Coincidential or do I know the answer

euphoric1

Well-known member
Just got back from a very interesting trip to the UP, One very interesting thing that occurred is within hours of each other we had 3 engines go down, one already torn down and mag side piston dome eroded away along with scoring on exhaust side of cylinder along with evidence of same starting to happen on PTO side, this was a skidoo carbureted 600 cc, Polaris 800 assult EFI mag side cylinder plug has aluminum flecks on it, not torn down yet so not sure whats inside but from aluminum spray willing to bet same kind of failure. Polaris 800 touring carbureted not opened up yet, person riding it managed to get restarted, continued until started making noise, Not torn down yet. 3 engines in a matter of hours. 2 four strokes one was overheating on and off other no issues all in same time frame. Not going to point fingers at any specific location, but my feelings.... got less than desireable or bad fuel... there has to be a common denominator and from what we already know of 2 of the failures, fuel to me is the culprit, any thoughts?
 

sjb

Member
I would agree. Walks like a duck, talks like a duck, looks like a duck, probably a duck.

Unless someone tampered with your sleds when they were they were parked, have to assume bad fuel.
 

old abe

Well-known member
Just got back from a very interesting trip to the UP, One very interesting thing that occurred is within hours of each other we had 3 engines go down, one already torn down and mag side piston dome eroded away along with scoring on exhaust side of cylinder along with evidence of same starting to happen on PTO side, this was a skidoo carbureted 600 cc, Polaris 800 assult EFI mag side cylinder plug has aluminum flecks on it, not torn down yet so not sure whats inside but from aluminum spray willing to bet same kind of failure. Polaris 800 touring carbureted not opened up yet, person riding it managed to get restarted, continued until started making noise, Not torn down yet. 3 engines in a matter of hours. 2 four strokes one was overheating on and off other no issues all in same time frame. Not going to point fingers at any specific location, but my feelings.... got less than desireable or bad fuel... there has to be a common denominator and from what we already know of 2 of the failures, fuel to me is the culprit, any thoughts?

Bad fuel? Did all 3 have the same fuel? Sounds like low octane, water, midrange burn?
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
Yes all fueled up at same place, don't want to name any business as it would be unfair to point fingers without absolute proof, some one else also posted that tampering, I guess you cant rule that out but wouldn't think so and would hope not. Was hoping maybe someone else maybe experienced the same and we could compare notes.
Bad fuel? Did all 3 have the same fuel? Sounds like low octane, water, midrange burn?
 

fish633

New member
did you fill the tank before you parked at night or did you fill first thing in the morning?You may have condensed moisture in the tank overnight that led to a lean burn as your described symptoms indicate.
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
the last time everyone fueled up at the same time was north of calumet along trail 3 that's as specific as I will get as I don't want to point fingers, not that I wanted it to happen to anyone else but if it had to anyone or knows of someone it did to would like to compare, then maybe we can name names, as far as tampering it would have had to happen while stopped for bite to eat as all but one of the sleds were parked inside of enclosed trailer over night
 

old abe

Well-known member
the last time everyone fueled up at the same time was north of calumet along trail 3 that's as specific as I will get as I don't want to point fingers, not that I wanted it to happen to anyone else but if it had to anyone or knows of someone it did to would like to compare, then maybe we can name names, as far as tampering it would have had to happen while stopped for bite to eat as all but one of the sleds were parked inside of enclosed trailer over night

I can't see the tampering thing. You can easily get a fuel sample I hope, out of all 3? Same thing happened to my riding bud, bad gas in all 3 sleds. Ouch!
 

POLARISDAN

New member
I can't see the tampering thing. You can easily get a fuel sample I hope, out of all 3? Same thing happened to my riding bud, bad gas in all 3 sleds. Ouch!

really..if uve read his trip posts...ive gotten gas at ever place in that area recently..EXCEPT ONE...so i doubt its the gas unless he filled them all UP there

and to answer that go back 3 years of posts..ull find it

pd
 

POLARISDAN

New member
I can't see the tampering thing. You can easily get a fuel sample I hope, out of all 3? Same thing happened to my riding bud, bad gas in all 3 sleds. Ouch!

really..if uve read his trip posts...ive gotten gas at ever place in that area recently..EXCEPT ONE...so i doubt its the gas unless he filled them all UP there

and to answer that go back 3 years of posts..ull find it

pd
 

1fujifilm

Well-known member
Just got back from a very interesting trip to the UP, One very interesting thing that occurred is within hours of each other we had 3 engines go down, one already torn down and mag side piston dome eroded away along with scoring on exhaust side of cylinder along with evidence of same starting to happen on PTO side, this was a skidoo carbureted 600 cc, Polaris 800 assult EFI mag side cylinder plug has aluminum flecks on it, not torn down yet so not sure whats inside but from aluminum spray willing to bet same kind of failure. Polaris 800 touring carbureted not opened up yet, person riding it managed to get restarted, continued until started making noise, Not torn down yet. 3 engines in a matter of hours. 2 four strokes one was overheating on and off other no issues all in same time frame. Not going to point fingers at any specific location, but my feelings.... got less than desireable or bad fuel... there has to be a common denominator and from what we already know of 2 of the failures, fuel to me is the culprit, any thoughts?

