Hi, I just purchased a new 09 500 EFI Touring in blue. Obviously, I'm pretty excited about this purchase and can't wait for it to arrive from Florida.

I'd like a little bit of history on the 500 EFI engine. How long has it been around? How different is it from the 2010 550?
Where is a good place to obtain an extensive service manual?
What's a good source for keeping up on Polaris products? Too many search result in generalizations and reviews that appear to have been written by the manufacturers.
It appears that Polaris changes models pretty often. Is this true?
I'll begin by starting to read the Polaris threads, on this site, because I really dig this stuff!
thanks

 

Congrats on the new ride! Hope you get miles of smiles with it!! Sorry though, can't help you with any of your questions but I'm sure someone will chime in.

 

Welcome.....As for the service manual....I myself bought the Polaris Factory Service manual from the dealer. This is the one the Polaris Tec. use and is full detail for your make/model.
The other will work for you make/model but they cover many more in the same area so the detail of repair is lost ........IMO............Caper.........

 

The 500 Polaris motor is built in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries known for being the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles.

The motor has been around since 1996. We have a 97 500 with 7500 miles on it and my 2001 has 3000 miles, they seem very reliable as long as you only use 0w-40 FULL synthetic oil in them. Many had premature cam wear from people using 10w-30 in them.

Not sure but I think the 550 motor is Polaris's own motor.

 

550 &500 are totally different engines but both are reliable. The 500 is legendary for reliability.

 

Yeah, the 550 is a totally different beast, but the 500 will give you thousands of trouble free miles. Congrats on the new ride. IMO, polaris makes the best stuff out right now.

 

Dittos on the above comments. I got a RepairPro manual on CD off of eBay. It's decent but if you are really going to get into it I'd probably go with the Polaris item. I now have 1700 trouble free miles on my 06 500 EFI. And our terrain is abusive up here in New England. Polaris seems to change things every few years. I believe they're number one in quad sales now. They seem to want to stay on top or near the top.

 

the 550 is also a fuji engine, the 850 is polaris' own

 

Thats what someone told me , the single cylyinders are contracted out but Polaris makes there own twins.