That does sound a bit high. Your owner's manual should "spell out" what is done at the first service.
My dealer did mine for "free". I think it's just change the oil and filter and check everything over really well. Loose nuts and bolts, fluid levels, etc.

 

On mine I changed oil, tranny,front diff.,greased prop shaft and fittings,checked air filter at the break in period.I used all polaris fluids because i didnt want any warrenty problems? I did it all for under 100 bucks.

 

When i bought my 2011 sportsman 550 eps the dealer told me the first service is free. The service light will come on when it reaches 50 hours, that`s when you take it in for service. It sounds like your dealer is really screwing you over, charging you 160.00 dollars for a first service is rediculous. A regular service at my dealer is about 75.00 dollars. I would find out why his prices are so high, and if he can`t do better than that i would find a different dealer.

 

Most commonly, all a first service is, is:

New engine oil and filter
Check and top off coolant
Grease all zerks
Check boots for rips and tears
Check wheel lug torque
Check airfilter, replace if needed
Check all fluid levels
Test ride for any strange noises.

Thats really about all it is. Its just mostly a visual inspection with an oil change

 

Sounds like I will do it myself then. Sounds real easy.

 

I had my 700 in to the dealer to track down an electrical glitch that was causing the injectors to dump more gas than they should and had filled the crank with gas. The allen head on my drain plug had stripped and I knew they were going to need to run the thing and didn't want them doing it with diluted oil so I had them change the oil to. 2 quarts of oil at $10 apiece, $10 for an oil filter and $50 for a 1/2 hour of labor. $80 for an oil change. Thats what I would pay for an oil change in my diesel pickup if I took it in and it holds 15 quarts. I wont be letting them do that again.

 

That's way too high. What is their labor rate? Even with a complete fluid change, it would only be about $60 worth of oils, and all they're gonna do is (as stated above) change the engine oil, check the fluids and give it a visual once over. Find somewhere else or do it yourself. Oil change kit should only be about $30.

 

That does sound steep...I did my own service checkup when it had about 25 hours on it....changed the oil and trans oil,Front Diff....and even changed the spark plug....and then took it in to have the valves checked....with 150 miles on it...my dealer would'nt touch it....they were honest....so i have 75 hours on it now and will be doing my first valve adjustment when it hit's 100 hours...sometimes it pays to get the manual on your quad and do things yourself....alot of shusters out there....Muddie49

 

These are the going rates guys... get use to it, or do it yourself. I've got a 19HP John Deere garden tractor. The dealer wants $150 to do the service. That's 2 quarts of oil, oil filter, air filter and fuel filter, and two spark plugs. I've purchased the entire JD kit with all those items $30. Takes me about half hour to do that stuff. Of course, they clean the deck, grease the blade pulleys, and sharpen the blades... takes me another half hour to do that. Save myself $120... and IT'S DONE RIGHT!

When you take it to the dealer, you're paying for the owner, the building, service manager, mechanic, secretary, and whomever else they have to pay, and whatever other costs they incur.

Trust me, unless you have a "special" dealer there going to do as little as they can, as quickly as they can so they can get to the next sucker. You'll be lucky if they even look at the throttle cable to see if it needs adjustment.

Just make sure you use products that meed the OEM specs, and keep your receipts, and maintenance records.

 

I have a 2004 sportsman 500. bought it brand new. The first service they tried to do at 25 hours.. tried charging me 200 dollars.. but money was tight and I couldn't afford it.. so around 100 hours by the time you need the 3rd maintenance so they say.. they wanted to charge me to do all 3 of them at the same time. so tried charging me 1500 dollars to do all them.. because I wouldn't let them screw me like that, they refused to turn off the maintenace icon that pops up on your little screen thing..

 

Haven't hit the 50 hr mark yet but did the break in service myself. Oil change, both diffs, transmission and grease. Polaris oils alone cost me $90 cdn but the diff and transmission don't take a lot so you get a few changes out of one bottle.

If you have the tools and know your left and right the manual tells you the rest.

