ATVING....
The build date on ANY piece of machinery is always going to be several months to YEARS before you actually see it/own it.. This isn't a bakery.. you can't have it fresh that morning...
Engine blocks for automobiles used to be cast two to three years before they were actually finish machined and put into service in new cars... Same with tail light lenses, transmission cases..etc.. You would REALLY want a PVT cover made from aluminum?... What about rattling? Fatigue cracking around the bolt holes? And aluminium would REALLY give off some heat too...!! Enough to actually burn you!!..
I am NOT trying to shoot you down or make excuses for Polaris... They NEED people to question some of the things they do. It helps to make a GOOD machine.. Whoever thought those outer tie rod ends on the 99 and older models would hold up without a grease fitting was an IDIOT!!!.... Im not so sure about the new ones they have either.. I STILL like to grease everything up on occasion..
What I would like to see is a removable mud screen for the radiator, more cc's on the Sportsman and Magnum, and shift on the fly LOW/HI range.. I REALLY wish Polaris would experiment with some sort of synchronized 5 or 6 speed mated to a 600cc+ 4x4...

 

ATVING,

If your dealer told you that plastic dissipates heat better than aluminum I would seriously consider finding another dealer! There is nothing farther from the truth. I spend my days working on computer designs for US Military tanks. They are all self cooling, without fans. Aluminum is the first choice of building materials. Plastic is nowhere to be found.

As for the clutch cover, I would disagree that it has been an on-going problem. The group I ride with has never had any problems. If you don't stand on it and you make sure it is sealed correctly when you re-install it, it has never been a problem. Don't get me wrong, the new cover is a welcome upgrade. It is built of a tougher material and reshaped. Will it seal better than the old one? It has no track record yet, time will tell.

Have to agree with Quad-man. Manufacturers of all sorts upgrade throughout a model year. Cars, cameras, quads, anything. No, no harm in trying but I wouldn't hold my breath. I imagine the reshaped cover would also require new snorkel hookups etc to adapt it to an existing quad.

I was at another dealer on Friday and noticed the new cover on another model (not a Sportsman) so I guess it will be standard across the line. This cover was also grey in colour. The first one I saw was on an RSE.

Let us know how Polaris responds.

DJ

 

I would just like to add my 2 cents for what it's worth. Right now Polaris puts out the most bang/options for the money in the quad market. Most Polarises have an edge on anything in a compairable price range.

The way I see it is Polaris has came out with a lot innovations for quads. The seem to be putting more new-build money into their line up than all the other makers. I'll be the first to admit my quad has been "made from the same mold" since '87. Think of the profit Yamaha has made on the Warrior over the years and they have invested nothing in making improvements!!

So, don't get mad before you look at where Polaris is putting that money you think should be used to solve all your problems. As I've said before, "Polaris needs to perfect all their innovations before they spend money on new ones" and an addition of a true sport quad should be the next new innovation for them.

Then, I think everyone would be happy and Polaris would get more repeat business.

 

Here is the answer I got from Polaris and a return email I sent them:

Thank you for your e-mail to Polaris Industries Inc.
First to address the production date issue; we are continuously building our
machines and continually making minor or sometimes major changes. As stated
in all of our publications, advertisements and warranty information we
reserve the right to change the product at any time. As far as the updated
PVT cover goes, if you experience a failure with your existing cover please
have your dealer contact our warranty department of warranty coverage. At
that time you would receive the updated cover. Please remember that if the
machine is being operated as it was intended you will not have any problems
with the cover. The low range should be used if operating below 7 mph or if
towing anything. The speedometer head can typically be cured by using a
hairdryer to evaporate any moisture present.
I am glad you and the other readers have been enjoying your machines.
Thank you.

This is my return email:

I do agree with you about the updating of machines that is really no big
problem and I appreciate the responce about if the clutch cover fails it
will be replaced with the better product. I have a fantastic dealer who has
been very helpful and kind where I bought my Polaris here in southern WV. As
I said this will be posted on the public internet forum where it will be
read by thousands of Polaris customers and to be customers. But I really do
believe you guys could come up with a better answer than using a hair dryer
to dry out the moisture in the speedometer, On a serious note then if this
is your reply you should be telling your dealers to tell there to be
customers that moistures develops in the speedometer even if the bike isn't
in the rain. I think this is an ongoing problem that is occuring in most of
the bikes that have been sold and to be sold...come on guys get your staff
working on this one to give us a better product that moisture won't form in
the speedometer...I mean really think about it, you can go to wal-mart and
buy a $10 speedometer for a bicycle that won't fog up with moisture. Which I
do realize it doesn't contain the important working parts that a speedometer
on the sportsman and various bikes contain this is not a very good
comparison but this also brings me to a more important reason to keep from
moisture building up in the speedometer because of all the important working
things associated with the speedometer, but I do think the buyers of Polaris
deserve a better product than this, that doesn't moist up....thank you for
your friendly and truthful reply and I will continue to enjoy Polaris
product as long as you guys keep us on the cutting edge of technology. If
you are interested in reading this post concerning Polaris you can find it
at this web site: http://forums.atvconnection.com/thre...FB=1&Tid=60708
If you would like for me to start a post on this forum for the minds of
Polaris to read that would concern what the owners and future owners would
like to see put into and done with the Polaris ATV. If you are interested in
seeing a post like this please let me know I would be happy to start one.
Thank you very much...Bill Evans

So whats your comment on this guys, maybe Polaris realizes that someone is seeing these replys...

 

Bill polaris does read these posts Quate "Real time warranty issues"

 

What makes sense to me is that polaris and the other manufacturing companys, seem to be making new atv's as fast as they can and so quality control might not be what it should be. If they find defective parts on new atv's where the part was really defectively built or not built as good as it should have, and then they do recreate a new part to replace the old one. They could then have better communications with all the authorized polaris dealers/repair shops. then when any of us drop in to any one of them due to a mechanical problem, and the problem happened to be one of these situations. Polaris should replace the part at no charge. After all, we bought the machine believing that it was well built, fully tested, and not sold with defective parts. Even if our warranty is expired. After all, we pay quite a bit
of money on these machines and on parts in general. I would consider this, STANDING BEHIND THEIR POLARIS NAME. I think it is clear that recalls are only done when the problem is very major and could or would damage the machine beyond
a simple break down.

rangerchet, polaris expedition 425 cc 5 speed, The
aka machine, not the akb machine....

 

My friend just bought a 2000 Kodiak 400 and his warranty is only 6 month long.It must be different in Canada?

 

IMO
Firstly: I think that the market growth in ATV's is so large, and manufacturer's know, that if you don't like the bike, get out of the road cause someone else will buy it.
Secondly: I do not want Polaris wasting profits on fixing damp speedometers, sending free upgrades to bike owner's etc... This will only increase the cost of all future bikes. I want them to concentrate on warranty items that deal with how the bike is working. These require fast and effective repair. Warranty is great but it comes at the expense of us all. Ray

 

Believe me we(honda riders) know Polaris is not perfect, which is exactly why we are Honda riders.

 

Grease fitting! What in the hell is a grease fitting?