1 inch wheel spacers for polaris sportsman touring

ghodge · #1 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 06:11 AM

I bought 26x11x14 (rear) Maxxis Bighorns for my 2011 850 Graphite Touring LE model. I immediately had a problem. A bracket that juts just into the inside fender space is rubbing / gouging a groove into the inside lug on the tire. Only rubs when I accelerate and when the shock compresses. Has anyone experienced this? Would wheel spacers resolve the issue. It is rubbing between 1 and 2 inches into the tire. What size spacer would be recommended? If I space that out it looks like I could cause some rubbing on the front of the rear fender when it compresses the shock.

Wheelie Man · #2 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 08:00 AM

Just turn the shock up 2 or 3 clicks to give it more room..

**Bruce!** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 09:46 AM

Welcome to the board!

bobx2 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 05:57 PM

There has been a bunch of info about this. Check out this thread. Turning up your preload adjustment on your shocks will not fix the problem.

XP Touring owners watch your tire sizes with stock wheels.

Wheelie Man · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2011, 05:27 AM

I see that they rub on the foot well. Yes Turning up your preload adjustment on your shocks will not fix the problem for that.

ghodge · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2011, 02:39 PM

Thanks to all. I am thinking about a combination of spacers and maybe grinding that corner on the foot brace. Looks like I need about an inch and a half clearance. I don't want it to get into the inner wall of the tire so it has to clear.

ghodge · #7 (**permalink**) 11-14-2011, 02:38 PM

As I went back and looked again at the thread suggested by bobx2. I realized on page 3 fishy did the cut back of the footrest brace and this did not completely solve the problem. Especially since I usually ride 2 up it may even be more of a problem for me. Anyone try to add rear wheel spacers as well as cutting back the brace to complete the fix?

Canonball · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 02:09 AM

Hi,
I have a 2011 850 Touring LE with 26-9-14 front and 26-11-14 rear wheels.
The rim is a original Polaris 14"SIXr.
No need for spacers or modifications.
No rubbing with 1 or 2 passengers.
No rubbing on trails.
Ingo

ghodge · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 06:06 AM

Interesting. First are your tires Maxxis Bighorns? And all you did was replace the rim with the OEM SIXr? Did this shift the inside of the tire out so that it doesn't infringe on the passenger footrest? I like to get airborne and will come down hard. Has your configuration passed a similar test. This sounds like a better solution than all of the possible adjustments. I have been looking at cutting back the footrest bracket, stiffening up the shocks, potentially spacers, and lift kits. Some combination of effort till it gets fixed or I guess a new set of tires to replace the ones that have 2 hours on them.

Canonball · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 06:35 AM

Hi,
yes, standard Bighorn (no BigHorn 2.0)
Size is 26-9-14 and 26-1-14. I saw the rims and liked it. Before I mounted them on a 500er Sportsman. After switching to a 850er Touring I mounted them instead of the original Carlisle 489. The shift the inside a lit bit out (see it at Sportsman XP850 Touring Limited Edition). If you click picture #2 at 150% you can see the footrest.
What do you mean with test?
I was in the italien mountains last month and on a trail in the Ardennen - no problem.

Ingo