Questions and looking for answers please

[KiminWA]

Hi Everybody

My questions to forum members –

Has anybody ever been told they need extra maintenance on their ATV at all, other than what is specified in the maintenance manual, anywhere in the world?

Is it just my bikes having this issue? It is a progressive starting problem until they just don’t start at all.

Can they be fixed?

Why Do I ask?

My name is Kim and I was running quad bike and gold prospecting tours in Western Australia until recently. I have lost too much money investing in the bikes.

I had purchased 6 Polaris Quad Bikes from Polaris Central in Perth and received them in June 2012. This cost over $60,000 AU. The bikes were never abused and maintenance was performed to specifications. 5 out of 6 six bikes had some serious issues.

As two of the bikes are completely broken down within hours after being sent back to Polaris to be fixed, I pursued Polaris to get answers to the constant problems and wanted to have the bikes fixed properly.

Polaris Australia response was the following:

We are aware of the very fine dust that is in the northern parts of Australia. In these extreme dust conditions additional air filter maintenance is required on any internal combustion engine. If the air filter becomes plugged with dust, the vacuum of the engine will suck in dust from an alternative location, we believe this is what has been happening with your units. We repaired 2 of your units as good will as we are certain that this issue was not caused by a defect, rather through a lack of air filter maintenance. Unfortunately this has caused the engines on your units to ingest dust which has resulted in engine damage and excessive oil consumption. Regrettably Polaris will not be able to repair these additional engines under warranty.

Firstly we are not in Northern Australia

Secondly we were not informed by word of mouth or in writing that the bikes needed “EXTRA” filter maintenance

Thirdly, I am curious to know why they are selling the bikes in Australia if they cannot handle the Australian Conditions

Lastly, the two bikes they supposedly repaired under “GOODWILL” broke down totally within hours of use.

Any help would be great

thanks

Kim

[LT80]

Id like to know exactly what parts are being damaged. They have been run 2 years, right?

Going on Polaris statement, Dirt particles can be very hard to deal with. When we raced, I asked many motor builders that told me the same thing ie: the dirt particles are so small that they can get in.

It sounds to me like daily air filter maintenence is needed along with a outerwears (outerwears.com) over the stock filter. This will really help. Id think the dealership would have recommended this when purchaced.

I also would recommend that the Polaris dealer show you where the air can get in "other places" as Polaris stated. That seems weird in a way but I suppose a carb can suck air in the vents.

As far as the 2nd and 3rd of your ending statements/question:: IMO your dealer sucks! 6 new machines bought and they didnt spend any time explaining these "extra" things.

Polaris is not loved by all. There are reasons Im sure. I know I wont be having one anytime soon.

Personally, Last thing Id be doing is a trek thru the outback on anything less than a Honda.

The answer here is you need a expierienced mechanic/tour guide. I have years of expierience. Please send one way ticket as once Im there, I wont want to come back.

Edited December 23, 2014 by LT80

[KiminWA]

Hi LT80

Thanks for your reply

The tours were popular, shame we cant do them anymore. I put all my hard earned money into these bikes and business which has failed because of the bikes, not because we didn't have the cliental to do the tours. You would have enjoyed them, they were a lot of fun. If I was in a better financial position I may have just bought that ticket

I purchased two Honda TRX 250s in 2005 and run them in the same conditions as the Polaris bikes and never, ever had an issue, they are still going strong, 8 years. I should have purchased Hondas they are brilliant bikes. The old saying is you get what you pay for. I will never recommend or buy Polaris ever again.

I don't know what parts are needed but I have been sourcing advice on how to work out what would be needed to fix them. We have never abused the bikes and only ever travelled at a speed on 35kms an hour or less.

I purchased Polaris Sportsman 550s cost $10,000 AU each, $60,000 I also purchased a Polaris Ranger Diesel side by side which cost me $20,000

The Bikes were purchased in 2012 and the first bike broke down within months. Our tours are seasonal so the bikes are not used between September through to April

These two particular bikes were sent back to Polaris Central in Perth in August 2013 along with another bike to be fixed.

I got the bikes back in January 2014.

The mechanic at Polaris Central in Perth told me that the dust was being suck in through and oval pipe with a round sealer on it into the lower part of the engine.

They silicone this seal to stop the dust sucking in

They also serviced the three bikes and charged me $772.82 (this did include a battery as one failed within 12 months)

To ship the bikes back to the Polaris Central in Perth then back to me cost me $1650.00

When the bikes come back one had not even being fixed, Polaris had to send the part out to us and we had to fix it, then they said we would be voiding our warranty by doing this. It was the fan and over heating issue.

The other two had dusted engines and were supposed to be repaired under "Goodwill" and within hours of use they started failing again and couldn't start them. Now this was all supposed to be fixed, brand new filters etc... How bad is that!

I do think the seal is faulty and it should never have sucked in dust.

I also asked about the other four bikes if they needed the seal doing and got no answer at all. This was all during warranty period.

I also asked about the filters and they told me if I put an oiled filter on it will choke the bike and I needed to use Polaris Genuine or my warranty is voided.

If "Extra" maintenance on filters is needed in Australia then why is it not clearly stated in the manual. They shouldn't have sold them to me as they knew exactly what I was needing and the conditions here in Western Australia, well most of Australia actually.

Polaris simply sent that email to me so I doubt that I will hear from them again. Oh, they did suggest take the bikes back to the dealer to be looked at but I would be "Charged" for it. But I do think I have a case, I have nothing to loose as I have already lost the bikes and my business.

Can I take this to:

Consumer Affairs?

Department of Fair Trading?

A Current Affair?

Any other suggestions?

Has anybody else had to take action to get action? I would be interested in hearing from you.