Bill ; Please do not take this wrong I know I already ruffled your fur once. I am very familiar with the cvt setup on the polaris machines I have made a lot of clutch mods for guys with 400s to improve performance. The reason a belt fails ussually is due to overheating generally because of poor airflow ( blocked ductwork) or From pulling a heavy load in high range (this is the usual cause) I want go into detail on this it would take to long. Did the dealer that you had doing your service indicate a reason for your belt and clutch failures. I can believe one but I am led to believe that the subsequent failures may have been the result of a mechanics incompetance. The CVT is a simple but sensitive system which has to be assembled correctly in order for it to work properly and last The normal life of a Belt in the higher performance Polarisis is ussually very good here in the flat country have relatives in michigan who have polaris quads and snowmobiles but have never asked them what is normal to them. I know where a 300 4x4 is that has 5100 mile on the original belt. Enough of this small talk what I,m trying to say is I believe that your dealer is likely the cause of all your problems or his mechanics rather they should fix these problems for you It just sounds to suspisious that all this trouble happened after they started working on it. I know it may be hard but maybe it is time to try another dealers service department. I once got a GMC truck fixed like that couldn,t get decent warranty service from one so I went to another and complained about how bad the other ones service was heck they fixed my truck in two days time.(a blown head gasket to) Well I,m starting to ramble let me get off of here. Liked you comments on the muddrunners just put a set on my Magnum really like them.
By the way , what type of riding do you do?
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Kevin Gowdy AKA-Kagey1999 Polaris Magnum 500



[This message has been edited by Kagey (edited 08-19-1999).]

 

Kagey,the dealership probably does have alot to do with some of my problems.I had a bad engine noise and the quad would take off from a dead stop while in gear and go about 4 0r 5 mph across the field,so they told me my clutches were worn for the second time because of a faulty seal.They put on a new decompression lever and new valve stem and it still did'nt take care of my engine noise.So I did take the quad right to another dealer and within two weeks they installed a new cam chain and tensioner and that corrected my engine noise.My problem now is the tie rods are worn again,and the engine is using and blowing oil.I just got it out of the dealership,spent two and a half months in there.I hate to see how long they need it this time for.With all the problems I;ve had,I requested a new 99 Sportsman and the dealership told me to buy a new 2000 and they will sell mine for me.BIG DEAL.Dont get me wrong, I beleive the Sportsman to be a nice 4x4, but I;ve sure had some problems with mine and I do beleive the dealership is the reason for some of my problems.Im just sick and tired of a new quad being in the shop all the time and would like a new one.I did'nt buy a used quad so I would'nt have to put up with all this breaking down stuff.But it seems like im no better of with a new one.LATER AND GOOD DAY----BILL

 

Bill; Don,t know why I did,nt remember this sooner but when you started describing your engine problems they began to sound very familiar. I know this want help you any but at least you,ll know your not alone in your experience. I have a good friend and nieghbor who rides with us a lot bought a new Honda 300 4x4 in 1997 we were riding one sunday and he stopped and waved us back to him and his engine was making a heck of a racket he went home took his quad to his dealer the next dayonly to dicover that his warranty had been out for a little over a month. His problem a bad timing chain so he has a new one installed the next sunday we take off again a little over 5 minutes into the woods and his motor begins to really knock he turn around and heads home. back to the dealer the next day 4 weeks later and $900 lighter and a supposedly rebuilt engine we take off again this "rebuilt" engine smokes like a cold 2stroke and rattles like crazy he takes it back again and they put a new head on it. no help... and remember he,s paying for all this no help from the company. To make a long story short this goes on for a year or so the machine still runs hot every time you ride it and its air cooled. go figure .He finnally gets disgusted and parks the 300 and did something that I could not believe... He went to the very same dealer and bought a 99 400 Foreman . I couldn,t have done it. He still has the 300 looks like a new machine big foot kit moose bumper the works says he,s going to buy a complete engine and put in it and give it to his dad. Talk about brand loyalty this guys got it. I don,t really have a point in telling you this other than maybe to let you know that you,re not alone with your problems.

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Kevin Gowdy AKA-Kagey1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

Kagey,man your friend must be very loyal to that dealership.I'll tell you something,its going to be very hard giving up my Sportsman next yr for another 4x4 quad ,but it's something I must do because of the way Polaris has ignored my problem.I know way to many Sportman riders that are very happy with their quad,thats how I know I got a rare Lemon.I really like all the features and the ride that the Sportsman gives,but I'll be damn if I'll ever buy another Polaris product ever.Next yrs choice will be very difficult for me since nobody comes close in my opionion in offering the plush ride,ground clearance,and all 4 wheels spinning for you instead of three while in AWD.Im temporarly looking at the 500 Artic Cat for next yr. LATER ---BILL

 

Bill I 2 am sorry about your problems but can,t figure out what your problem is withj polaris.sounds to me like ya have a dealer problem.I'm sure u will be much happier with a cat as they probley have better people puttin them together,YEA RIGHT i worked in factory years ago,I'm sure my attitude then isn't any different than the people working there today.How come your not P_OED at dealer or people who put it together,your beating a dead horse time to bury it old timer.I'm sure your not buying another quad is going to make my polaris stock go down,sure hope there is a stock brokers thread so I can get on there and tell them how it was all your fault.Sounds as silly as u do don't it,sounds like u have to much time on your hands.Buy the cat an move on,I'm very happy with my dealer an polaris.Thats one thing about this great country no one makes you do anything u dont want to,sorry but get tired of your bellyachin just cut your looses an move on big guy.

