Father in law just picked up one of these, 1997 XLT Touring with only 2700 miles on it. I haven't been on a Polaris for some time, so it seemed to me like it was running high in the RPM range, engaging at about 3500-4K RPM and crawing at 40Km/hr at 5500rpm. Seemed a bit high, but once she gets into the power she goes. In contrast, my 96 Vmax 6000 ST engages at like 2500 or so. Is that Normal for a polaris? Last one I had was a 1991 STAR lol.
That is about the correct range for the clutch engagement. Lower shows sign of a worn primary clutch spring and will cause the sled to be boggy off of idle. Those 2 stroke engines need a little RPM to build power. I also have quite a bit of experience with the VMAX sleds. It should also be around just under 4000 rpm. 2500 is even low for 4 stroke sleds that make more low end torque. Bottom line: 3500-4000 is normal for most 2 stroke sleds. Especially older sleds. Thanks, Ed
@@nlp_sled_head1375 Yeah, I had the black '94 vmax600 ST out yesterday with stock clutch and it's engagement with standard shims is at like 3-3500. I did take the clutch apart on the XLT, but there were no issues. Gave it a clean and put it back together. Stock gold spring in it with weights marked 10 / M5 . It only has 2700 original miles on it, so I don't suspect anything wrong with it. It just doesn't seem to like to be 1/8 - 1/4 throttle. Once this season is over, I will be doing the carbs in the XLT and whatever other maintenance items it needs (like gear oil etc.). I may change out the roller and weight bushings at that time. It almost feels like there is a high vibration of sorts when in that 4-5k rpm range.
@@TheDivergentDrummer Check compression for balance between cylinders. If good. Change plugs, Clean the carbs, and have them checked for synchronization. Also look for other things that might cause imbalance in the engine. Plug wires, coils, plug wire caps, fuel filters, even exhaust valves and intake reeds if equippped... things like that. These little things are why I essentially rebuild all of my used sleds and go over all of them completely during the offseason. BTW, I always try to simply clean the carbs before completely rebuilding them. Maybe 1 out of 4 times it works. But most of the time they need a full, complete cleaning and rebuilding before they actually run correctly. And I almost always replace the jets. Old jets can and will change size from friction or even fuel varnish. But always verify the size of of the new jets. I have received incorrect jets in kits before. On higher performance sleds there is less room for error. I often find OEM type jets and order them. They aren't expensive. Thanks, Ed
@NLP_Sled_Head thanks for the tips Ed. I only say rebuild because I know that is what he will want. Just did it on his '89 Yamaha 40HP outboard over the summer. And he always insists on OEM parts. Know where I can find a good factory radio for a 93 town car with cd changer control ? Becuae it may cost me 200 bux for the Ford part, but it's that over a new pioneer deck. Manufacturers parts only.
This one has got an electric starter and That other classic touring which is more recent apparently doesn't have one I still wonder why so many snowmobiles (especially recent ) don't have an electric starter and why 4 strokes snowmobiles are so rare
It’s all about weight for all sleds. But also about throttle response and the angles at which the engine can run at high RPM without damage. 4 strokes weight comes from more moving parts and complication. Two strokes can actually run upside down or any angle without time limitation. In mountain sledding these are very important. Over time both engines have been getting better. Two strokes are able to match 4 stroke fuel economy. They are getting smoother and burn much less oil. 4 strokes are making more power but are still a bit heavier, but improved. It’s nice to have options.
I have 4 sleds currently (94 vmax 600 ST, '95 VMAX 600 DX(Estart), 1993 Formula Grand Touring 583 (Estart) and 1997 Touring E(yup Estart) , and only 1 does not have Estart. That said, pulling over ANY of the Estart sleds when it's cold is tough. the Vmax 600 ST is the only manual start one, and it starts first pull most of the time. Even cold.
Nice running sled !
Nice snowmobile and very beautiful landscapes !
Father in law just picked up one of these, 1997 XLT Touring with only 2700 miles on it. I haven't been on a Polaris for some time, so it seemed to me like it was running high in the RPM range, engaging at about 3500-4K RPM and crawing at 40Km/hr at 5500rpm. Seemed a bit high, but once she gets into the power she goes. In contrast, my 96 Vmax 6000 ST engages at like 2500 or so. Is that Normal for a polaris? Last one I had was a 1991 STAR lol.
That is about the correct range for the clutch engagement. Lower shows sign of a worn primary clutch spring and will cause the sled to be boggy off of idle. Those 2 stroke engines need a little RPM to build power. I also have quite a bit of experience with the VMAX sleds. It should also be around just under 4000 rpm. 2500 is even low for 4 stroke sleds that make more low end torque. Bottom line: 3500-4000 is normal for most 2 stroke sleds. Especially older sleds. Thanks, Ed
@@nlp_sled_head1375 Yeah, I had the black '94 vmax600 ST out yesterday with stock clutch and it's engagement with standard shims is at like 3-3500. I did take the clutch apart on the XLT, but there were no issues. Gave it a clean and put it back together. Stock gold spring in it with weights marked 10 / M5 . It only has 2700 original miles on it, so I don't suspect anything wrong with it. It just doesn't seem to like to be 1/8 - 1/4 throttle. Once this season is over, I will be doing the carbs in the XLT and whatever other maintenance items it needs (like gear oil etc.). I may change out the roller and weight bushings at that time. It almost feels like there is a high vibration of sorts when in that 4-5k rpm range.
@@TheDivergentDrummer Check compression for balance between cylinders. If good. Change plugs, Clean the carbs, and have them checked for synchronization. Also look for other things that might cause imbalance in the engine. Plug wires, coils, plug wire caps, fuel filters, even exhaust valves and intake reeds if equippped... things like that. These little things are why I essentially rebuild all of my used sleds and go over all of them completely during the offseason.
BTW, I always try to simply clean the carbs before completely rebuilding them. Maybe 1 out of 4 times it works. But most of the time they need a full, complete cleaning and rebuilding before they actually run correctly. And I almost always replace the jets. Old jets can and will change size from friction or even fuel varnish. But always verify the size of of the new jets. I have received incorrect jets in kits before. On higher performance sleds there is less room for error. I often find OEM type jets and order them. They aren't expensive.
Thanks, Ed
@NLP_Sled_Head thanks for the tips Ed. I only say rebuild because I know that is what he will want. Just did it on his '89 Yamaha 40HP outboard over the summer. And he always insists on OEM parts. Know where I can find a good factory radio for a 93 town car with cd changer control ? Becuae it may cost me 200 bux for the Ford part, but it's that over a new pioneer deck. Manufacturers parts only.
Not a lot of different content
This one has got an electric starter and That other classic touring which is more recent apparently doesn't have one
I still wonder why so many snowmobiles (especially recent ) don't have an electric starter and why 4 strokes snowmobiles are so rare
It’s all about weight for all sleds. But also about throttle response and the angles at which the engine can run at high RPM without damage. 4 strokes weight comes from more moving parts and complication.
Two strokes can actually run upside down or any angle without time limitation. In mountain sledding these are very important.
Over time both engines have been getting better. Two strokes are able to match 4 stroke fuel economy. They are getting smoother and burn much less oil. 4 strokes are making more power but are still a bit heavier, but improved.
It’s nice to have options.
I have 4 sleds currently (94 vmax 600 ST, '95 VMAX 600 DX(Estart), 1993 Formula Grand Touring 583 (Estart) and 1997 Touring E(yup Estart) , and only 1 does not have Estart. That said, pulling over ANY of the Estart sleds when it's cold is tough. the Vmax 600 ST is the only manual start one, and it starts first pull most of the time. Even cold.