Maybe it's us who should have learned by now...
It took all the problems i'm having w/ my Pred for me to realize that their quality control is terrible, and worse, they won't do anything about it! That's why i'm seriously considerring switching brands... maybe that time is coming for more folks than just me. Don't get me wrong, i'm all about buying american. Hell, i don't even care if they put another $500 on every model to pay for actual quality control, i'd still buy! but when the sun goes down, the spotlight in my yard will still shine on the flag, and that's what matters. Everything else i've ever owned was good old USA craftsmanship, it's just sad that Polaris is the only big american manufacturer and that the USA really isn't represented fairly in this market...

 

I don't think you read my whole post. The issue isn't the resistor fix. I had that fixed on my quad about the first half hour of operation. The problem is side panel being too close to the heat shield. The heat shield is touching the panel and wearing through the heat tape causing it to melt.

 

OK. I see now what you are saying. I thought the whole issue with the plastic melting is because the engine wasn't being cooled effectively creating excessive heat that would normally not be acheived.
Also check your coolent fluids, make sure they are normal. just a thought. My fan runs alot and feels hot on my right side, I usually check to see that resiovor and it will be below normal.

I looked on the models on the floor here and I see about a good 1"1/2 space between the plastic ( the non removalable rear plastic). the removable panel is no where near the exhaust on this 06' 500efi.

Looks to me that Polaris should have extended that plastic cab mount another 1-2"s.

 

I take it you work at a dealership. Just so were on the same page if you go look at the 500efi's on the floor go look on the right side of the wheeler just on the inside of the all wheel drive sticker and your saying that their is about 1 to 2 inches clearance between the heat shield and the plastic? On mine the heat shield is touching the plastic. Could you let me know. Thanks

 

I posted the post about the holes burning through the plastic the other day. The heat shield on my bike is actually touching the heat shield like you say, but on my wifes bike the tape wasn't even on the plastic and it melted a large hole through it. There is only about a 1/4 inch clearance between the exhaust pipe and the plastic, it shouldn't have been hard to redesign the exhaust or the plastic to eliminate this problem. also I called my dealer after getting the reply about the hot lamp operation and they looked it up finally and are ordering the resistor pack for my wifes as it was one of the serial numbers on the list. thanks for all the info on that. I do hope that Polaris will do a recall on the plastic though as I can see it happening time and again.

 

sdbowhunter,
I doubled checked that same atv this morning with a tape measure and it is more like less than an inch but just barely less. I checked the 800s I have and some or just over an inch and some are just under an inch. The hole for the mount is not in the same spot on each one either, so that could be the answer.

I think I have said before ( and I am not doubting anybody) We have never seen a 800 or700 come in with the melting plastic issues,,, YET. I still Wonder if the coolent levels have anything to do with this issue???? I have to go will talk later.

 

well i checked some on the floor here i can NOT put my fingers inbetween the shield and the plastic on 06 or 05 carb or efi models some seem tighter than others the only ones i have seen with the plastic melting is 05 500ho camo models seen 2 so far with small melted spots by the awd sticker

 

I went and look at other models other than the 500efi and 700-800efi, i.e. 400s, 450s, carbed 500 05' and wow!!! the heat sheilds are touching the heat protective stuff so much so that it is pushing the shiny stuff into the plastic. and this is on alot of the atvs and these are atvs that no has been having issues with. right???...This leads me to beleive that this is more than just a exhaust heat shield issue,,,,granted the exhaust is the secoundary cause, but if some of you have had the hareness fix and are still seeing this melting plastic issue than something else is causing excess heat and the exhaust is not adiquent to vent it.

Like I said, we have not been having any overheating issues, so I can not really speculate until we have seen the issue first hand. I have got to think that my Techs are doing something either that they are supposed to be doing or going the extra miles and making sure everything really works before I see them here on the show room. I mean these guys are hard core riders themselves and care alot about their product. I do not want to sound like I am bragging,,,but I am![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

anyways good luck guys. I will keep my eyes and ears open and see what develops and will ask my reps when they stop by.

 

i've had a lot of problems with my sp400 also, as for the quality control issue.

 

Yep....this is the issue.....PLASTIC TO CLOSE TO THE HEADER and HEADER TOO CLOSE TO THE FRAME and the SEAT SITTING ON THE HOT FRAME this definitley causes MELTING

Better get JET HOT and raise the seat off the frame....this can be done by placing rubber spacers where the frame touches the NOBBS under the seat (EACH SIDE)....You will also need to put about 3 small washers under the gastank bolts so the seat will lock in place I lined my frame with header wrap even under the two plastic snaps this also helps the frame stay a little cooler ...added more head shield that I ordered from jeggs.... This is just a few things i did after mine melted down this past summer......GOOD LUCK esp the SP 800 owners