Yup, not a bad run.  Was in the UP two weekends ago testing and boy am I glad I did.  The last 15-20 miles as we rolled into Greenland where there just happens to be Pat’s Motorsports, it started developing a rattle that I thought initially sounded like a weight with a bad bushing clattering.  Nope, just kept getting a little louder, and by the time we get to Greenland, it’s really noticeable at more than just idle.  Long story short, getting a crank up rebuild less than 3 weeks before warranty expiration on 12/31!  

Wow!!  That's a helluva good run and talk about perfect timing   It'll be interesting to see how many miles you end up with on that sled.

When's the next trip?

Sunday - on the backup!

 

5 hours ago, Mag6240 said:

Yup, not a bad run.  Was in the UP two weekends ago testing and boy am I glad I did.  The last 15-20 miles as we rolled into Greenland where there just happens to be Pat’s Motorsports, it started developing a rattle that I thought initially sounded like a weight with a bad bushing clattering.  Nope, just kept getting a little louder, and by the time we get to Greenland, it’s really noticeable at more than just idle.  Long story short, getting a crank up rebuild less than 3 weeks before warranty expiration on 12/31!  

Perfect timing.  Pay up for new piston,rings and rod bearing and your good to go👍

Official diagnosis:  PTO bearing failure.  Crank up rebuild including pistons, cylinders, etc for the warranty deductible of $50.  Should be done early next week.

 

1 minute ago, Mag6240 said:

Official diagnosis:  PTO bearing failure.  Crank up rebuild including pistons, cylinders, etc for the warranty deductible of $50.  Should be done early next week.

 

Warranty ... that's freaking awesome!  It'll be interesting to see what you end up with for overall mileage on that thing when you finally retire it!

I’ve already put a new track on it, maintenance is done regularly on bearings, chain case, clutches, shocks, anything it needs.  If winter would cooperate, could easily see 20k in two more normal years.

That's awesome.  Machine owes you nothing now and you have a near new machine outside of the few things left you haven't yet maintained.  Jealous of your mileage!!

 

Really isn’t much that hasn’t been gone through.  Every single bushing in the a-arms and skid, including the articulating rear pivot points, bendix twice, starter cable once (both under warranty), valve cable and tie bar (warranty), sway bar (warranty), both lower spherical bearings in the spindles, broken rear flap, all 4 shocks numerous times, driveshaft bearing when I put the deflector on it, jack shaft greased every season, chain case upper cover bearing, carbides once, new track, every bearing in the skid as needed, and a new belt after both clutches were completely rebuilt at Indy Specialties 2 years ago (I do weight bushings every 2500 miles or so).

Battery is still original, probably be the one thing it might need at some point.

Edited December 27, 20241 yr by Mag6240

So for the first 1500ish miles after the rebuild, I noticed it was running a good ~20+ degrees warmer than it was before. Could keep it around 124–126 in twisty trails, but as soon as you start approaching 60 it would just climb and climb into the upper 130’s past 140 and this is with scratchers down 100% of the time, even in loose snow conditions!

As they weren’t going to warranty that after the rebuild, I finally went the route of replacing the thermostat, which means replacing the bottle on the 850’s (yes, it’s part of the bottle). Last weekend was the first ride and immediately I knew it was corrected. 104-106 in the twisties and 116-120 north of 60-70mph - WITHOUT scratchers.

Just an FYI for anyone experiencing a warmer than normal running 850. Of course this is on a 12k+ mile sled…

35 minutes ago, Mag6240 said:

So for the first 1500ish miles after the rebuild, I noticed it was running a good ~20+ degrees warmer than it was before. Could keep it around 124–126 in twisty trails, but as soon as you start approaching 60 it would just climb and climb into the upper 130’s past 140 and this is with scratchers down 100% of the time, even in loose snow conditions!

As they weren’t going to warranty that after the rebuild, I finally went the route of replacing the thermostat, which means replacing the bottle on the 850’s (yes, it’s part of the bottle). Last weekend was the first ride and immediately I knew it was corrected. 104-106 in the twisties and 116-120 north of 60-70mph - WITHOUT scratchers.

Just an FYI for anyone experiencing a warmer than normal running 850. Of course this is on a 12k+ mile sled…

What did you replace? Mine runs 130 or so in mildly not ideal snow conditions, but even when they get bad it stays there. It never runs near 105...

This is on the bailer chassis - replaced the bottle - thermostat and bottle are one on the 850’s, same with the Matryx. Now if you are in the Matryx chassis, the open tunnel runs consistently 10-15 degrees warmer than the bailer.

After riding them back to back a few times for some extended miles over the last couple weeks (Axys vs. Matryx), personally I still prefer the fit on the bailer. Having two with less than 2k on motors (I guess my 850 could be close to 2k by now) I don’t see a change in my future.