 

Wish I would have known that when I bought my 4 wheeler back in 2004 lol. I thought that doing any work to it would void the warranty.. Guess it didn't matter guy said I got water in it and my warranty was voided anyway. had it like 3 months.. cuz of some dried sand in the breather box.. was like yea im sure it could have splashed in there or something because I KNOW i didn't take it in water over a foot or so. and wasn't going fast either.. that whole dealer was a huge ripoff.

 

Change the oil and filter yourself, check other fluids and general check over, you will be OK and save about $130.

 

My dealer wanted around $150, first time I was told you are on the clock for a service. Anything else is one flat price. Did it myself...

 

Yeah, after reading here, ill probably just change all my own fluids. I called the stealer and they quoted me 330 for the first service. I have better ways to spend that kinda money.

 

I spend over 260 for my first service, jackasses missed 1/2 the grease fittings, never going back ever again!! Im a auto tech, very easily could have done this my self, however had a few warranty concerns...... which turned out not be warranty, even though it was warranty, so ya never again.

 

well I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that got screwed. but its a shame that they have dealers and mechanics that do this kind of BS. I had a lot of problems with my dealer near me. Was very sad.

 

First service at our shop is engine oil and filter, front and rear gear oil, trans oil, grease all fittings, check/set valves, (surprised nobody has said valves yet, very important after break in) check/clean/replace air filter, check charging system and battery, check over entire machine and chassis parts, axles, boots, ect

3hrs labor at 68/HR


Also, to all of you that want to do your own first service, polaris has and will use this as a way out of covering warranty claims. You new 850 throws a rod when its 2 months old and you have no record of a first service by a POLARIS DEALER they most likely wont cover it. Seen them do it many times. If Polaris can find something to make it your fault they will.

 

I thought the first service was at 20 hours, not 50??

 

Polaris cannot deny warranty based on who does the service. If you read the manual, only the engine oil is on the list, valves are not. First service is at 20 hours. Keep the bills and you are covered.

I will not deal with any shop that charges by the hour for a service. The service on my truck was one flat rate, whether it took all day, or an hour. Why are quads any different?

 

Yep, pretty sure the break in service is at 25 hr.

 

Getting the valves serviced the first time is a myth that all dealers like to use. I have a friend that is a mechanic for Polaris and he says that is way to early. I go by exactly what he says and my 500X2 is bumping 10000 miles without the valves being touched. He says if it starts right up leave them alone and that is what I have done.
Do your own service and apply the money you saved to something else. I have never had a dealer touch my machines unless it is something I have no clue how to do.
One thing to remeber is a dealer cannot void your warrinty just because you do not use their products. My owners manual doesn't say you have to use them. Remember they have to prove that the product you used caused the problem.
Another thing to remember is when you do take it in for any work clean it up and make it look showroom new. Always clean the air filter and air filter box because that is where water gets into the engine. Don't give the stealer any opportunity to get the upper hand even though they already have it.

Ronnie

 

my 500X2 is bumping 10000 miles without the valves being touched. He says if it starts right up leave them alone and that is what I have done.

Is this the same machine on its third set of valves?

I never said it was part of what Polaris wanted. I was just saying out price and what we do so others could compare what they paid and got done. I dont set the prices on this sort of thing. Only thing I set prices on is mechanical repair. Ive seen them go tight after they wear into the seat a bit. Different mechanics believe different things, ford or chevy, what brand of oil, what air filter, that sort of thing. Doesnt matter as long as you dont let them run too tight.

As far as the price, We also service yamahas and that includes the 450s that need the valves check every 30-40hrs. I know that does not mean the polaris needs it but its a flat price that includes the valves. Like I said, its not my decision to make.

 

My XP is the one on its 3rd set of valves. My 500 X2 is bumping 10000 miles and never had a valve job. They are as different as night and day. The XP has been the thorn in my backside and the X2 has been my dream ride.

Ronnie

 

And with that nasty experience that you shared with us, my next quad will not be an XP. Either Can Am or Arctic Cat.

That happened in a fairly short time frame, didn't it?