Hi, I am new to Polaris and have a 2006 700 EFI. My dealer is telling me I should use low gear until I get to 25 mph or over, the owners manual says any speed under 15 mph low gear should be used. 25 mph seems pretty high to me the machine is turning up pretty good at that speed. Seems like fuel mileage would suffer if you use low gear at 25 mph. I understand that the belt will wear better if you use low gear for lower speeds but does 25 mph sound right?

 

High range should be considered your primary gear unless you are riding about 10 mph or slower for extended periods of time. Being occasionally slower than 10 in high range doesn't hurt anything. Basically you don't want to be in High range while in a low speed/ high torque situation, which could cause excessive heat, belt slippage, premature wear of the belt and clutch components, etc.

As usual, most dealers don't know what they're talking about.

 

25 you are going to be pushing the rev limiter. Pulling, plowing very slow technical stuff, riding around the yard low. Rest of the time mine is in high.

 

If you are in high range and giving it gas and not moving you need to put it in low quick, or you'll burn the belt.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Basically you don't want to be in High range while in a low speed/ high torque situation</end quote></div>

Exactly.

I ride in high at slow speeds all day long on mellow trails.

 

It sounds like your dealer wants to do a lot of service work for you. There is a website called expertvillage.com and on it there is a polaris mechanic who has lots of good advice. he says to use low at 10 mph or lower.

 

I use low if I'm pulling/towing or riding on steep, tough terrain. Otherwise, it's high, baby.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Now thats funny! He wants you to over rev your motor, burn extra fuel, all so you will save your belt. I wonder how much money you would spend on extra gas alone to save your $40 belt. What were you reving at 25mph in low? If you watch your tach, I beleive full clutch engagement occurs just above 1500 rpm's so reving much higher than that unless you are under load seems like a waste.

 

Thanks to all that replied. I felt the dealer was wrong on this one. I think the thing hits the rev limiter at 30 mph or so in low thats why I could not believe it should be run in low gear until 25 mph. Thanks again for your help on this one. I have had Yamaha's in the past and I love the Polaris so far. My wife has a Hawkeye that she really likes too.