Reliability of the Pro motor

[bobback]

So, there seems to be a lot of bashing lately on the 800 Pro motor. Yes, the 800 Polaris has had past issuses, we ALL know that.

But really, on speaking about a Pro..has there been that many issues? As based on the recent posts, you woud think that people are losing motors left and right.

Now I know there was a survery (last season) about the Pro motor; but I want to hear actual expriences a year later. As people are starting to rack up some miles on their Pro.

Meaning ONLY facts; as in the year of the Pro (only Pro's b/c we all know the past), the miles; and the good, the bad, and the ugly.

AND the entire truth...for example.

I was talking with a buddy last night, who had brand x and at 1400 miles the crank went out. Well, typically that is all you hear and he goes on and on for the rest of his life on what a terrible motor the brand x has. Then his buddies go on and on for the rest of their lives on what a terrible motor the brand x has.

YET...the rest of the story was he had his sled transported, on an open trailer, from Montana to Alaska; during winter. Since the sh*ty cover tore off, you can imagine what the sled looked like by the time it arrived in Alaska.

So he starts the sled and something doesn't seem right. Instead of doing more diagnostics, he opts to ride the sled and the crank goes out...thus the rest of the story.

So...again, just facts and the entire facts on ONLY Pro's.

 

[echox670]

My wife's Uncle has a 12 pro 163 with right at 3000 miles on it. He has never changed the plugs, doesn't worry about letting it warm up for extended periods of time and rides it like a rental. He has been sledding for 38 years and this pro has been flawless so far. Some guys have all the luck.

 

[2XM3]

Its a great motor, 1350 miles on my 2011 turbo, bone stock motor at 13 psi, zero issues. ride with 4 other pros all have had no problems at all.

We all have our oilers turned up and run 1.5 oz per gallon premix on 100% ll av gas. Redline Race 2 stroke oil and we ride them hard

 

[BILTIT]

My 2011 is on its 3rd motor. I have only owned it with the 3rd motor and only have ~50miles on the LR800 so far. 1st motor went at ~630miles, Carls rebuilt it and then it went at 1590miles. Hoping my LR lasts alot longer than those engines!

I have no idea what practices the PO did with this sled, good or bad.

 

[Rev Kev]

2011 Pro, 2300 miles, ran VES Gold entire life, turned up oil pump around 1000 miles, Motor warmed prior to hammering it, Zero issues. Just installed a fresh top end as preventive Maintenance using Bikeman's Reliability kit. Hoping for 2300 more fun miles!!

 

[dansyl159]

We have 2 11's, one has 3600 miles the other has 2500ish. One 12 with about 1000 on it and a 13 with just shy of 2000 on it. Picking up the Redhead's 14 on Monday or Tuesday.

They motors have all run flawlessly, now that I stated that I probably jinxed 'em.

 

[Norway]

2011 pro rmk owned since new. Only put 1350km / 850 miles on it but started to loose a little snap and the exhaust would burn in your throat.

Sent monoblock and pistons to Curt at Fastrax for some trained eye inspection and fix if needed.

Report back from Curt like this;

I've mapped out your cylinder as received with old and new pistons:

old piston: mag @ .0079 top, .0084 skirt
pto @ .0076 top, .0079 skirt

new pistons: pto and mag @ .0055 top/bottom so you have a good cylinder!

Edit: compression down to 110

This tells me something. Even though my cylinders seem fine, my pistons have collapsed after only 850 miles = not to impressive.

Giving the stock parts another try with the addition of cryo treatment. Then we will see after another season or two how she holds up. Definately wont trust my pistons to last very long.

Although I cannot claim to have been to religious about warm up and such, I have turned my oiler up and I'm always the one hanging behind when we take of due to waiting on my temp gauge. Makes me wonder what the secret is when people go 3000+ miles with no probs.

 

[mickyd32]

my 11 is into the 5000 mile range with no issues

13 is currently low on compression, 2300 miles and flaking happening on the pistons below the lower rings. 105 psi to be exact. Still runs strong though, If I wouldn't have compression tested it prior to wanting to install a new head, I would have never known

stay tuned for results

 

[mtnsledder]

2011 800 Pro 163 w 4035 miles, zero issues.

2011 800 Pro 155 w 3400 miles, zero issues.

Best sleds we have ever owned in 32 years of sledding.

 

[Jaynelson]

My 2011 has been 100% reliable to date. All stock other than clutching and vents. VES gold, nothing fancy. Stock oiler setting and a couple glugs of oil in each tank. I've been meaning to turn up oiler but keep forgetting. Proper warmups and I'm good at keeping up on maintenance.

