The Polaris Triple Blew Up! Diagnosing Why? 

I think a rebuild series over the summer would be really cool, and get it back on the snow next winter. Enjoy your content keep it up.

I would really like to see you rebuild this sled to its former glory

Intake skirts break off because of excessive clearance. The marks on top of the piston are from debris, NOT detonation. Its also common for the broken skirt to jam against the cases and crack the case. The engine needs to come out and come apart for a complete inspection. If the other pistons are the same age, they will fail soon to.

Hi, Jordan here, from the thriving state of North Dakota.. Found your videos a few weeks ago and been watching the hell out o them. Huge fan of your calm demeanor and when you sit down and talk things out. There are enough strictly yeeyee sled huckers on here. We need more guys like you talking about the behind the scenes stuff. Keep at it. You’re going places.

Hey pal. You have to get that old iron back up and running. Not sure what the deal is with Polaris? I had a skirt blow off on my sled last year. Crank up rebuild solved that problem. Anyways like the content keep it up and keep your stick on the ice.

I had one of these sleds and I've also he'd to rebuild it. It is definitely worth just rebuilding that motor. They are definitely alot of fun. Hope to see more of it on your channel.

These sleds aren't sensitive to octane like you think. Like you said on the other sled, you just have to run it richer. They don't Detonate from compression related reasons on 87 or 91 (ron+mon) Octane. It's the in-cylinder temperatures. The 750 Storms would literally melt off the entire exhaust side of the piston under WOT until it lost compression because they ran WAY too lean up top from factory. If you decide to rebuild this one, raise the needle and fatten the hell out of the main until you read in the dark on your WOT plug readings. This sled is sadly going to need a crank rebuild. No ifs or buts about it. Most shops charge a flat rate for triples (New rods, bearings, ect) to the tune of around 550 CAD, often less down in the states. Consider this an opportunity to Bulletproof the sled! Maybe some Pro-X or Wiseco Pistons? V-force Reeds? Keep in mind It cost me to the tune of $1000 CAD for Pistons, Full Gasket kit and the Crank Rebuild for my triple, But! There is no piece of mind like a fresh engine. Any triple you pick up is 20 years old at this point, and you'll never know when they'll do exactly this.

I would rebuild that motor if possible. Always a lot of work but if you are up to doing so, it is nice to go out riding and know exactly the condition of everything. Also, a good time to get go-fast parts. Because a stock 800 triple is not fast enough already. To neat/nice of an older sled to scrap or part out yet.

Those sled are really nice , rebuild it ! Always run them a little richer , my F3 600 triple is like that. More smoke but you know that he has enough oil

Hey fella canadian guy here jus catching up on your videos with the 800 .. dang man that sucks eh !! Well I’m really you fox or rebuild .. don’t part it out yet…. I really hoping you keep her alive I’m heading over ti the next cpl videos to catch up ! 👍cheers. Also I meant to mention I compliment you on how neat an tidy an organized you are by bagging an tagging all the parts .. cheers 🍻

Rebuild it. The retro sleds are sick. thats why im here watching.

Hey just start watching your video and they are awesome!! I really hope you rebulid stormy pipe! I love to see the race with 850 after you bring her back to life. Good luck and keep on ripping!

I always watch to the end. Very thorough as always.

Here til the end big fella, I scorched a piston a couple years back and sourcing good parts was a pain online. With that said I'm a sucker for a nice semi-vintage unit in my fleet so I bided time and put her back together. I think you should try and resurrect it, those triples can be temperamental, but the sound and top end power is something to behold...also the rest of the sled is pretty straight. You have a whole stable of snow ponies, no need to rush Stormy back into service with a hodgepodge engine. Be good out there fellas🤙

Just found your page today. I live in central Maine and have been into snowmobiling since the late 60's. I would tear it down and rebuild it or swap it out as a core and buy a rebuilt engine. I really enjoy your videos and that you take time to explain details (too many people think they're Cecil B Demille and add annoying background music or try to use special effects!). Well, back to the videos and looking for a used sled.

Hey , I have wanted a old Polaris triple for years. My wife surprise me with a 1996 Polaris Indy 800 for Feb 14 2022 . It doesn’t run and I hope to do a total restore to its original or better . Looking forward to your rebuild . Thanks

I know you were talking about ethanol being an issue but in my Polaris destruction experience mag side issues are from bad fuel lines and filter. Last cylinder can’t get enough fuel when the delivery is restricted. I don’t know if anyone else made this comment but all Polaris manuals will tell you to replace at time/mileage intervals. My opinion sell them all buy a winder, put an eco tune in it and run cooking oil if you want! I can give you specs if you want it to run it’s best. Cheers, love the channel!

