Polaris Strikes again!!!!!

Just got back from trip and again no trip to my Yamaha dealer. Unlike my 72 year old friend that blew up not 1 but 2 Poo 800s, yup you heard me right, on Thursday his 2013 went down so he got his wife's 2012 that was rebuilt last year less than 1,500 miles ago and it went down on Saturday. So guess what he did ? Called Kip up and had Pat deliver a Yamaha to us at Silver City that he bought over the phone. Less than 1.5 hours later we were on our way. So even though don't drive a Polaris anymore they still continue to try and screw with my trips. Still have a 2012 Pro R 600 and a 2013 600 Adventure that will be sold sooner or later but until then .......
 

agriffinjd

New member
Back in the early to mid 1980s a couple guys on cats broke down behind our house. My dad, who had ridden yamahas since the late 70s, towed them to his shop and fixed their sleds for them. He showed them his ss440s with lots of miles, no break downs, etc. The next winter, the same two guys were back in the UP riding (they were from somewhere in lower Michigan) brand new yamahas that they bought. They stopped by each year for about 4 or 5 years if I remember right and I think my dad rode with them.

Funny how breakdowns can make a person change brands.
 

xcsp

Member
pwolfy2003, hopefully now your trips will never get interrupted :)

Bet your friend will love that 4-stroke and not having to worry of engine failure!
 

olsmann

New member
So I just bought a 2013 Poo SBA 800 last feb. Its now got about 1500 miles on it. Should I sell it immediately or what?
 

xsledder

Active member
Lost two guide wheels and the secondary clutch on my '07 Phazer with 3,800. I had two Cat T660 turbos with a combined mileage of 5,000 + and lost a link in the drive chain on one of them, that's it. Comparing my experience between the T660 and the Phazer, the cat is a better machine. Both are 4s.
 

snocrazy

Active member
Was out on Grand Island last weekend with a group. 69 year old guy on his vector with 8000 miles on it broke a drive shaft. Right next to the chain case. Also had this happen on my SRX same mileage. Just riding along and done.

The guy went to the closest dealer, (artic cat) and traded that bad boy in on a brand new cat.
So yeah break downs will make you change brands. Pretty funny stuff.
 
L

lenny

Guest
Just got back from trip and again no trip to my Yamaha dealer. Unlike my 72 year old friend that blew up not 1 but 2 Poo 800s, yup you heard me right, on Thursday his 2013 went down so he got his wife's 2012 that was rebuilt last year less than 1,500 miles ago and it went down on Saturday. So guess what he did ? Called Kip up and had Pat deliver a Yamaha to us at Silver City that he bought over the phone. Less than 1.5 hours later we were on our way. So even though don't drive a Polaris anymore they still continue to try and screw with my trips. Still have a 2012 Pro R 600 and a 2013 600 Adventure that will be sold sooner or later but until then .......

Hey Paul, glad to hear it all worked out and you are riding instead of fixing. Question for you, has the majority of the Poo problems you experienced or observed been primarily the 800 motor machines?
 

gary_in_neenah

Super Moderator
Staff member
Really? Bought a new machine over the phone, switched brands, set up & delivered in under two hours?

Yamaha should latch on to that story for their Advertising and P.R. departments. That's impressive!
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Just got back from trip and again no trip to my Yamaha dealer. Unlike my 72 year old friend that blew up not 1 but 2 Poo 800s, yup you heard me right, on Thursday his 2013 went down so he got his wife's 2012 that was rebuilt last year less than 1,500 miles ago and it went down on Saturday. So guess what he did ? Called Kip up and had Pat deliver a Yamaha to us at Silver City that he bought over the phone. Less than 1.5 hours later we were on our way. So even though don't drive a Polaris anymore they still continue to try and screw with my trips. Still have a 2012 Pro R 600 and a 2013 600 Adventure that will be sold sooner or later but until then .......

Yep about the same way I bought my 2012 XTX from Kip. Kip calls "Pete I think I have what you want & you have been waiting for"? "Yep Kip sounds like a good deal take my 2007 Attak Gt in trade" so I drive in with trailer unload 2007 Attak GT load up shiney 2012 Apex XTX write check everybody happy..... happy. Already put on about 1000 trouble free miles luv the sled. Buddy that is with me says "no test ride", you didn't listen to engine just loaded up used sled & went home". I said "sure Kip would not sell me a POS we have mutual trust in each other. Easy peasy.:D LOL
 
Olsman, usually sleds breakdown with between 4,000 and 5000 miles, ( the ones I know of at least)but rebuilds have only gone like 2000 miles,Gary , we looked at it Friday when we were there , Lenny, most have been the 800s but had Zachs go down with 2,100 last year. The buddy's this weekend was his fourth one in 53 weeks, the 8 I know of had anywhere from 3,300 miles to 4,800 on when they blew. And BTW he was using Polaris oil and I use Amsoil so that debate isn't worth bringing up .
 

srt20

Active member
4 blow ups in one calendar year?? Somebody is doing something wrong. Whether it's the owner, or the repair shop not correctly fixing the problem.

I'm not saying poo 800s are awesome, I know they are a problem, but somebody is doing something wrong unless your buddy drives 10k plus a yr.
 

Woodtic

Active member
Was he wearing Klim gear? Did he have a tampon in the trunk,to help start a fire. There has to be a reason or something to blame all these failures on. I hope Kip installs one of those chocolate fountains . Think of the fresh chocolate covered fruit we could enjoy,getting to the bottom of this???? There may be a little sarcasm in my post,for you slow folks out there. As far as the fountain ? Just some more free business ideas for my sometimes friend , Kip. :)
 
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Polarice

New member
So I just bought a 2013 Poo SBA 800 last feb. Its now got about 1500 miles on it. Should I sell it immediately or what?

Problems are the majority of what is posted online. Check out hcs and look at any brand specified forum and you'll see that they all have problems. I wouldn't get rid of that sled unless you want a 600 with a longer or shorter track...or of course the almighty 4-stroke :rolleyes:
 
F

fusion

Guest
Great, went from a ticking time bomb, with all sorts of fore warning about problems, yet people still buy 'em, for what? 600 just as fast and more reliable.
Ticking time bomb, to a 600 lbs. (dry), titanic boat anchor for bargain price of 12 G's - pick your poison I reckon. Olsmann, better sell fast and stock up on titanic boat anchors!
 

dblshock

New member
27 mi. into my solo run the otherwise perfect '97 SX700 (4,800) grenaded a crank just west of Aurora..destroyed my Saturday among other things.

What is the 'Honda Accord' of snowmobiles? durability, longevity wise?
 
27 mi. into my solo run the otherwise perfect '97 SX700 (4,800) grenaded a crank just west of Aurora..destroyed my Saturday among other things.

What is the 'Honda Accord' of snowmobiles? durability, longevity wise?

I think the "Honda Accord" you are looking for is the Vector. I know I've advertised for him in the past and probably beating a dead horse but Nick Keller has over 65,000 miles on his 2010 Vector, original motor. I'm not a Yamaha guy but that says something. I know there are plenty of high mile 2s out there, but I doubt you'll find one with this many miles.
 
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