What year were the sleds and how many miles?
If the Poo's were 2014 and older I am not too surprised, especially with a few K in miles.
The Doo, if it was a 2009+ I am a bit surprised if the miles were under 6k.

But, were they ridden off trail with a pinned throttle; this is no surprise.

Bear
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
1fujifilm, the 800 EFI was a 2013 assult which had around 4000 miles 2nd year with our group, purchased it 2 years ago and from track history of engine had top end redone on it right after he purchased it, last year because of freezing rain only put on approximately 650 miles while we were up there, the skidoo I believe is a 2005 600 gsx not sure on mileage first year back up with us in about 6 or 7 years, his carbs are heated so could rule out icing I think, and the 800 carbureted sled was a 2004 800 classic touring and had about 3500 miles on it, this was his first year riding up here in our group. None of these sleds are off trail powder sleds especially when the snow is as deep as it was, so no off trail throttle pinned riding happening. My fiancé and I weren't with as her riding was cut short on second day, we ride a 2007 f1000 and a 2017 eltigre 800 so who knows..if we were along it could have potentially been 1 or 2 more sleds. And again im not blaming any certain stop, 3 failures within a few hours on 3 different machines, fuel systems there is only one common denominator that I can come up with, I would highly doubt tampering and the reason for the post wasn't to trash any gas stop but to see what other people thought, because 3 engine failures in a few hours very unlikely, at least in all the years Ive been riding with a group of 8 or more sleds (27 years).
My fiancé see's orthopedic this morning, fingers crossed that there is no damage behind knee cap, we know there are no broken bones but still very swollen and unable to put pressure on it at all.

What year were the sleds and how many miles?
If the Poo's were 2014 and older I am not too surprised, especially with a few K in miles.
The Doo, if it was a 2009+ I am a bit surprised if the miles were under 6k.

But, were they ridden off trail with a pinned throttle; this is no surprise.

Bear
 

1fujifilm

Well-known member
1fujifilm, the 800 EFI was a 2013 assult which had around 4000 miles 2nd year with our group, purchased it 2 years ago and from track history of engine had top end redone on it right after he purchased it, last year because of freezing rain only put on approximately 650 miles while we were up there, the skidoo I believe is a 2005 600 gsx not sure on mileage first year back up with us in about 6 or 7 years, his carbs are heated so could rule out icing I think, and the 800 carbureted sled was a 2004 800 classic touring and had about 3500 miles on it, this was his first year riding up here in our group. None of these sleds are off trail powder sleds especially when the snow is as deep as it was, so no off trail throttle pinned riding happening. My fiancé and I weren't with as her riding was cut short on second day, we ride a 2007 f1000 and a 2017 eltigre 800 so who knows..if we were along it could have potentially been 1 or 2 more sleds. And again im not blaming any certain stop, 3 failures within a few hours on 3 different machines, fuel systems there is only one common denominator that I can come up with, I would highly doubt tampering and the reason for the post wasn't to trash any gas stop but to see what other people thought, because 3 engine failures in a few hours very unlikely, at least in all the years Ive been riding with a group of 8 or more sleds (27 years).
My fiancé see's orthopedic this morning, fingers crossed that there is no damage behind knee cap, we know there are no broken bones but still very swollen and unable to put pressure on it at all.

Yes, we wish you well on the Dr. visit.

Take care, Bear
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
Thanks Bear,
Unrelated to post but thought would post what happened, we were on trail 109 in Kenton, woody and windy and oncoming traffic coming in a little hot, signaled there were more coming so I slowed to a stop to allow other riders to pass as not sure how they were coming through, turned to look back saw mi fiancé and rest of group coming up from behind and stopped, I then turned around to look forward waiting for the rest to pass, all of a sudden I hear the sled mu fiancé was on F1000 accelerate very rapidly, next thing I am being thrown from my sled I hit the 1000 and then slam onto the trail, her ski goes around my post pushes the eltigre up the snow bank up against a small tree and the 1000 then rolls pinning her and her leg under it, when she rides she puts feet all the way forward and boots under rungs in front of running boards and im sure she was locked in as sled rolled and still hoping just twisted or pulled knee, 2 in our group and one oncoming rider immediately helped to get sled off of her and get her up. heavy cosmetic damage to 1000 and bent tie rod on eltigre, I ended up with slight concussion, just got word able to remove immobilizer from her leg, doc wants her to try putting pressure on it, still keep elevated as much as possible, stay on anti flamatory and scheduling an MRI to look closer. Not exactly sure how the throttle got pushed, she doesn't remember, it was an accident that could have ended up much worse than it did. Am very thankful to all who helped us.

Yes, we wish you well on the Dr. visit.

Take care, Bear
 

durphee

Well-known member
I wish her the best for recovery. Even the most seasoned veteran can have an accident, it literally only takes a second. You can have your fuel in your tanks tested to see and to either confirm or limit out the possible reasons.
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
we ordered a test kit, used to have one and used quite often in the methanol days, just want to rule out any possibilities before we fix as there is always a cause for every effect, just throwing parts and money may fix the effect but if you haven't fixed the cause the effect will still be the same, will post what we find.

I wish her the best for recovery. Even the most seasoned veteran can have an accident, it literally only takes a second. You can have your fuel in your tanks tested to see and to either confirm or limit out the possible reasons.
 
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