Aright I bought a 2003 Polaris predator last year and this thing was in really good shape and ran great. Well I stored it all winter and took it out for its first trail ride last weekend. I was shocked how good it handled and how good it was on the trails and then at the end of the first day riding the engine blew up. I took it all apart and found that there were chucks of metal on top of the piston smacking the head and top of the piston. I have no ideal were there chucks came from. Also the wrist pin was way too tight causing damage on the bottom of the piston and all of the valves were sticking. I am almost positive there has never been previous engine work on the quad. As far as everything else it looks brand new and even still has a crosshatch in the bore. After I loaded it up on the trailer I noticed the lower right a arm is all bent up and I did not buy it like that and I am sure I did not hit anything riding. I just went over lots of bumps. What would cause all these problems and are these quads unreliable and money pits or something because I don't want to be rebuilding this thing wile my friends laugh at me for buying this Polaris. Has any buddy had any reliability problems with these quads?

 

They had there first year blues like most first year quads I know if it was built early in the year or in 02 they had more problems. I am guessing you bought it used. The is a site for preds that can help you alot. Predatorowners . I have an 03 an has been no problems for me. As for the front a-arm I would have the belive it was bent already if you didn't hit anything.

 

I have been to predator owners.com and it looks like a good place. As for how do I tell when in 2003 or 2002 the quad was built? I was also thinking the A arm was bent and some one bent it back and sold it to me.

 

You can check the build date on the quad there should be a sticker on the frame around the front end with a date on it. There are alot of guys on there with good advice who have done alot with there preds an have also had the problems with them too. I have had a good Pred an have not had the problem they have.