Polaris Diesel @ high altitude?

[LightmanE300]

Most folks wont even come close to the engine life on a quad if they treat them right. I know a few guys that work their quads on railroads that have 35k miles on them. That would take the average rider an incredibly long time. In any case, the ranchers dont have a low range, or a diff locker. I can't stress enough how much the locking front diff helps in really sticky situations. The kod 450 is the smallest machine out there with a low range/diff lock, and independent rear suspension. I've put a lot of seat time on an 05 kod 450, and put 2100 miles on my 03 prairie650. The kodiak is a lot more comfortable and offers many of the same features. It will hit about 50-53mph, so you should be able to chase cattle. Big bears are good, simple machines. I think you're probably familiar with yamaha's tough reliable quality, and would probably be impressed with any of the newer options. I think you'd be surprised how much smoother, more comfortable, and powerful they are. Consider with the slightly larger machine you'll be able to play if you like, or hook up a plow or trailer to it. As for cheaper fuel, have you bought any diesel lately?



Believe me, before I bought my prairie in 03, I looked at the diesel sportsmans too, just because I love diesels. I had a chance to buy one brand new, several dealers still had them sitting on their showroom floors from 99 till 03 if that tells you anything... Most of them (the dealers) talked me out of it.

 

[Rescue Ram]

I have looked at the new Big Bears. I didn't like them at all. I was especially bothered by the lack of low range. In fact, I have not been very impressed by any of the new machines I have looked at. I am not one for electronic gadgetry (flame away). It seems like a good way to get me stranded a long way from anywhere. I believe the diesel is a mostly mechanical machine. Diesel is still cheaper for me in this case, as we have tanks of off road for the tractors. In reality, this really wont save me any money... more of a handy feature.



I still want to experience one first hand; maybe then I will be dissuaded. I can remember the days of our old diesel trucks. The N/A 6. 9 and 6. 2 couldn't hold a candle to a 460 or a 454 for speed... but they lasted forever and pulled anything. The mileage was great, and nothing beats the sound and smell of diesel in the morning. I suspect the same is true of the Diesel Sportsman when compared to similar gas machines.



The sound and smell of diesel in the morning... maybe I need therapy :-laf

 

[LightmanE300]

I agree with the sound and smell, many here share your sickness



The big bear is far outdated compared to the kodiak or grizzly in the yamaha line, and long away from what I'd recommend. I think one ride on a new kodiak or rancher 400 and you'd be sold. I am interested to hear how you like the polaris, but hope you try both before buying. Might want to check out ATV Television too, they regularly are doing atv reviews.

 

[Rescue Ram]

I am surely going to do my homework. I have the benefit of time, and am in no hurry to purchase. The last thing I want is a machine that doesn't work. My biggest obstacle is finding a Diesel that is close enough to test ride, and get an idea of the performance loss at altitude. I keep hoping that Dieselnut59 or one of the other owners out there decides to take a trip to CO to let me sample :-laf :-laf. Seriously though, I do appreciate the ideas, suggestions and input.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Rescue Ram, Mine is not really stock. I turned up the "power screw", which helps low-mid power and the RPM's, which helped upper power. Off the line in a drag race, a 400 Sportsman will get me on the jump, but mid range power is comparable. The gassers are faster on top end, but the diesel will PULL. It is a workhorse. I would not take anything gas in place of my diesel. I am looking for another diesel Polaris to replace my 600 Sportsman. I, too, like the convenience of having one kind of fuel for everything. (next project is a diesel push mower) All the Polaris Sportsmans have "true 4x4" and 4-wheel independent suspension. When in 4x4 (which is selectable), ALL 4 WHEELS get power. The Rancher is full time 3-wheel drive (open front diff) and they have a solid rear axle and a very clunky ride. My diesel will out-do a Rancher without a problem, both in work and play and I sure won't be as worn out after a day of riding as my friend is when on his Rancher! All manufacturers have some good and some not so good machines. I am just partial to the Polaris because they are the only one with a diesel ATV. I like the atv over the utility vehicle (Mule, Gator, etc) because I can hook a trailer to my atv for work, then unhook the trailer and play. Only problem with the Polaris Diesel is they never advertised it or gave it a real chance. Everybody seems to want one after seeing and riding mine. It was a great idea, a great machine, but no dealer or advertising support to get the word out when they were available.

