Thermostat fail - anyone else?

[lshobie]

Hey everyone, I'm installing RKTek pistons and low compression head inmy 16 AXYS with sidekick - when I pulled the thermostat out it was in pieces - like the skidoo thermostatswhen they would fail and end up in the water pump.

Anyone else have this issue? Hoping it wont end up in the waterpump..... don't feel like ripping the whole thing apart to look for a tiny circlip. The only part missing is the circlip that retains the washer and spring - those I have.

 

[Northshore705]

Yep exact same. Mine was stuck closed.

 

[L. Perry]

Mine stuck shut last winter in cooke. Took it out on the mountain and ran under 100 degrees all day, Did some tuning on my turbo and forgot about it. Just let it warm up longer, and don't worry about it.

 

[Northshore705]

Did you notice a difference in your coolant vat all after it happened?

 

[L. Perry]

No is the short answer.
It blew the hose off, broke the clamp. I ride with a Polaris mechanic, he went back to town for clamp and coolant while I torn it down. Rode hard for rest of the day and the next, Other than needing to take away some fuel on the bottom saw no downside to not having it. He said on the race sleds they just gut the thermostat and adjust fuel.
Never saw it over 105 degrees running it hard. Took everything out but the dome part and the o ring.

 

[L. Perry]

This is also on a 17. Don't think there is any difference

 

[Northshore705]

Ok. Mine didn't blow the hose off.. just have black scum in the bottom of my coolant bottle..gonna flush it out tmrrw.

 

[L. Perry]

Was watching the temp. Like you do all day on a polaris. Never got over 145.
But knew something wasn't right, just after that puked coolant all over side of the mountain. Have heard this isn't an uncommon problem.

 

[Northshore705]

Flushed coolant out today. Wow can't believe this thing ducked bck 5 litres of coolant. Purged air out of system and went for a ride. Everything looks as it should be for now. Not sure where the black rubber chunk's were from. Hopefully not my water pump..