the 800 Pro. The fix kit is not necessary from new but, you are on borrowed time after about 1200 miles.

 

[boondocker155]

I just opened up my motor and found a cracked skirt, only has 1015 miles. The problem isn't made up or inflated. The pistons are very loose, it's a bad design. I thought the problem wasn't prominent but now I see that it is real!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[R_8_N]

Nothing wrong with stock pistons. Every single one measures the same. Take a couple dozen cylinders and see how off they are from each other.

 

[OuraySledder]

Nothing wrong with stock pistons. Every single one measures the same. Take a couple dozen cylinders and see how off they are from each other.

So that explains why the fix kits consist of PISTONS right? Maybe a little more research will lead you to the truth. I spent hours and hours looking at this BEFORE I bought the sled. Cylinders check out fine. RKT has measured hundreds of them. Piston skirts collapse and fail because the pistons are GARBAGE.

If you think it is the cylinders, you think contrary to all of the engine builders out there, you know, the guys fixing them....

"Nothing wrong with stock pistons" I honestly never thought I would see that posted....

 

[R_8_N]

So that explains why the fix kits consist of PISTONS right? Maybe a little more research will lead you to the truth. I spent hours and hours looking at this BEFORE I bought the sled. Cylinders check out fine. RKT has measured hundreds of them. Piston skirts collapse and fail because the pistons are GARBAGE.

If you think it is the cylinders, you think contrary to all of the engine builders out there, you know, the guys fixing them....

"Nothing wrong with stock pistons" I honestly never thought I would see that posted....

So you read snowest and spoke to Kelsey then? I know people that have measured hundreds of cylinders as well. Putting a beefier piston in does fix the problem of the pistons breaking yes, I never said the piston fixes didn't work. It doesn't fix the inconsistent sizes of the cylinders. Would you like to buy pistons that you can put in your sled tomorrow that fixes it tomorrow or would you like to pull your cylinder and send it off and wait a month to have that fixed at several times the cost of the pistons? Piston swap is faster cheaper and easier. And I'm not new to this game. Glad you spent hours and hours reading. I've spent years and years getting my hands dirty tearing them apart.

 

[Bushpilot]

no not fixed. 2014 engine cracked skirt 450 miles
am rebuilding it with forged pistons that are not polaris.

 

[OuraySledder]

So you read snowest and spoke to Kelsey then? I know people that have measured hundreds of cylinders as well. Putting a beefier piston in does fix the problem of the pistons breaking yes, I never said the piston fixes didn't work. It doesn't fix the inconsistent sizes of the cylinders. Would you like to buy pistons that you can put in your sled tomorrow that fixes it tomorrow or would you like to pull your cylinder and send it off and wait a month to have that fixed at several times the cost of the pistons? Piston swap is faster cheaper and easier. And I'm not new to this game. Glad you spent hours and hours reading. I've spent years and years getting my hands dirty tearing them apart.

I have also spent YEARS working on sleds and anything with an engine, so spare me the patronage. The ONLY way a piston fix kit works is if the cylinders are in spec. The reason the piston kits work is because the cylinders ARE in spec. Are some out of spec, I am sure they are. What kind of fool would fit pistons to a cylinder they didn't measure out first? Do people really do that?

Explain to me how the piston fix kits work at all if what you say is true. How is it that sleds with non stock pistons last so much longer? The proof is in the pudding, piston kits work because pistons are the MAIN problem with this engine. It is no more complicated than that. It isn't the rod angle, it isn't the cylinder. It is cheap a$$ pistons that collapse and fail taking out the cylinder skirt.

 

[N.A84]

Bad sales or something? Calm down man, that piston problem is a bit overrated thanks to internet.

 

[BigMan]

no not fixed. 2014 engine cracked skirt 450 miles
am rebuilding it with forged pistons that are not polaris.

Good grief. My 1978 Liquifire lasted longer than that.

 

[rmscustom]

My cylinders were damn close to perfect (within .0003'') but my pistons were collapsed to 8thou clearance in 1300 miles running lots of good oil and religious warm ups. The off season will tell if the pistons are the fix or the patch. One things for certain having my cylinders resized would have been a waste of money... I wonder how many get "resized" without ever being measured. lol

 

[rmscustom]

Good grief Bigman,
Some motors go boom way too early in every make, model and year since the invention of motors... Get over it.

 

[slyrydr]

The 14 engine is solid. You will be fine. There is no need for a fix kit. Just put fuel and oil in, and ride. All brands of sleds have their own set of "issues" and there are always a small percentage of each brand that have them. Due to the anonymity of the internet, these things get blown out of proportion. Sometimes this is due to those who have had an issue being VERY vocal about it in multiple posts, or perhaps more often, from those who own the "other brands" trying to make theirs look better. Take what you "hear" and assume at least 95% of it is false or at the very least . . . exaggerated.

Cheers!!

....including yours, i presume...

 

[BigMan]

Good grief Bigman,
Some motors go boom way too early in every make, model and year since the invention of motors... Get over it.

True, and some have a higher failure rate than others.

Regardless, I've not got the time to continue educating you youngsters if all you're going to do is argue.

 

[rmscustom]

No need to educate me. I knew when buying the pro it was probably gonna need a top end after a year and I was ok with that. Way cheaper than getting the others to where the pro is chassis wise.

 

[insurance1959]

2013 Pro 163"

I have 3100 miles on my stock 800 sled and engine. I installed a vent kit, always warm it up, turned up the oiler a bit and it is still going strong! Great sled so far!

 

[inkstreme_05]

well I guess I just put the 4 years warranty on it and cross my fingers that I get a good one and ill never have to use. but if it does I guess I get my money out of polaris and let them keep throwing OEM pistons in it. THanks for the input guys. appreciate it!