I’m just getting back in to snowmobiling after 25 plus years just bought a 98 RMK 700 but I have been tinkering on small engines my entire life, if you were to keep it I would look for a different motor to start with , since you have a nice fleet of sleds I would myself would send it packing , part it out use the money to buy another vintage triple , they are cool and sound awesome, good luck with it.

Get’er back to life I love old triples it would be nice to have it running again

Don't scrap it,take the crank out and inspect bearings, could be a lot of crap in there making it tight like that

Rebuild and Rip it! Love the older performance sleds!!! Great videos!

Had to go look through your uploads. I've been subbed and watching for 2 years now. The vintage sled at 10k in the rubies.

Well worth the fix up. Beautiful old classic 👍

Skirts crack from Over Revving or Excess Clearance. The other Sir Clip of Skirt pieces are what jammed in the exhaust port. That Crank is full of debris also

I'd rebuild it. I love those sleds and they are getting hard to find.

Hey man, I'm from eastern canada (french part of the Maritimes). I've bought my first sled last year (at 34 years old!) and it was a 1993 Grand-Touring 580 for 300$. Really had a lot of fun on it but I was never sure that I was gonna make it back home. So I've just got myself a 2022 skidoo Tundra LT 600efi and boy is it a whole other game!! It's been quite a learnig curve to figure how to drive it. But I definitely enjoy way more watching builds and repairs on old sled then on the newer one. Keep it up!

Ben kindly call Paul at Great Lakes Snowmobile in Clarkesville, Michagan. Tell him what happen and see if he has parts or ideas to help you figure out what to do. Enjoy the other sleds in the meantime!!

I just bought an ultra that has the same problem. Only worse. Rod came apart in addition to all the damage you’ve got. I’m in the same boat. Trying to find out what other engines fit, etc. but if your crank is still good, Cylinder may be a little hard to find but shouldn’t be that bad to fix up! Storms are awesome. Worth rebuilding.

I would split the cases and clean the crank out. If the bearings are good then a new cylinder and a simple top end job and you are back on the snow.. those storm bottom ends are pretty strong..

great video.hey man i think you should fix it if the crank is good yet otherwise might get kinda pricy.

Thumbs up to you and all of us who watched till the end. I grew up in southwest WI and started out on a Storm 800 when I was 12. 👍🏻👍🏻 Ya learn to respect the power! My advice would be to part it out and find yourself a 700 triple Yamaha Mountain Max, Mountain Viper or Mountain SRX! Keep making that great content! 🤙🏻

From the high idle and the way the piston has broken I would check the crank seals. If it leaks on that end of the crank it would lean out the cylinder.

I'm torn, if it were mine I'd want to keep it and fix it. However, since it's not mine I wanna say part it out and find another. Dang tough decision. Wouldn't fault you either way. I'm interested to see how you'd rebuild this one and what all you may add. But also interested in what else you could find and bring to life again. Either way, I always enjoy your insight, thanks for putting out this content.

If it were me, I’d probably look to see witch parts are salvageable and witch aren’t and price out how much everything is to get it back up and running again then make your decision then, good luck on whatever you pick!!

Dang that's a good one! Poor stormy, I really don't think you have a detonation issue here, Just skirts failing because of wear and fatigue. Hopefully you can find the parts and get the old girl running again.

I think the ball bearings in your water pump went boom

Rebuild it. When those old girls are running proper there scary powerful.

It is a nice sled, dig in and see what is up.

So triple guy here 😂 I would get another engine but not a storm engine but a xcr engine and some aftermarket pipes and do some clutch and gearing work and you’ll have a fun beast to rip up the mountains to have fun gearings not bad to change on those but it needs pipes to help with the temps it’s got a 42-34 helix and that is so wrong for those pipes it needs a straight 46 42-34-36 is what I run in my 600 for drags I run a straight 46 in my open mod 1000

I second a rebuild with a crank, and may as well add some port work.

A couple points of octane won't do that.you got a bad mag crank seal.plus those triples are vented to the air box if the vents not there it will pop.you just had piston slap and popped a piston.motors are a dime a dozen get some parts and get it going again

id say put a new engine in it its good to have a tripple in the fleet to mix things up

Get it running

My phone won't deal with all this I'm doing the best I can .... anyway they changed the name of it it's now called "Mo Glide" .... not no mor friction anymore .... but it has saved me a boatload of headache everything from my chainsaws to my John Deere tractor to my Grand Cherokee all of it... good stuff

So sorry for your loss.Losing a triple is no different than losing a great dog,or your first born. Seriously though, u gotta find a new heart for “stormy”.Ya gotta let her live to feel the cold air rip through her hood vents again.love the background music too.

