Polaris Pro Rental Sleds at Togwotee

[Jeff C]

I dont think there is any way that I cannot get flamed about this being brought up, but here goes.

I got a good buddy that just got back from Togwotee. First day out he blew up his Pro800.

Went to the lodge to rent a Pro for the rest of the week, the sled ran fine.

He said that he talked to the rental manager and he was told that over half of the 50 Pro Sleds (He said 31 out of 50) were down with engine issues, and some blown up.....

Apparently Polaris has people there trying to figure out if it was fuel issues (But none of the other sleds that have filled up using the same gas is experiencing any problems). Fuel samples are being taken from the affected sleds, etc. They are looking at all the serial numbers from that fleet and comparing it to production runs etc, trying to find a correlation.

They are saying that there are no other such concentrated issues in such a concentrated location.

I am wondering if any of you guys that have been to Togwotee know any of the rental personnel that you can call to check this out, and post back your findings.

I am not trying to start anything, just trying to find someone out there that can find out if this is true.

Polaris asked my buddy if they could de-install his engine out there in togwotee and keep it for testing and failure analysis, and of course ship a new one to his dealer back here in Minnesota.

I hope this is not true, or I hope it is a fuel quality issue............

I think there is only a .0000001% chance people see this request for what it is, just trying to find out what the dealio is.........

 

[sledneck_03]

I dont think there is any way that I cannot get flamed about this being brought up, but here goes.

I got a good buddy that just got back from Togwotee. First day out he blew up his Pro800.

Went to the lodge to rent a Pro for the rest of the week, the sled ran fine.

He said that he talked to the rental manager and he was told that over half of the 50 Pro Sleds (He said 31 out of 50) were down with engine issues, and some blown up.....

Apparently Polaris has people there trying to figure out if it was fuel issues (But none of the other sleds that have filled up using the same gas is experiencing any problems). Fuel samples are being taken from the affected sleds, etc. They are looking at all the serial numbers from that fleet and comparing it to production runs etc, trying to find a correlation.

They are saying that there are no other such concentrated issues in such a concentrated location.

I am wondering if any of you guys that have been to Togwotee know any of the rental personnel that you can call to check this out, and post back your findings.

I am not trying to start anything, just trying to find someone out there that can find out if this is true.

Polaris asked my buddy if they could de-install his engine out there in togwotee and keep it for testing and failure analysis, and of course ship a new one to his dealer back here in Minnesota.

I hope this is not true, or I hope it is a fuel quality issue............

I think there is only a .0000001% chance people see this request for what it is, just trying to find out what the dealio is.........

well that settles it.......not getting a pro ride, this is not the first ive heard of and im not getting into it but ive heard of others.... fack.

 

[Ndanger]

The numbers are not matching up with the information that I am hearing from one of the staff in that department. I understand that they have 15 800 pro's and as of 3 weeks ago the units some of which had 3000 miles on them had a failure rate of 7 of 15 with IIRC 5 down at one point but at the time most were in service. I understand that they are in addition to the oil injection running 8 oz per full tank of additional oil to try and get ahead of the issue.

They are having lower rod bearing failure from what I remember... something to the effect of more than a handful of metal parts come out when torn down.

 

[allied1]

Just heard 4 hrs. ago of a buddies 800 Assault SB let a rod go. New engine on the way to his dealer. Could be something to this.

 

[Calvin42]

I'm really hearing mixed stories as to the reliability of these motors. Not the same issues as the 2010's and older. Have heard the oil usage is dialed really low so they can meet emissions. If that's the case, that's an easy fix. Am still considering my first Polaris purchase since 2002. I really want these sleds to work. From everything I've heard these sled absolutely rock in the mountains. Am anxious to get the scoup on this before I make my snowcheck decision. Anyone that has first hand knowledge of this I would hope to keep us posted.

 

[Dosey Wales]

poo 800 tog problems

they are 800 rmk not pros,rentals are not running 91 oct.but 87oct.--
oil is not amsoil intercepter but cheapest amsoil bulk,+they have no
discipline of running polaris sleds up there,as far as cold seize/waiting
for sled to warm up after setting when cold,thats my 2 cents +i have been watching this for yrs. up there,more than anybody-outlaw dosey wales here

 

[Reg2view]

1. As stated, they don't have any Pros for rentals, just std 2011 800's in the pro ride chassis. Some of the guides do have their own Pros as a personal sled.

