550 Back in the Shop

[TXRonnie]

I just got back from Utah riding the San Rafael Swell for 6 days. When I left the motor had 100lbs of compression and now it has 65lbs of compression. Same exact problem as the last 3 times this has happened. I am willing to bet it is the intake valves again. I have replaced everything in the head except for the cam. I guess it is time for a new cam and to tell the 550 by by.
I wonder if Polaris will help since this is a repetative problem.:r otflmao:

Ronnie

[phil]

Originally Posted by TXRonnie

I just got back from Utah riding the San Rafael Swell for 6 days. When I left the motor had 100lbs of compression and now it has 65lbs of compression. Same exact problem as the last 3 times this has happened. I am willing to bet it is the intake valves again. I have replaced everything in the head except for the cam. I guess it is time for a new cam and to tell the 550 by by.
I wonder if Polaris will help since this is a repetative problem.:r otflmao:

Ronnie

Curious - what are you using for engine oil?

[TXRonnie]

The majority of the time it is POPO in the 550 but it has also had some Mobile 1 0W40 ran through it. I don't believe it is an oil problem with the problem I have been having.

Ronnie

[A.K.]

i thought you traded for a 850 touring a few months ago?

[TXRonnie]

I didn't trade because I thought we had the problem fixed. Dealer has had it for 10 days now and I have not heard from them and they said they would get right on it since the same thing keeps happening. I guess it is time for a trip to the dealer.

Ronnie

[A.K.]

tell em your gonna go lemon law on em..hate to hear of anybody having an experience like yours. feel your pain man.

[jccapri]

Hello ronnie if it is the same problem ask if you can have the head looked at by a machine shop that deals in high performance motors to see if they can find the problem and aftermarket valves let me know i will talk to my friend to see if he will jon

[barrobicho]

Just curious what type of fuel your using, if it has ethanol in the fuel this will cause your valves and seats to wear prematurely.We have experienced this a lot in Alberta since the introduction of ethanol based fuel that came in a few years ago.Run premium fuel with no ethanol......

[TXRonnie]

What is funny the service manager called Polaris to tell them about it and now POPO says there is no record of any problems with the machine. They said since there is no record of it they won't help even if it is a repeat problem. That really is BS because I was with the service manager when he called the first time and they told me to stay out of low and get off the rev limiter. It is sad when a major company can say nobody called to say anything about the problem and get away with it. I can get the paperwork for it but even though they don't have it on record they will still do nothing.
The shop cut me a very good price on a new head and a cam so I am going to go that route and get my old head and cam and have it looked at by a good machine shop to see if they can find out anything. The valve seat in it is steel and cannot be removed and Polaris does not sell them. I am sure a good machine shop can do this but by the time it is done it will probably be reaching the same price I got the head. We called a machine shop here in Tyler yesterday and the guy said 300-400 bucks and he wasn't even sure it can be done without damage to the head.
JCCapri I will get with you a little later to see if maybe i can bring the head, valve and cam to you guys just to see if your guys can find out anything.

Ronnie

[TXRonnie]

I don't think it is the fuel causing the problem. It is like the valve is slamming down in the seat and causing damage to the valve. The outer edge of the round part on the valve comes out of the motor as sharp as a razor blade. It can be used as a lethal weapon it becomes so sharp.

Ronnie