 

[Rescue Ram]

It was a great idea, a great machine, but no dealer or advertising support to get the word out when they were available.

This is kind of what I suspected. I was talking to my dad about it yesterday, and we both have a hunch that the majority of buyers expected or wanted a machine that runs like a scalded hound; an 800cc Sportsman for example. I, personally, have no use for that sort of power. Like I said, it sort of reminds me of the old N/A trucks. Nobody really wanted one until their gas motor had been overhauled for the second time. All I need is some real world data/experience on performance at altitude, and I will make up my mind. How about a trip to Colorado?

 

[LightmanE300]

I suggest you drive an atv with a fully locked front diff. It's a ton of work, and one of the biggest downsides to polaris. You can't select 4wd high and leave the front diff open. That makes steering a lot more work. I also disagree that you can unhook the polaris diesel and 'play' ... that is unless you wnat to play with a bunch of kids on 90cc quads, hehee. .

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

I suggest you drive an atv with a fully locked front diff. It's a ton of work, and one of the biggest downsides to polaris. You can't select 4wd high and leave the front diff open. That makes steering a lot more work. I also disagree that you can unhook the polaris diesel and 'play' ... that is unless you wnat to play with a bunch of kids on 90cc quads, hehee. .

FYI, the sportsman isn't a fully locked front diff... . it's more like AWD... . I forget what polaris calls it. Not sure why you would say it's hard to steer... ...

 

[LightmanE300]

Rattin ram - it was dieselnut's post, which I believe is incorrect. Most atv enthusiasts talk about polaris' 3 wheel drive, instead of true 4. He's the first I heard say the opposite, but since I don't own one, I believed him. Driving a quad with the front diff locked is nearly impossible to steer - if anyone wants to hop on my prairie, grab the diff lock lever, and can do circles, I will buy them beer!

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

I don't own one either, but I've ridden several hundred miles on my hunting partner's '01 Sportsman 500ho. In and out of 4wd it is easy to steer. Like I said it's kind of like AWD, you have to give it gas in order to get the power to the wheels that need it. Might not work as well as a manual locker, but it does work pretty good.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I don't own one either, but I've ridden several hundred miles on my hunting partner's '01 Sportsman 500ho. In and out of 4wd it is easy to steer. Like I said it's kind of like AWD, you have to give it gas in order to get the power to the wheels that need it. Might not work as well as a manual locker, but it does work pretty good.

That is exactly what I had stated before. The diesel is just like the 500 as far as powertrain. It has electro-magnetic hubs at each front wheel which automaticly "ratchet" in turns when in 4x4. When pulling, it puts power to all 4 wheels. Polaris calls it "demand drive" and "true 4x4". I have had no problem with the 4x4 system at all and I have worked/played the heck out of this thing. Some people on here are like democrats in politics: they like to bash what they don't own or know anything about. I have been a happy owner of this atv for nearly 3 years and have ridden and used the heck out of it. I love it and it will work harder and play nearly as hard as any of my friends' atvs. I like it a lot better than my Sportsman 600. As an experienced owner of the Polaris diesel, I can tell you it is a great machine, especially for what you mentioned. It is not a speed demon, but has a lot of low-end torque and is a hard working machine. With a little tinkering, it will also play hard too. I can speak from experience on that one too. I have never encountered a mud hole that my diesel will not go through that any of my friends' atvs will go through. My friends have Polaris 400, 500, 400 two stroke, 600, Honda 350 "Rancher", 300, 250 two stroke, 300 ex, and 250 "recon". Mine is not a speed demon, but that is not what I want in a atv. 40 mph is plenty fast for a work and play machine to me. It is a torque monster and will pull anything it can get traction to pull (with ALL 4 tires spinning). I would buy another in a heartbeat and it is a great machine.

 

[Rescue Ram]

Please don't allow this thread to degrade into a bashfest. I appreciate everyone's comments and opinions. Dieselnut, if I do end up getting a Diesel, you will have to show me some of the tricks you have used on yours. I am still waiting to hear back from a guy who PM'ed me. He thought he might be able to get me some information on high altitude operability... I hope he can.

 

[Rescue Ram]

Turbo maybe?

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a turbo being successfully applied to this machine? A guy over on TDS gave me this link , and said he had seen/read about people using this turbo on the Diesel. Has anyone here read this, and if so would you please lead me to it?



