I agree with HO, there may be many new noises. Most don't worry too much about. don't hurt to ask on the net though.

As for the mileage and spinning.......throttle control my friend......Too many just think "pin it" and they get nowhere. Experiment a little rather than just gunning it on everything. Not saying that is what you do, but just mentioning.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: rancher55

You should be getting your new brushguards soon though! Right?

I'm waiting to hear (and see) how they fit!!</end quote></div>


They'll be here Wed and on in time for next weekend.

 

I didn't have the sounds until I did a full throttle launch, which I don't need to do very often (Roofer- lol) since these tires bite in anything, maybe too much, to clear a vertical face on a hill. Downhill sounds more like brake chatter ,w/o brakes applied. Pretty sure I damaged something and were thinking same as you HO, when it breaks I'll get it fixed under warranty. Just don't want to get stranded and not be able to get machine out.


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: HIGHOCTANE

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mag150



Front end started to rachet pulling up hills, not sure if I've got a problem or snow is causing wheel hop? Also getting clunking sound in front end desending. </end quote></div>







Not saying you are this way, but I realized I was being too paranoid with it being a first year machine I would stress over every little noise that might be a problem...and the XP is one of the quietest, smoothest machines out there,but I could still find a odd noise now and then. I decided now,especially since I have the 2 year warranty,I am going to just ride it until something really breaks,I don't sweat a little pop here and there,it's under warranty. I do my maintenance and inspect the machine,but when I get on it I am not cutting it any slack...



With that said your clunking when descending,does it do it once as you start to descend or does it do it all the way down the hill, is it rythmic or random?

Is it a clunk or a pop..mine will start doing a metallic pop right as you start down the hill..when it does that I know it is time to lube the suspension..</end quote></div>

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Roofer

I agree with HO, there may be many new noises. Most don't worry too much about. don't hurt to ask on the net though.



As for the mileage and spinning.......throttle control my friend......Too many just think "pin it" and they get nowhere. Experiment a little rather than just gunning it on everything. Not saying that is what you do, but just mentioning.</end quote></div>

Exactly..fuel comsuption depends alot on where you are riding,but it also depends how you ride. That is why I prefer to look at hours of ride time per gallon.
If you ride with max range in mind you can make a big difference,use just enough throttle to get the job done. I ride alot of slow trails,average speed less than 5mph,I'll have to double check my notes but IIRC I averaged about 1.3 hours per gallon when it was new,but that wasn't dealing with snow nor was I trying to save fuel. Compared with the same riding on my 800 the 850 is noticably more efficent.
One thing I have noticed about the XPs clutching,especially with 27s is that in high range it revvs pretty high at 10-12 mph,high for that speed anyway. This seems to be it's most inefficient speed to ride on the XP in high range,it wants to cruise a little faster where the RPMs calm down a little. It act the same in low,only at a slower speed. Cruising along in low at 6-8 you would never dream it would run 39 in low,but as you accelerate normally(ie not WOT) the speed increases at a much higher rate than the RPMs. I know all the Polaris' do this but on the XP it is more noticable to me. Also once cruising at higher speeds,30+ in high the seem to come down more than they did on my 800.

 

mag150,

I had my 500 out today... tearing up the side hill behind my house in about 6" of frozen snow. When AWD kicked in, it felt something like you would call "racheting" as it was digging up the hill. It actually felt good knowing that the AWD was doing it's job.

Anyhow, if it was me, I would go through the normal break in process and not hit it hard too much. Don't baby it, but don't overdo it either. Give everything a chance to seat properly. I know it's not easy with all that power at your thumb tip. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

When I had my 850 out in the deep snow and AWD was operating to push and pull me up a steep snow covered trail it also did what I think you are calling ratcheting as it was digging to get traction. It is a very powerful machine and with good tires like the Mudlites it's going to bounce while digging through the snow and trying to grab traction on the dirt below. It took three tries but I was impressed that it dug it's way out of there.
Take good care,
Dave

 

I noticed that noise in the snow hitting ruts in 2wd even with the stock tires. I forget the name, but there is something in the XP just like the AC950. It stops the power to the wheels when it gets a spike in torque to the drivetrain. This happens when you getting traction 'all of a sudden'. Example is jumping and keeping on the gas. When you hit and still at heavy throttle it will limit somehow to prevent breakage of knuckles, axles,etc..... Forgive me for being so vague, but I do remember reading this and I can't find where it was. It was mentioned early on before the XP's were even available.

 

Thanks, sounds like all is normal. "If it ain't broke don't fix it" or worry about it is my new MO.



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Roofer

I noticed that noise in the snow hitting ruts in 2wd even with the stock tires. I forget the name, but there is something in the XP just like the AC950. It stops the power to the wheels when it gets a spike in torque to the drivetrain. This happens when you getting traction 'all of a sudden'. Example is jumping and keeping on the gas. When you hit and still at heavy throttle it will limit somehow to prevent breakage of knuckles, axles,etc..... Forgive me for being so vague, but I do remember reading this and I can't find where it was. It was mentioned early on before the XP's were even available.</end quote></div>

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 600Grizzly

When I had my 850 out in the deep snow and AWD was operating to push and pull me up a steep snow covered trail it also did what I think you are calling ratcheting as it was digging to get traction. It is a very powerful machine and with good tires like the Mudlites it's going to bounce while digging through the snow and trying to grab traction on the dirt below. It took three tries but I was impressed that it dug it's way out of there.

Take good care,

Dave</end quote></div>

Yep, if I could feel it "digging" with my 500, with all the torque of the 850, it must me much more noticeable.

To be honest, all the torque and power of the 850 concerns me a bit in these situations. Sure hope Polaris beefed stuff up for the increased "nasty" in the 850.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mag150

I didn't have the sounds until I did a full throttle launch, which I don't need to do very often (Roofer- lol) since these tires bite in anything, maybe too much, to clear a vertical face on a hill. Downhill sounds more like brake chatter ,w/o brakes applied. Pretty sure I damaged something and were thinking same as you HO, when it breaks I'll get it fixed under warranty. Just don't want to get stranded and not be able to get machine out.




</end quote></div></end quote></div>

Does the downhill noise stop when hit the apply the brakes? I forgot to mention until you said brakes..the brake pads move around in the caliper somewaht loosely and will jump around an click,especially when new. They can raise quite a commotion. If you lightly apply the brakes and it stops then that is most likely what you hearing.

Roofer-Yes it has a torque limiter...haven't researched how this one works,but I do know it has one,it is listed on the parts breakdown..
that could very well explain the noise, I have heard other reports of a ratcheting noise when nailing it in deep water,in those cases the machine exhibits no other symptoms and does fine on dry land,even riding wheelies out of the water no problem,in the water doing wheelies the load is much higher it makes the noise...
They say it sounds like it is coming from the front,even in 2wd.