 

CornCob,your arrogant response to my Polaris problems is as inteligent as your User name of Corn Cob.First off,im somewhat dissappointed in my dealership also for not wanting to make things right with me by offering another Sportsman.But you know something,the dealership did not assemble my quad,nor did they make it.My real hassle comes with the manufacturer,Polaris.You see,they are;nt responding to any of my letters,and they also are'nt responding to the dealership either.I just learned today from my dealership that my extended warrenty will not cover my engine using excessive oil or blowing blue smoke so now im really pissed.Im certainly sure that me never buying another Polaris quad will not make your stock go down either,BUT,if my Forum postings will prevent other potential Polaris buyers from purchasing any Polaris product,than i will get some satisfaction out of knowing somebody else wont get burned the way I did from Polaris.I ask you this,if you just spent 8000$$ on a brand new quad and have had as many problems as I have, would you JUST GET OVER IT?So get very used to my gripping about Polaris,CAUSE IT AINT GOING TO STOP.GOOD DAY---- BILL

 

Maybe you should go to some sort of support group or something, Bill. You know they usually start out like " Hi, my name is Bill " then everyone responds " HI BILL !!". Just kiddin man. I know your grief, I bought a 95 Ram truck ($28,500.00) and have had nothing but problems. One thing I have learned is forget about contacting the manufacturer directly. Oh, they'll send you all those customer service forms that go absolutely NOWHERE!! Ultimatley it all comes back to the dealers. At best the manufacturer will put you in contact with a new and hopefully more reputable dealer. I logged many complaints against my dealer and wrote a very long letter to Chrysler and sent a copy to my dealer. My dealer did become more responsive to my problems after the letter, but I have learned that you can't get something fixed by someone that is clueless, they just made more problems. Anyway, I finally found a much more reputable and established dealer that has been extremly helpful in correcting any problems. Hopefully you'll have the same kind of luck.
Later.

Mike(97 explorer 500, 98 sportsman 500)

 

MIK,Hello my name is Bill[just joking] and I have a Lemon for a quad [NO JOKING].Your right about changing dealers,you see I brought the quad to my main dealer for the engine noise and they did'nt fix the noise after having it for a few months.So I took it to another dealership and they repaired the problem in 2 wks time.Im sorry to hear about the Dodge and I know the pain you put up with .Better luck in the future--BILL

 

I somewhat agree with corncobb or corn hull or whatever his name is. We all sympathize with your problem, but its time to give it a rest. I think what you have is a dealer problem. Your dealer should have corrected the problem. The manufacturer really is not responsible. How do you know the dealer set the quad up correctly? How do you know the dealer fixed it correctly when it began to malfunction. I really am sorry for your problem, but if you insist on bashing polaris at least go to the Honda or Yamaha forum and do it. At least there you will not be the only polaris hater. Believe it or not there are people who will tear up their quad, and then call the manufacturer wanting another. I can see why polaris wants you to go through the dealer. There are more than a few polaris owners out there (between pwc, snowmobiles, atv's, and victories). If they replaced a machine every time someone CLAIMED they had a problem they would go out of business. Once the quad leaves the assembly line, polaris doesn't know what happens to it. This is where dealer responsibility comes in. I just wanted to say cut your losses, buy a honda and join the other red riders. Personally I love my scrambler 500, and I wouldn't trade it for any other quad. I think polaris makes great products (I own a Polaris pwc also) and when I buy another quad or watercraft I will buy polaris. BUT I probably have one of the best polaris dealers around. If my dealer sold only Honda or Yamaha I would probably own one of them. When you buy another quad, find a good trustworthy dealer. For now, PLEASE let it rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough is Enough. Let a dead dog lie. No more whining!!! I can't take any more.


Jeremy 99 POLARIS Scrambler 500 HO

 

Bill:

I think it may have already been suggested earlier but: Have you contacted an attorney?
I mean if you have had no luck with the dealer and especially the manufacturer you should at least have an attorney write a few letter for you. It may be worth the few hundred bucks. You seem to have all of your documentation (which makes it easier to prove your case). Do you know that Polaris received your letters?...Did you send it certified?....I am looking at Polaris to purchase my first ATV. Well sorry for the rambling, I hope you get some kind of resolution.

Dave