Tear down, re ring the 2 good cylinders, take crank out check, put in New brgs, buy used cylinder, get a piston and ring. Install new wrist pin brgs. Check the chain case out and brakes, change fluid in both. Rebuild the clutch, clean and rejet carbs. Ride it 15 more years.

Ok sorry to hear that good luck

Rebuild it man. I have 95 storm with slp pipes. I like your videos

Listen I'm 56 years old and I say revive her she is Polaris first beast ever made back then and they are hard to find. She was faster then the thunder cat . Artic cat. She deserves another chance . Her sound alone is reason enough. There is nothing like the sound of a triple at 6000 rpm on a field of white powder snow. I remember her so well driving down on the canadian trails in timmins Ontario back in the 90s passing Skidmore formula plus,yamaha phaser,and artic cats like they were standing still. 😊. The squeeze is definitely worth this juice. My friend. ❤

Mark Ostruszka It is a classic see if you can find the parts to fix or get another like engine keep it stock

The most important part of this video is the sweet duster you're sporting! Everything else is great, but doesn't compare to that mountain stache!

How does the carb boot or the crank seal look at that side?

I would put like a 850 twin in it a lot more power on a trail sled would be so fun

Fix that old beast, if you've named it, you got to fix it!🤘

I’d look for a new motor super nice sled in great shape for a triple! new motor and keep it apart of your fleet!

Awe man! Too bad! If you rebuild it, measure the other 2 cylinders! They may be wore like that one was too.

a little late to the party here but just saw this for the first time. not sure where you are at with it but from deducing from a video, broken skirts on the intake side are a sign of water intrusion. ie snow or some water in the bottom of the breather. when of few drops of cold water hit that hot aluminum then can just shatter. just throwing it out there. all that damage on the top was probably a couple of chunks that snuck around from the bottom and made it to the top and bounced around. hope this might help

I burned through two pistons on that cylinder in my old ZRT. Never let it go until the rod explodified it though.

Keep it

Hey! Although not a nice feeling thanks for sharing the intel, useful content! What did you do with it? Any updates?

just subbed. i think you should rebuild it. cheers from Edmonton Alberta.

I called it in your last video. Bummer the ol’ triple burned down! I hate when spark plugs re-gap themselves.. 🤨 Your 2012 pro rmk has yet again found a new owner. I sold it about 2 weeks ago. I hope to hear updates about that sled and keep its legacy going 🤘🏻

put a hemi in it ") You'll find what you need, you have the technology, you have the tools. Rebuild ! 🤙

Aden from Canada do the best bang for your buck but a rebuild would be sick to see for vids

There is a big surprise lol I have seen so many do that! Lol Ski-DOO or don’t!

Damn! Poor stormy! Now she’s a 530 twin… I think you might need a replacement triple now. Maybe a rebuild is what she wants before becoming the ultimate drag sled…

New motor for sure

Glenn Sprague please build it! I know this is an old video and not sure if you fixed it but hopefully you did. 👍

Would be cool to see a rebuild. But being honest its going to cost more then its worth. I know the feeling with my VW TDI wagon. Wife always says just fix it.

You can buy just a cylinder on eBay relatively affordable

I think it's a great candidate for a mod motor.

Well.. to me it seems like the cooling channels is blocked by the cylinder head gasket on more then 1 cylinder spec on exhaust side ? Have you found a reason for this ?? To me this dont seem good ?

That sucks, there's prob bunch of shrapnel in the bottom end from that piston.

Usually the middle cylinder goes first but I think you should put something with power valves in it like a liberty 800 and just gap the piss outta people, make er a sleeper

Honestly, if it’s just the cylinder I would put a new one in, if the block is trashed I would get rid of it, if moneys no issue why not just buy another 800 triple motor and build it on a series

Find a jug, sleeve it if ya have to. Slap er back together and let er eat. My ol man was a motor builder. I’m a machinist. I should be doing motor work. Love your content man. Keep it up. Do what ever you can to keep that dirty triple cackle’n! But yeah, always jet fat on those ol girls. Clean the clutch and make sure the weights don’t let er over rev. Put some tap on the tach and watch that sucker. Ain’t no rev limiter on that ol gal.

