RPM's - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

lrnnorth · 04-26-2007, 01:49 AM

I am wondering what is the highest rpm’s I should drive my machine at. A guy told me that anything over 8500 runs a risk of blowing an engine but I have seen Performance charts for gearings and pipes showing rpm’s at 8700 and even 9000. My machine can go around that high too. Does it just depend on the engine? It’s my Polaris 600.

**smallengineguy** · 04-26-2007, 06:40 AM

My Mach Z will spin close to 9000 no problem. There ARE redline specs though.

**RJ Gleason** · 04-26-2007, 08:51 AM

Even 10,000 is not out of the question. However, it is not recommended as the longer you run an engine at high rpm's, the more likely it will self destruct. (and usually very spectacularly) :O The 8400 range is within the 15% safety margin that prevents this from happening.

97Mach1 · 04-26-2007, 09:41 AM

If you have pipes/other mods done, then you should run the engine at whatever RPM the pipe maker recommends. Is this good for an engine? I don't think so, but I know people that have been spinning their engines for years and years at those high rpms and never had a problem.

Now if you're talking stock sleds, then more RPM will hurt you. It's not like a direct drive tranny like in a car. More rpms will not get you any higher speeds. On my sled, I can get about 115 mph at 8500 rpm. Go up to 8700 rpm, and I'll be lucky to do 100 mph. 9000 rpm and I'll be lucky to see 90 mph. HP drops off very sharply after the peak. Find some dyno charts of sleds, and you'll see what I am talking about. I'd much rather be 2-300 rpm LOW than even 50 rpm over.

kccats · 04-26-2007, 06:17 PM

As the others have said, the pipes will determine at what rpm your engine will turn?
I have had sleds that will pull over 9k but try that with a new 1000cc twin and it wont happen! More rpm does not mean more hp or speed!