Overheat

[JWubba]

What is the highest temperature the i could run my sled in? I want to ride this weekend but it is supposed to be high 30's-low 40's. I have a 1992 polaris 440 indy sport.

[Tynan19]

As long as the snow gets to the heat exchangers you will be fine. I have ridden in close to 50 degrees. The problem is that the snow gets sticky so it doesn't come up and cool off the coolant. You may need to ride off the trail every once in a while to cool it down but riding in warm weather with less gear is a fun time.

[JWubba]

I forgot to mention that my sled isn't liquid cooled. My bad. Thanks anyways. That is still good info to know.

[GearHd6]

Is it fan cooled or free air?

[JWubba]

Fan cooled

[Offshore24]

jetting will be rich, but you should be ok

[Tynan19]

You will be fine. If the sled runs funny bring it home but I am sure it will be ok.

[JWubba]

I want to take it out on big sebego. Should i stop and let it cool off once in a while? If so how often. Sorry about all the questions, i just don't want it to blow

[Tynan19]

Looking at the projected temps your going to be in the 30s for most of the day. I would think it will be fine in those temps. I did a google search on fans in warm weather and it seams like no one knows what they are talking about but most say run it. It could run rich, it could run like crap or it might run fine. I don't think you will know unless you ride it.

[GearHd6]

Yeah its hard to say what'll happen. If you really want to ride it. Give it a quick blast across the lake then pull a spark plug. If it's a little dark and not white just run it, at least you'll know its rich enough and the fuel is helping to keep it cool. If the plugs are real light in color, lighter than card board brown then I don't recommend riding it for long periods and at high speeds for a long distance. I had an old Arctic Cat free air that I locked up on a 40* day. Thats a free air though, at least you're fan cooled. Just run it and do a plug check then make your judgement.

[JWubba]

ok. Thanks.

[JWubba]

Went today, sled ran great. Stopped riding because i started having problems with the fan. It sounds like it is hitting something. Going to get it looked at soon i hope. Checked the plugs twice. Color was good but they were bone dry. Is it good for them to be dry or do you want them to be a little wet?

[GearHd6]

Dry is good as long as they're not white. The color is most important.

[JWubba]

one of them was a little on the gray side the first time i checked it but i check them a little later and the both looked good. Im going to try and figure out what i wrong with my fan tomorrow.

[JWubba]

Found the problem. The fan is rubbing on the inside of the housing. I dont know what caused it to do this. I'm hoping to bring it to the shop soon and get it fixed before all the snow is gone.

[GearHd6]

Not sure how that could have happened unless the blower housing came loose. The fan is attached directly to the magneto so that can't really move. Maybe a bolt came loose and feel into the blower housing and now the fan is rubbing on that?

[JWubba]

I would spin the primary to turn the fan and when i would get to a certain point it would rub then go away once i got past that point. Then after half a rotation it would rub again. I really wish i knew more about snowmobiles so i wouldnt have to bring it to the shop whenever something small happens.

[GearHd6]

Take some pictures for reference and start pulling the blower housing off. Don't take the recoil handle off though. If you let that rope go and it unwinds inside you'll have a nightmare on your hands. Just leave the rope the way it sits and pull the blower housing off and set it aside to get a look in there.

[JWubba]

Me and my dad tried to take the housing off but the were some bolts on the bottom that we couldnt get to. We got the top bolts out and while they were out i spun the fan again and it didnt rub. Once we put the bolts back in and tightened it up the noise came back again. Im just going to bring it to a guy and tell him what i found out.

[JWubba]

if i take the fan off and grind down the fins that are rubbing just a little bit would that be something that i could do? Will it hurt any thing?

[GearHd6]

I think i'd hammer out the fan shroud before I ground on the fins. That could throw things out of balance.

[bearqst]

Take GearHD's advice and don't sand the fins, but hammer out the shroud.

For riding in warm temps, check your jets and maybe change them out for warmer temps. I usually have to swap mine from summer to spring and have ridden in 45 above with no problem.

[JWubba]

I didnt even think about that. I will try it.

[JWubba]

I asked my dad about hammering it and he said that i wouldnt be able to do that because the metal is cast and it would crack. Could i grind the housing down instead?

[bearqst]

Dad's right with it being cast.

Can you see where the fins are marring/scratching the shroud ? If so, grind down at that point, I'd do it in stages a little at a time.

[GearHd6]

I think i'd be looking into why its even rubbing. Polaris didn't design it to rub, there's got to be a reason for it. If your car engine is burning oil, do you drain it to stop it from burning it? ;)

[bearqst]

Good point.

[flatlander]

You have to figure out what shifted! I take it that the shrould is fixed and can't move, once it's in place it stays there. That being the case the only thing that can move is the fan itself and that should be bolted to the crankshaft in the engine somehow. That being the case it would mean that there is apparently some end play in the crankshft of the engine. Maybe, just maybe there are spacers that are on the outside ends of the crank and they are worn and allowing the fan to shift slightly. If not, then it's internal and that ain't good. Filing and shaving and grinding will only give what ever is wrong more room to move around and that may be very, very bad and could prove terminal for the engine.

[GearHd6]

I asked my dad about hammering it and he said that i wouldnt be able to do that because the metal is cast and it would crack. Could i grind the housing down instead?

Did you ever cure this issue?

[JWubba]

i have not been able to work on it yet. I don't have a garage and i don't really have a place to work on it at the time. It is probably going to sit in my yard buried with snow until summer comes and i have space.

[GearHd6]

Oh that sucks. So you haven't had anything to ride since that broke?

[JWubba]

Nope. I have a fourwheeler that i take out when i go ice fishing but it just isn't the same. everyday i just look out the window and see my sled buried. it sucks. I guess it is still usable but it makes to much noise and sounds like crap.

[GearHd6]

Man, don't Mainers work on their stuff outside in the dead of winter with shorts on and a T shirt? ;)

[JWubba]

i worked on it before in the winter. I will probably end up going out there someday when i have nothing to do and start taking it apart.

[flatlander]

Darn if I wouldn't build some kind of a shed to work on it in the winter or at least under shelter! Doesn't have to be pretty! Just within extension cord reach of the house for a light and electric heater!

[JWubba]

i have a shed but it is so full of junk you can barely get in it. Trust me. I have thought about building a toy shed but never really found a real need for it. I guess i have a reason now.

[flatlander]

That's like my son' ice house, it takes us an hour to empty it every winter so we can tow it down to the Pond!

[GearHd6]

You need to call Clean House!