coolant in cylinders?

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polarisfreak46

New member
Started getting the sled ready today and wish i would have started a month ago. It's a 2001 Polaris 600 Edge. Last year I noticed coolant leaking from between the head and the cylinder so I replaced the O-rings between the head and the cylinders. Problem was solved and sled ran good all winter. Today I tryed starting the sled and noticed there was no coolant in the resivior bottle. I pulled the plugs and there was coolant all over them. I proceded to pull the head off and thought I would find another bad O-ring, only this time an interior ring because the coolant ran into the motor this time. The O-rings seem to look fine. What the heck.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
It's the mechanical seal for the water pump, very very common problem on polaris small block sleds. If you can figure out if it's coming out of the mag side, then for sure it's the mechanical seal. It could be a tiny crack in the cylinder wall, or a base or head gasket.
 
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polarisfreak46

New member
Well I pulled the motor so im going to start investigating. Ya Im a little bored. I didn't see any coolant coming from the mag side. Whats the average rebuild cost.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
polarisfreak46 said:
Well I pulled the motor so im going to start investigating. Ya Im a little bored. I didn't see any coolant coming from the mag side. Whats the average rebuild cost.
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When you say rebuild, do you mean just freshen it up with all new seals and gaskets?
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
I had the same problem on my wife's 2002 600. rp7x fixed it for me and it was the waterpump seal. Maybe he will chime in if he reads this or you could PM him. He's a great mechanic!
 
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kraven700

Member
polarisfreak46 said:
Well I pulled the motor so im going to start investigating. Ya Im a little bored. I didn't see any coolant coming from the mag side. Whats the average rebuild cost.
Click to expand...

Remove the drain plugs from the front of the case and tip the engine to see if antifreeze spills out, that should tell you if it's the water pump seal , base gaskets, or head o-ring(s)

I wouldn't go as far as to replace the crank/rod bearings on a 600 unless you're in the mood to throw $$$$$$$$$$$$ away, it's not necessary , I.M.O.

Piston/rings, O.k. if you're insisting on re-building something and you're bored.

On the base gasket, be sure to go with the updated metal gasket instead of the original "paper" gasket
 
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indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
kraven700 said:
Remove the drain plugs from the front of the case and tip the engine to see if antifreeze spills out, that should tell you if it's the water pump seal , base gaskets, or head o-ring(s)

I wouldn't go as far as to replace the crank/rod bearings on a 600 unless you're in the mood to throw $$$$$$$$$$$$ away, it's not necessary , I.M.O.

Piston/rings, O.k. if you're insisting on re-building something and you're bored.

On the base gasket, be sure to go with the updated metal gasket instead of the original "paper" gasket
Click to expand...

i had a 99 indy 500 and the crank went at 8k miles. Sure, i didn't fog it at all, since i've learned a lot in the past couple years and didn't know what the heck this "fogging" was back "when i was a youngster" :) But crank bearings really aren't that bad of an idea if you want it to last.
 
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2slow4u

New member
we just replaced that water pump seal on my buddys sled exactly like yours. had a friend of ours come over thats a polaris mechanic because theres a special tool needed to replace it. VERY common problem.
 
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polarisfreak46

New member
What does this "special tool" do is it posible to make this tool? This kinda scenario always gets at me, the manufacturers always seem to make things impossible for the average shade tree mechanic.
 
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kraven700

Member
Fogging

indy_500 said:
i had a 99 indy 500 and the crank went at 8k miles. Sure, i didn't fog it at all, since i've learned a lot in the past couple years and didn't know what the heck this "fogging" was back "when i was a youngster" :) But crank bearings really aren't that bad of an idea if you want it to last.
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A lot of things aren't a "bad idea"

But you have to draw the line somewhere, that's all.

What is this fogging you speak of, or is that what they just arrested Willie Nelson for doing on his Tour Bus?
 
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