[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img] My Polaris dealer told me to use low range anytime I'm going below 20. This conflicts with the manal. Does anyone know anything about this? They said if I didn't the engine would get too hot, and I would ruin the drive belt.

 

It's more like 7-10 mph or below is low range. Above that you can use high range. The new XPs will allow low range up to 39mph.

 

Have you tried going 20mph in low range yet? As soon as you do, you'll know your dealer is mistaken. I have an '07 700efi, and if I'm not mistaken, I believe the manual suggests below 10mph..or maybe 7..not sure. Anyway, that recomendation in the manual is just a "loose & gooey" recomendation, and will not always hold true. For instance, if you are just slowly cruising down a hard packed dirt road at 9 mph, with very little throttle, thats fine...no need for low range. On the other hand, if you are dragging a broken down Honda Foreman back up the side of a gravel pit wall at 12 mph, you should be in Low. It is really LOAD related, and not SPEED related. You will get a feel for it as you get to know the machine alittle better. Just try to keep in tune with what the drive belt is doing.....If you feel like you are appling a good amount of throttle, and still not really moving, your belt is slipping, so shift to low. If you feel like the engine is overreving and not working much, shift to high. You'll get the hang of it. Hope this helped.

 

It all comes down to common sense if you are in a low speed high torque situation use low range. If you are just crusing at a moderate clip you will want to use high range.

 

I recently had to pull a waterlogged magnum back to the barn 2 miles, i pulled him in low all the way it felt like he was riding the brake, i then relized that i wasnt pulling enuff load to use low range and shifted to high and it still pulled okay, I always use low goingthru water and below 10 mph.

 

I agree with all the responses above but if I could just add that it would also depend on if you have a stock or modified clutch also...

John

 

On my old Magnum if I am pulling anything heavy or operating under 10 or so it is in Low Range. The only time it sees High Range is when I'm running on the gravel roads or going to town or if I'm going across the pasture in a hurry for some reason.

If I had to figure percentages I'd say 90% of the time mine is in Low Range.

 

It's not the engine that overheats, it's the belt and clutches. If it's in high and you're going really slow the clutch barely engages. Any slippage instantly creates heat. Too much heat can toast the belt and make it break, and melt the belt housing. I use low when I plow, pull a drag, or anything else that's hard work, but when I'm on the trails I'm in high most of the time. If I see a nice "4x4" mud hole to play in I switch to low because I know I'll be working it hard but not going real fast. When I get back on the easy section where I can cruise I put it back in high. If I have to mow down some trees or go over logs I put it back in low. Anytime you need 4x4 it's a good idea to use low unless you go over 10mph.

 

From my trusted Polaris Engineer: Take 5 mph for instance, in low range engine about 3000 rpm,clutch engages good about 1500 rpms(good bite) Same 5 mph in Hi engine about 18-1900 rpm,clutch at 1500 rpm(excessive use like this in hi can start belt glazing,plus clutches run about 160 degrees HOTTER. HE'S SUPPOSED to be smarter than dumb techs like me(BUT have found some dumber than a box of rocks),Plus he actually makes good sense! Manual states 7 mph and under and under loads use low. But if people actually do this I loose a lot of belt jobs!

 

^^^^^^^ What they said, I tend to use Low when plowing, riding one handed - drinking a "Coke" on the way to the deer blind, when dropping into a deep muddy hole, and when pulling. I feel that if you can ride in low without making it whine - do so.