Edited February 25, 20251 yr by Mag6240

The bailer was a fantastic trail sled, no matter what people bitched about regarding the looks of it. Storage options were really the only limitation on it.

My '23 (Matryx) runs anywhere from 100-103 when the snow is good/loose, and if I'm in harder packed trails it will hover in that 110-112 range. If I get on the really hard packed stuff it'll climb into the 130's and that's when I'll drop the scratchers (ski scratchers). The bailer, with that enclosed rear and cooler, it could run on damn near anything and stay cool for the most part. Just another advantage of that chassis.

I'm glad to hear your bottle & thermostat replacement got you back to where it should be

Mine is a '22 XCR 850 so standard tunnel. Ran 130 all weekend. Even on forest roads with a foot of snow it was never below 120f. An identical 23 I rode with was running at least 10F cooler the whole time which is why I figured perhaps your fix might be in order on mine.

How many miles on the ‘22? The give away to me something was truly amiss is when it would run into the 130’s and dropping my foot along the sled while riding (simulating a scratcher drop) did little to nothing. Usually I could get it to drop 5-10 even 15 degrees pretty quickly doing that.

Thousand or so. Scratchers drop the temps but to 120 or so at best. Everyone else's seem to run cooler in the same conditions.

Hmmm, not terrible (120) but could be a little warm.

If you do feel like wrenching on that, slide the gas tank back to replace it. Near impossible without doing that.

I will feel like wrenching next fall :P For now I will just grab the parts. Thanks.

23 hours ago, Mag6240 said:

This is on the bailer chassis - replaced the bottle - thermostat and bottle are one on the 850’s, same with the Matryx. Now if you are in the Matryx chassis, the open tunnel runs consistently 10-15 degrees warmer than the bailer.

After riding them back to back a few times for some extended miles over the last couple weeks (Axys vs. Matryx), personally I still prefer the fit on the bailer. Having two with less than 2k on motors (I guess my 850 could be close to 2k by now) I don’t see a change in my future.

The bailer had great cooling with a heat exchanger right over the trail a the rear pivot section.

18 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Mine is a '22 XCR 850 so standard tunnel. Ran 130 all weekend. Even on forest roads with a foot of snow it was never below 120f. An identical 23 I rode with was running at least 10F cooler the whole time which is why I figured perhaps your fix might be in order on mine.

Both my 2024 and 2025 XCR 136 run between 105 and 120 in good snow conditions and bump up to 130's when snow is getting marginal or hard pack. No scratcher.

What torsions springs are you running and how much sit in down your sled have. Seen where guys have the torsion springs set so stiff that the sled has hardly any sit in and a lot of snow is going under the snow flap instead of being deflected back into the tunnel for cooling. Just a thought.

Wish Polaris would have a longer snow flap like Ski-doo to get the most snow back into the tunnel. The longer snow flap (P/n 5451976-070) that you would put on the Axys Assault to help cooling is no longer available. If anybody has one I'd be interested

Mine was setup stock for my weight. Was the first ride on the new one for me. Sounds perhaps like mine isn't so far off, my buddies 23 was 10-15F cooler though...

19 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Mine was setup stock for my weight. Was the first ride on the new one for me. Sounds perhaps like mine isn't so far off, my buddies 23 was 10-15F cooler though...

For an experiment on your next ride change one of your torsion springs to the lighter setting for more sit in to see if it makes a difference. Since it does drop with the scratchers down seems snow related.

5 hours ago, Doug said:

For an experiment on your next ride change one of your torsion springs to the lighter setting for more sit in to see if it makes a difference. Since it does drop with the scratchers down seems snow related.

Will try that....or a trucker mudflap.

Softer spring and I will blow through it like swiss cheese, but easy enough to do to test.

14 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Will try that....or a trucker mudflap.

Softer spring and I will blow through it like swiss cheese, but easy enough to do to test.

The 2022 XCR still came with the medium springs. Don't know if they have been charged on yours. 2023 and up came with the HD springs.

I go 230 with gear and run one side on the medium setting and one on low for what I'm looking in a ride.

Hopefully you have some snow to do some experimenting. We're currently in a hold pattern for riding.

As a reference measure the height of your bumper without you and then when your sitting on it. See if your friend will do the same. Just to see if there's much of a difference between the sleds

We are both around 230 with gear as well. I assume mine are stock, but I did not buy it new. Definite holding pattern right now....which sucks. Last weekend was glorious.

last 2 months plus have been glorious. we are hitting the hill tomorrow, with hopes of more. but with what we have done i ain't bitchin' if it melts

3700ish miles so far and just under 30 hrs grooming. With the meltdown in a hold pattern but they are getting snow in Michigan. Dealer has a private party Wednesday for the 2026 release. We'll see after that.