Polaris Transmission bearing failure

crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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How many others have had this bearing go bad in the transmission? This is the 3rd one I have seen in person from friends I ride with. The other 2 were turbo'ed one had almost 4000 miles the other had about 1400. This pic is of my 2012 xp4 with 1475 miles and is completely stock. I have doubled all the service intervals so I believe the oil was changed 2 times since I have owned it. I have seen several others online. Is this a common failure in the desert races? We mostly dune. There are allot of info on changing the Chinese bearings to higher quality Japanese bearings and I'm thinking I'm going to have to do this in both of my xp's, that's after I buys a new transmission for 2000 bux.
In the pic you can see how it popped thru the case. I had to drive in reverse through the dunes from flag pole to the bottom of Olds so they could tow me. All with no oil and grinding the whole time. It's hard work duning in reverse.

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crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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I finally got around to fixing my r seater. I ended up buying a used transmission with 899 miles. I planned to change the bearings in the transmission as soon as I got it since I hear the Chinese bearing there using manufactured by Peer are not good.
I bought all new Nachi bearings they are Japanese and known for good quality. Milos USA who some may know made a list of bearing to buy. Here are some random pics I took.
View attachment 11930View attachment 11931View attachment 11932View attachment 11933

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crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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Now here is the interesting part. All the bearings in the used transmission were in good shape accept the 6207 bearings. There are 2 of them and this is one of the bearing that always go bad. The one the went bad in mine and the one I have seen go bad now multiple times ruining the transmission. These 2 6207 bearing felt rough and the races looks kinda like there are slight notches in them. Both bearings feel this way. The rest of the bearings are smooth as glass. Here is a pic of the 2 bearings. The Chinese bearing is machined for shields and seals i don't know if that has something to do with it?
View attachment 11934View attachment 11935

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crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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Timberdog

Member
Aug 23, 2010
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You have the skill to repair it and can see the reason why and how it failed. What about the average Joe who has to take it to a dealer for repairs...mega dinero's. A transmission shouldn't fail with such low mileage. Good luck with your upgrade, keep us in the loop on the bearing as far as reliability goes, I'm curious.
 

crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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Working good so far I put almost 25 miles on it today. I also put 64 oz. of fluid. 2 whole quarts

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COGNITO

Cognito Motorsports - Official UTVUnderground Spon
Apr 30, 2009
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Mine broke right above that, where it says Polaris on the case. 4175 brutal miles racing, car weighs over 1950 lbs plus driver and passenger. Ran 28" tires for the first 1500 miles and 30" tires for the last 2675 miles. Motor has been a 995 muzzys or a sparks 975 for the last 3000 miles. We changed the oil every 700 - 1000 miles.
 

crazywatson

#13 - UTVUnderground Approved
Jul 30, 2009
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I wouldn't be disappointed if I got that kind of use out of mine. I still think taking out the Chinese bearing is a good idea for you guys too. But the transmissions seem to better on hard pack. We do mostly dune riding and there seem to be more failures. I don't know why? I'm now running 64 oz. Of fluid and it doesn't spit it out or anything. I just took someone else's advise there and it sounded like a good idea. They don't seem to hold enough oil I don't think.

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