I'm sick. :-laf

 

[LightmanE300]

I thought you didn't need more power? I know we all love diesels but get a real quad and get over it!

 

[Dieselnut59]

I could not get the link to work. If there was a way to set up a blower of some type, I believe that would work better. A turbo would be interesting though. . and there is a port where the oil line could be plumbed in to feed the turbo with lubrication. The head is an "I" head intake on one side, exhaust on opposite, so plumbing is possible. Space is tight in this machine, so it might be tough to rig up a turbo... Would be interesting though!

 

[JoshPeters]

OK... . after spending a weekend on one last fall, I was very impressed. There were 4 gassers and 2 diesels. We were in some VERY thick mud. The Sportsman 500 with aggressive tires went in... . got stuck to the point where you could tell when the engine fired, it would spin the tire a bit faster, obviously fast enough we could see it. After he got stuck, and we winched him out..... I drove into the same hole... . same spot... and stoped. Jumped on the seat a couple times, and got into the throttle... . in typical diesel fashion... it torqued up and drove right out.



We have used/abused this wheeler way beyond what it should have been used for. it was used as a shop wheeler. So it was used to move a 1956 Chevy Tow truck sideways on a concrete floor. Of course traction was an issue till we put 3 additional people on it. Then it just spun the belt. But, it did get the job done. It was used to move OUR trucks... . my 1ton included from the parking lot to inside the shop so work could be done.



In 4low, this thing has plenty of power to move anything you have around the farm, that you feel comfortable pulling with a wheeler. If you are brave enough to move a loaded hay wagon with it... . it'll do it without breaking a sweat. It would probably do it in High range even. If you want to chase cattle with it... . you should be just fine. You don't need to go terribly fast for that. The one I rode topped out a 36mph on the GPS. It got to 25 fairly fast, 30 slightly slower, and you better have along streach to hit the 36 that I did.



Josh

 

[Dieselnut59]

I have ridden plenty of atv's and this diesel is the best all around that I have had. It is a workhorse. There is one for sale on e-bay. Gonna try to link to it...



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=4544360868&category=42591&sspagename=WDVW

 

[LightmanE300]

Dieselnut59, could you be more specific on what's so good about it other than it pulls well? I KNOW it won't pull anywhere near as much or as hard as my my prairie650, or some of the newer big bore machines. Hook up your polaris to any prairie and hang on as you'll be dragged around - there is no matching the torque of the v-twin. In any case, I'm just curious why you think the sportsman diesel is such a great machine? The sportsman in any trim has been passed by the competition in the last 5 years, let alone a model they stopped making - for a reason. In 2003, SEVERAL dealers still had polaris 500 diesels brand new on their showroom floor since 99. Even they were the first to tell you, they are good for farmers that use their quads only for work, but not much else. They have really poor acceleration, noise/vibration, and of course smell (which most of us love, including me).



For the record I'm not trying to trash the diesel sportsman, I just think there are so many better options out there. It doesn't lead the pack in ANY category, so I just can't see the motivation to go there, other than liking diesels.

 

[JoshPeters]

People complain about the noise... . tell you what... . That weekend out with the wheelers... . People heard the GASSERS comming LONG before they heard me... and I was leading the way! Put them next to eachother at idle... the diesels were quieter. Vibration... I thought was comperable. Ok so it's a little slower. These gentlemen aren't going to set land speed records.



As far as a 650 out pulling the 500 Diesel... . Sorry but I don't think so. That Diesel does the same thing as our trucks. Produce Torque. Given the same weight over a distance..... just because of your gasser top end you may win. Ease of moving that weight would have to go to the diesel.



Get a 500 gasser and a 500 diesel... and do what everyone says to do with our trucks..... make it a real challenge..... Move a full hay rack across a field. See who wins. No 650 is better BS... . same catagory.



Josh

 

[LightmanE300]

Why would we be talking about the same category? He's not limited to one cc range for the quad he purchases! FYI the p650 makes more hp AND torque than the polaris 500 diesel, and has a locking front diff. If polaris diesels pulled that hard people would use them in atv pulling competitions. . which are regularly dominated by v-twins. The new brute force 750 is an absolute beast - although tippy.



I do think that most of the quads with the race exhausts are pretty obnoxious, and ruin the sport for most, especially when they ride at night. I'd love the few extra hp but I leave my exhaust stock on my quads for just that reason.