Rebuild it

Send it out to Iantomsai racing and have them build it. Build it into a pro stock dragger

I would rebuild it personally it's not that big of a job. Those sleds are awesome it's going to cost some money to do it right but you'll have the pride in doing it yourself.

Id look for a good used engine and go through that reseal it and build it if you're going to fix it , new crank alone is $700 or more

Rebuild put a big bore kit on stormy I'm sure she will thank you later and I'd love to see it

Polaris 1100 triple watercraft swap is always a good choice.

You should buy a 650 triple and make it a mountain sled

If it were me, I’d part it out and move on. There’s lots of other really great sleds to be had out there. I’ve learned over the years to not get to attached and you just can’t keep ‘em all! Good luck with whatever you choose and keep the great videos coming. Love the content!

Check the crank and rod out. Pick up a good barrel and piston. Throw her back together and thrash it. Its a machine not a dog. It was built to be ridden so whats wrong with just riding the hell out of it.

Rebuild her, it's a sled of glory. Put it back to its original glory. Good luck.

I have a 900 liberty motor you can throw in there🤣

Get that debris outta there, rod doesnt look bent to me, in my honest opinion, it looks like that carb had water in it! I've had tight rods on a lunched piston before, after a good clean out, I'm betting it will be alright! Good luck man

Why do people insist on still trying to move the crank when they know it's blown apart I've seen guys try and move it and smack the the cyl support and destroy a cyl that could of been saved.just get it apart before moving anything.

I knew the piston looked too small to be out of one of the twins, but to be fair, that sled was already guessed.

Re build it

Rebuilt it there good old power seld

That is the dilemma is it worth fixing or not? I personally probably wouldn't fix it because my back doesn't handle riding those old dogs as well as I wish it did. Ever I loved my wildcat, it blew everybody out of the water it was so fun but it was a straight line machine it didn't handle very well and it sure the heck didn't handle any of those Moguls on the trails when they're all beat up at the end of the day, I have a 2008 dragon that I blew the motor on this fault at the beginning of the season the first time out, apparently it sucked a seal so the lower end rattling still runs but it's going to be $2,000 American to fix it is what they tell me I can fix it myself I'm sure find a crank it on eBay for $350-400 and pieces together but..... The real question is it worth it when it's done probably for me because it's only a $4,000 sled... But it's got better suspension that I can ride. back to your triple.. being a mechanic for way too many years to talk about, you got to do a complete rebuild on that crank up, you know that right?. I see some of the guys saying clean it all out maybe there's just some debris keeping it locked up but the damage in that bearing on that crank will never allow you to keep it running after all that money .. it'll fail immediately.. within 100 miles my guess, so yeah you got some thinking to do I do like your calm demeanor and the way you talk things out... Keep up this journey on RU-vid, and good luck. Ride hard, just keep the skis out of the trees!!

Nothing breats an old triple!.. if you get a red head 700 yamaha I'm betting if u did a water pump and fresh top.end it will last your years n years of fun! 5 years on my yammy and my buddy has it and still going strong.. never had luck with the polaris triples but yes made awesome power

cut the rod off and seal off the cylinder and go!!! you will have less power. but it should still move and you will have a spare carb for later LOL!!! while you wait for the new parts to come in for the rebuild!!!

An electric conversion would be different. Kind of $$$. Or maybe a mazda rotary. Boosted 3 cyl diesel would awesome, but I like wierd stuff so... maybe I watch too many ghpc vids.

Well my guy.. You had a specific purpose in mind when you show cased the storm for the first time... You wanted to drag race it... You were wrong about one thing though about it being Polaris's fastest 800.. If you want to replace this old iron.. Id replace it with its younger brother the xcr 800... Slight port work on one of those and they are an animal in drag racing.. I personally own 4 xcr 800s and a HTG1000 storm based... For me a triple triple is the only way to go I love it... So to reiterate... Get an xcr 800 with some port work.. I wouldn't doubt it would become one of your favorite sleds.. Good luck and bummer on the storm

I have 7500 miles on my yamaha redhead triple. 132 lbs of compression. Ill rering it at 15k. Someone I know has a 01 700 redhead triple with 15k miles. Untouched and still running around 132 pounds of compression. Yamaha triples are the way to go…

The best old triple ever made was the yamaha red head 700. Bulletproof lasts forever.

A sled engine being abused like this is bound to blow eventually. Happens To The Best Of Us. Love Those Old Sleds