94 harley is right on! Didn't actually read all your original post about the *'s on the left side!!
W97CC28C is the model number and year(97) for the Explore 300 4x4 and the vin # was only 7 digits proceeded by an * and ended with an * Later models went to the number code such as 4XACH50A..... with the 10 digit being the year model,the 50 representing "500"cc,etc.THANX 94harley for jogging my old memory! 94 or 96 models (I believe) were the last to have the number on the right side down tube (model number on one side of the down tube,vin# etched on the other side with an * before and after the vin #. OPT

 

It's ok. Been doing this type of work a long time at a dealership and now on my own. I could get you a screenshot of it being ran through polaris' webpage if you would like. It does show a little personal info on the original buyer but nothing serious. Phone number, address, etc is about all. PM me the vin IF you want to, and feel safe enough, and an email and I will send you a pic. It might help with you verifying that that is the actual vin number. It's up to you.

 

WoW! Thanks so much guys!!! My brother had searched and searched as well. Rolled that poor quad on to both sides trying to find a 17 digit/ letter number.
Haven't belonged to this forum very long and it's 1 for 1 with any problems so far! Your rock'in!

Tom

 

i do apologize for the misinformation i gave. i learned something here on this thread about polaris. i did not know they done that to the VINs. i'll store that lesson in the memory banks. my sincere apologies.

 

Ain't no one perfect on the forum,don't think we ever will find anyone that is! OPT

 

Just a little update FYI, I sent Polaris Inc. an inquiry and a brief explanation of my problem and they responded within 24hrs with a quick note stating that indeed the 7 digit number I located refers to the VIN for a 97 Xplorer 300.

Kinda funny, received a Haynes workshop manual today and on one of the very first sections about ID numbers there is a picture and a pretty good explanation of where all the serial numbers are located on various machines and the fact that Polaris didn't go to a 14 digit number until 97 and later models.
Also have a Clymer manual but it only goes up to 95 and does not make a manual that includes the 97 model.

Thanks again for all your help!
Cheers and happy trails!
Tom