1,800 ALL mountain miles. I've noticed the power has gone off a bit in the last couple hundred miles. I'm sure it needs pistons, and I have never owned a sled that didn't need pistons or a motor with 2,000 mountain miles on it....crappy luck? Maybe. Will do a comp/leakdown test this weekend and see what that yields.

For the record, the only reason I haven't just ordered a piston kit is because I have warranty until this time next year. If it needs a rebuild, I would like them to pay....because I paid for the warranty....and because I'm cheap. If the warranty was up, I would be ordering a piston and shim kit (or considering the long rod) with no hesitation. That is not "poor reliability" IMO....that is knowing that the pistons are at the end of their interval and there is no reason to push it till it blows. There are great kits out there for like $500 that not only get you new pistons, but have some logic to lasting longer to boot. No reason to fight it....sledding's expensive.

 

[bigchevrolet]

12' 800 zero issues until 3500 miles, then half The clutch came through the side panel and the other half that didn't made sure it put the stub end out if commission

 

[lemonf7]

2012 Pro RMK 163", 1800ish miles, No engine issues yet, no noticable loss of power. Great machine so far.

 

[Pro-8250]

We had two 2011 800 Pros. Zero engine problems.
We have one 2013 800 Pro. Zero engine problems.
So I guess that's why we have a 2014 800 pro sitting here wanting to get my fat butt on it!!!!

 

[Jimb]

Seriously do we have to have another one of these stupid threads on reliability.

 

[kiliki]

snow west poll:
poo 15% fail rate
cat 5.0 % fail rate
doo 6% fail rate
so the poo fails 150% more than the cat
all you have to do it type in to Google
Polaris fix kit 800
arctic cat fix kit 800
skidoo fix kit 800
just look first page up to the 3 page and it will be clear as a bell.
just ask Indy Dan how much money he makes on his doo and cat long rode kits. along with how many other company's that do motor or crank work are making their bread and butter on the no poo motors.
out of warranty
cat 800 2200 with recoil reeds and valves
doo 800 3500 no recoil reeds or valves
poo 800 3600 no recoil reeds or valves.
just cold hard facts!
now just going out on limb
cat 800 bottom end miles who knows?
doo 800 bottom end 4-5000k
poo 800 2k-3500.

 

[bobback]

Only talking about the Pro. But since I'm new to the Pro maybe I could be enlightened on if these motors are the exact same that were in the dragons.

And if so then my bad have the thread deleted.

 

[IceCap]

One thing to take into consideration, There are a lot more PROs out there then any of the other brands.
So there may be more PRO motor failures then others.

They all could be made better.....

 

[wellfed777]

STAY ON TOPIC FOLKS !
if you don't like the thread hey DON'T POST
if you have some info to offer then great other wise go check out something else GEEEZ

11 pro bought used at 450 miles it now has 1800 miles with blue marble
oil in tank always eth free super
oiler stock
riden hard
usually warmed up good
par 13.6 head
considering pistons this season
zero engine problems so far

the bad i can't ride any other chassis now

 

[Slick]

2011 Pro, just over 3000 miles , put a mtntk fix kit in, sold it to a buddy last year and it's had no issues yet,
2013 pro, put 1000 miles on last year , just sold it, no issues at all ran awesome.
Always put a few ounces of oil in tank, always warmed up before accelerating hard.
Both were awesome sleds, loved riding them.

 

[Pro-8250]

2011 pro rmk owned since new. Only put 1350km / 850 miles on it but started to loose a little snap and the exhaust would burn in your throat.

Sent monoblock and pistons to Curt at Fastrax for some trained eye inspection and fix if needed.

Report back from Curt like this;

I've mapped out your cylinder as received with old and new pistons:

old piston: mag @ .0079 top, .0084 skirt
pto @ .0076 top, .0079 skirt


new pistons: pto and mag @ .0055 top/bottom so you have a good cylinder!

Edit: compression down to 110

This tells me something. Even though my cylinders seem fine, my pistons have collapsed after only 850 miles = not to impressive.

Giving the stock parts another try with the addition of cryo treatment. Then we will see after another season or two how she holds up. Definately wont trust my pistons to last very long.

Although I cannot claim to have been to religious about warm up and such, I have turned my oiler up and I'm always the one hanging behind when we take of due to waiting on my temp gauge. Makes me wonder what the secret is when people go 3000+ miles with no probs.

Good question. I can say that we always let our sleds warm up to 100+ degrees F before each ride. And take it easy on the first 100 miles when new. Especially now with the new Quick Drive. It's worked so far.