1999 ZL 500 EFI pushing 12,000 miles

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arcticman

Member
For several years now I have been trying to reach this milestone on my sled. I was home over the holidays and I did get to ride. my last day a home I left Benton Harbor (Spinks Corner) and rode to Lawton and the Kal-Haven and down the Van Burren back to my house and sadly I came up 16 miles short of my goal. I bought this sled used off of this web-site and it has been by far the best sled I have ever owned. I can't remember the guys name or user name I hope he remembers mine and will response to this post. I know he had some work done before I bought it. But other than a little trouble with the throttle bushing this sled has never let me down.

I am hoping that when I get to take my long weekend in February we will have enough snow so can finish putting the rest of the miles on. I am thinking of getting a newer sled and I am considering a 2006-09 700 EFI Crossfire, but with job assignments being constantly in the south during the winter months having a hard time talking the boss into something else to sit in the Pole barn. Told her I would have a reliable back up for when the boys come up to ride.
 
A

arcticman

Member
NO absolutely no issues, other than the throttle bushing which is starting to go again. I had to unhook the throttle safety to finish my ride the other day.
 
N

nomus5

Member
Jim,

Did you meet and buy the sled in Madison, WI in fall of '05? If so, it's my old sled, and it was a good one. I thought I read that you were racing somebody with it and you ran into each other? I've got an '05 Firecat that I bought leftover when I sold that sled that now has 15,500 miles on it without touching the motor and runs better than when new. Hope the sled continues to treat you well.
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
nomus5 said:
Jim,

'05 Firecat that I bought leftover when I sold that sled that now has 15,500 miles on it without touching the motor and runs better than when new. Hope the sled continues to treat you well.
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u guys know whitedust and the rest of the 4st cheerleaders know u are all lying every one knows 2st are done at 3k lol
 
Z

zozo2

New member
ezra said:
u guys know whitedust and the rest of the 4st cheerleaders know u are all lying every one knows 2st are done at 3k lol
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Oops! 2s and 4s are done at 3K??? I think someone forgot to tell my Polaris fleet about that. Not beating any drums here, but my line-up of Polaris snowmobiles and their actual accumulated mileages look like this:
1984 Polaris SS – 10,533 miles, sold in 2005.
1987 Polaris Trail – 10,676 miles, sold in 2007.
1991 Polaris Lite – 6,095 miles, still being used.
1994 Polaris 440 – 11,739 miles, still being used.
1994 Polaris Classic – 18,426 miles, still being used.
2002 Polaris Frontier – 16,871 miles, still being used.
2006 Polaris FS Classic – 4,652 miles, traded in 2009.
2008 Polaris FST – 4,759 miles, traded in 2008.
2009 Polaris FST – 16,719 miles, traded in 2013.
2010 Polaris FST – 6,371 miles, traded in 2013.
2014 Polaris LXT FST – 1,067 miles so far this winter.
2014 Polaris 550 Indy – 796 miles so far this winter.
All of these mileages are documented on daily log sheets, and not estimated.
The sleds that are still being used are all registered and ready to go. I am not saying that this would be my recommendation for a sled to purchase, only stating what I have had good luck with. Did have an engine problem on the Frontier, which no one could fix, so I swapped that engine out and put in an older 2s fan cooled engine that I had. Wow, that was a real downgrade, but still provides my family with another option on which sled to ride.
 
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A

arcticman

Member
nomus5 said:
Jim,

Did you meet and buy the sled in Madison, WI in fall of '05? If so, it's my old sled, and it was a good one. I thought I read that you were racing somebody with it and you ran into each other? I've got an '05 Firecat that I bought leftover when I sold that sled that now has 15,500 miles on it without touching the motor and runs better than when new. Hope the sled continues to treat you well.
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Yes I did and I have really enjoy riding it. Just curious what was it that you had done to it? I have been asked if the engine has been rebuilt. thanks for responding.
 
S

skidoolouie

Member
i live near sisters lakes. what route you take when leaving kal-haven trail to get to Van Burren bike path? ride the side of blue star hwy. thats what we done twice. gotta stop by curve inn bar for chicken.
 
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momoney2123

New member
ezra said:
u guys know whitedust and the rest of the 4st cheerleaders know u are all lying every one knows 2st are done at 3k lol
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haha. yeah no way those 2 strokes last that long. they all go BOOM at 3k miles. lol.

All makes 2 strokes if properly taken care of and maintained can go for a long long time, yes there are some outliers, and the internet def makes everyone well aware when one breaks down. the only sled I kept long enough is still running strong at 10K+ miles, on second set of pistons and thats the only thing touched. And its a 2003 Doo(the junk rings year).
 
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meathead

New member
ezra said:
u guys know whitedust and the rest of the 4st cheerleaders know u are all lying every one knows 2st are done at 3k lol
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EZRA:Know just what you mean!!!! But my `05 ARTICAT 600 didn't get that Email.Has 14,500 mi and would get another 3,000 mi this year except for a little problem of a torn rotator cuff(out till april)MEATHEAD
 
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nomus5

Member
Jim,

I put a new set of pistons and rings in it at about 2000 miles after I ran out of gas and had to run something found in an old container in a barn to make it to town, whatever it was burned the exhaust side of the top of both pistons and stuck the rings. I put a Black Macic EFI chip in it and a Black Magic clutch kit on it.
If you have not yet rebuilt the primary clutch, with new pins and bushings, I would strongly suggest you do so as I would typically replace them every 1500 miles.
Glad to hear it's still putting a smile on someone's face. I still miss it once in a while, it was always fun to keep up with newer 600's on a 500, but it's fun to keep up with new 800's with an old 700 too.
Hope you have a great sled season. Trails here in central WI are very good right now.
TAKE CARE
 
A

arcticman

Member
Yes the clutch has had regular service annually when I was riding several hundred miles a season. The last three years with barely getting the track on the ground typical pre-season service by me. This it will be going to Glenwood Snowmobile this spring and I will have Tom give a complete check-up. I think it has earned some TLC.
 
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