2. No way they have 30. 15 is much more like it.

3. I've watched how they treat rental sleds, just like their mules. They do fuel out of a separate pump, and with gas included in the rental, I'm guessing it's not the most expensive. Same with oil.

Not saying they didn't have problems. But, putting it in more perspective. The motors do run lean on oil.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Awesome, details are all over the place but a great thread anyway right?

 

[Calvin42]

1. As stated, they don't have any Pros for rentals, just std 2011 800's in the pro ride chassis. Some of the guides do have their own Pros as a personal sled.

2. No way they have 30. 15 is much more like it.

3. I've watched how they treat rental sleds, just like their mules. They do fuel out of a separate pump, and with gas included in the rental, I'm guessing it's not the most expensive. Same with oil.

Not saying they didn't have problems. But, putting it in more perspective. The motors do run lean on oil.

More likely to believe this scenario. I think this is the case in a fair amount of rental businesses (not all). But they buy these things cheap, sell them at the end of the season with no warranty, and don't run the good polaris oil in them. Don't really believe it's a engine issue from the factory. Just my two cents.

 

[R44guy]

Well after reading about more 800 engine failures in the 2011 chassis has got my attention going! I would love to hear from some one with the service department from what ever dealer is working with the rental company!

Also some one made mention above that these failures are on non pro rides but correct me if I have missed something here but from what I understand the 2011 800 motors aremthe same in both the pro and rmk?

 

[NapaMatt]

I heard from one of the guides/Photo Shot/lives out there.

That only like 3 went down!!

And last year they pumped out 58 GAL of WATER out of the Fuel TANK!!

That all i know..

.......... hmm i like the 800 is holding VERY strong.. I would also like to know how many miles everyone got on them ?? More then 2000.. More than 3000.. and still running!!

 

[2007dragonman]

sleds

we have many with over 2500 and all running awesome!!!

 

[NapaMatt]

Thanks i am at 1582 miles And running STRONG

 

[RMK-King]

The 2011 800 Rental I had in yellowstone had 4500 miles on it, pretty impressive for a abused rental sled.

 

[snowdog484]

Was out there the last week of feb. Myself and one other guy in our group rented 2011 800 rmk's. All I can say is the two that we rented never hiccuped, burped or stuttered one time! Ran great, one had 2900 miles and the other 3000.

I will agree on how they are treated and abused. When I asked Carter he said at that point they had issues with 8 of them. They were also renting more of them from Jackson.
We lined them all up in the Lighty area on a long gradual up hill climb. The only sled that beat the 2011 pro-ride was my brothers Struthers built 800 on nos. They ran really well. The suspension was way soft and really needed to be dialed, but hey its a rental.

 

[m8sandman]

seems i've seen this same thing mentioned time and time again. the rental story, one time its 30 out of 50 the next its 40 out of 60. seems someone needs to keep bringing the same old same old with no real info.

one of my best riding buds is a poo dealer, he's sold the sh!t out of these sleds this year and not one that he's sold has lost a motor. all still running strong and hey its the middle of march!!!

i guess i need to get out more, i'm right at 1000 miles on mine and thought i was getting some miles

 

[FatDogX]

The 2011 800 Rental I had in yellowstone had 4500 miles on it, pretty impressive for a abused rental sled.

I rented from the same place about a month ago and mine had right around 3500 miles. It came complete with a complementary bent front bumper, laced hood, and tweaked bars!! Looked like S&%T but it still ran awesome!!!

I did talk to one of their rentals guys outside and he mentioned that they did have a couple go down moto wise. He didn't really have any details and I didn't feel like standing around talking when the boys were waiting.

At this point, I don't think there is anything to really be concerned about as these stories are far and few between. Our local dealer has also sold a bunch of these as well and I only know of one that burned down due to kinked oil line, which there was a service bulletin about.

 

[rmkboxer]

I love these posts I will beable to get a pro for cheap. I would like to know how much oil they are going through. I think they are not getting enought oil. I was told by a guy here that he was so happy with his pro since it hardly went through any oil. I just laughed.

 

[FatDogX]

I love these posts I will beable to get a pro for cheap. I would like to know how much oil they are going through. I think they are not getting enought oil. I was told by a guy here that he was so happy with his pro since it hardly went through any oil. I just laughed.

I would agree, oil is cheap, rebuilds aren't !!

 

[Jeff C]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the information.

Sounds like there might not have been quite the "issue" as this guy made it out to be perhaps..........