polarisrider1
New member
not sure, hope not.
550 fan cooled questions
- Thread starter Yenann
- Start date
tubbywolfe
New member
Any downsides to a 2007 Polaris IQ HO CFI?
indy_500
Well-known member
I think you are high... The Pre-07's were a lot worse...
tealracing16
Member
I think it depends on who it is for and how they are going to ride it. I would blow up a 550 after reading this yet my 488 free air (1994) wide open across Gogebic at 0 degrees lasted way past 11K. I have heard of some 550 problems but not like this.
If you aren't going to ride it wide open all the time you will be fine. Any sled/car/truck/ATV/airplane/Hydrofoil ran past the design speed will blow up.
If you aren't going to ride it wide open all the time you will be fine. Any sled/car/truck/ATV/airplane/Hydrofoil ran past the design speed will blow up.
Had a '01 & '05 550 as a second sled for the nephews to use, and I occasionally rode them. Never had any engine failures.
I believe mid-2005 is when Polaris made some changes within the engine for durability.
Nice, simple sled, no liquid-cooling system to maintain, no heat exchangers to damage with studs.
Sure it is no lake racer, but it is fine for trail riding, and I would think the 550 in the IQ chassis is a nice trail sled.
I believe mid-2005 is when Polaris made some changes within the engine for durability.
Nice, simple sled, no liquid-cooling system to maintain, no heat exchangers to damage with studs.
Sure it is no lake racer, but it is fine for trail riding, and I would think the 550 in the IQ chassis is a nice trail sled.
indy_500
Well-known member
Actually, the slower you ride the 550, the better chance you have at blowing it up. They had a super lean mid-range.
The Polaris 550 isn't the only engine with a lean mid-range, as with any 2-stroke engine, vary the throttle position.
motor_slut
New member
Nope defnitely not high just have way more experience than you will ever have.
Going slow on a 550 is also very bad for it. Most blow up at low speed because the oil actually boils off before it can lubricate the bearings and rings, this is straight from the engineeering department at Polaris. Also the Polaris 550 is not made by Polaris it is a Fuji motor.
indy_500
Well-known member
Nah, I still think you are high! I see a lot of newer shift 550's running out there without too many problems. Have you owned a 550? I kinda sorta doubt it.
motor_slut
New member
Never owned a 550. I have rebuilt a hundred or so over the last 5 years. What about you? You seem to think you are some sort of expert?
I have had both the 488 fan in an Indy Trail and 2 550 fans in Super sports.
The 488 blew up 3 times before it had 5000 miles.
I have 9500 miles on the 2004 SS never had the engine apart, still has very good compression.
I have 4500 miles on a 2003 never any motor issues.
They are fun light sleds for boondocking.
The 488 blew up 3 times before it had 5000 miles.
I have 9500 miles on the 2004 SS never had the engine apart, still has very good compression.
I have 4500 miles on a 2003 never any motor issues.
They are fun light sleds for boondocking.
polarisrider1
New member
Sounds like a few lucky 550 fanners out there. Note: we are talking Poo 550's not Doo 550's. From all the Poo 550's I have owned or has been owned by relatives, those sleds were headaches. Mostly under powered, bearing and voltage regulator eaters. Great for preteen girls to melt their gloves to the handlebars and to ask, "Why are my gloves on fire?". For the little Hp they make they also like the fuel. Most definately not a boondocker sled, more of a ditchbanger for teens. They were a entry level sled same as the 440 indys (excellent motor) and the short lived Triumph.
It may say Polaris "Liberty" on the engines but Fuji still owns the building, engineers and builds all (not some, all) of the Polaris engines. And now we need to learn how to say Polaris & Liberty in Spanish.
I rented an 05 ski-doo 550 fan gsx . Didn't notice the 21,000 miles on the odometer until a fuel stop. I was pissed thinking i was rented a junk/worn out sled. Put on 190 trail miles and no issues. I was actually impressed with how well it ran and considered buying one for the girlfriend. Dealer claimed that no work had been done to this sled other than wear items. Dealer bragged about the reliability(not enough power to tear up belts,chain, track, etc.) With low snow/plowed roads becoming the norm lately, a fan cooled trail sled might be a selling point!!
indy_500
Well-known member
Not really... Last I heard they reopened Osceola plant. Not 1 sled part being made in the Mex. plant...
And you get your information from where??? I worked for Poo for 8 yrs and 4 of those were in the same building the engines were assembled in. I can guarantee you Polaris owned the building, and at the time I left Poo, 2001, we were building the 500/600/700 and 800 twins in that facility.
In regards to the 550 fan, we owned a 2002 550 Classic and while it was certainly underpowered, it never gave us a bit of trouble in 5000+ miles.
Sorry, I guess it all depends on what you consider "building" engines.
Assembly is just a fraction of what it takes to build an engine.
Up untill the last couple years all the replacement engine parts came in Fuji Heavy Industries packaging for all the Liberty twins (and what is considered the Fuji motors). I think they decided it would look even better for the "Liberty" engine if they at least put the parts in a Polaris box.
It sounds like the Osceola plant might be open (at least for now) mostly for the Victory motorcycle group, seats, exhaust and some fabrication but the engines are gone south, and not just for the winter.
You can't bad mouth Polaris for taking advantage of a cost savings.
Assembly is just a fraction of what it takes to build an engine.
Up untill the last couple years all the replacement engine parts came in Fuji Heavy Industries packaging for all the Liberty twins (and what is considered the Fuji motors). I think they decided it would look even better for the "Liberty" engine if they at least put the parts in a Polaris box.
It sounds like the Osceola plant might be open (at least for now) mostly for the Victory motorcycle group, seats, exhaust and some fabrication but the engines are gone south, and not just for the winter.
You can't bad mouth Polaris for taking advantage of a cost savings.