New xlt sp - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Snowweasel · 06-11-2012, 10:45 PM

Just picked up a 1996 Polaris xlt sp for $150. The sled looks like its in great shape. No visible damage, except for seat rip and little dent in belly pan. Its gonna need some going through (has 10,000+ mileage). the motor runs when it's cold, but has no bottom end power. Wants to bog off idle, and once you hit 6000 rpms it takes off like a rocket. I'm guessing Complete and thorough rebuild of the engine is needed. I haven't has a chance to do diagnostic work, but what do u guys think?

Planning on keeping her and doing it up as a summer project. (full resto, even though the cosmetic is great)

Pictures coming soon

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JD8345RT · 06-11-2012, 11:17 PM

Good deal! Sounds like it was well-maintained sled. With 10k+ miles it will be a tough sell when the time comes to part with it, but you should still come out ahead after rebuilding it.

Snowweasel · 06-12-2012, 05:09 AM

This sled had to have been someone's baby. Other then it running weird there is almost nothing wrong.

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**BC_Dan** · 06-12-2012, 08:33 AM

Lots of times, a low end performance issue is carb related, especially if it runs well at high end. I would start by cleaning the carbs, paying particular attention to the pilot jet circuit. The air and fuel passages to the pilot jet are very small and easily clog with varnish when gasoline evaporates over a summer.

Snowweasel · 06-12-2012, 04:46 PM

havent had the time to clean the crabs but i did a compression test. its got: 107-pto 136-mid 134-mag. for now my shop is full so i stored the xlt. cleaned the plugs, poured some sea foam down the cylinders, then ran the carbs dry, drained the gas, stuffed some steel wool up the exhaust and packed dryer sheets in/around the sled. hopefully get her into the shop before to long.

**RJ Gleason** · 06-12-2012, 08:09 PM

Was the plug from the lower reading cylinder kinda black and gunky?

Snowweasel · 06-12-2012, 10:03 PM

Not really. It looked just like the other plugs: brown and slightly wet.

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**RJ Gleason** · 06-13-2012, 08:08 AM

Might just be stuck rings that will free up with use.

Snowweasel · 06-13-2012, 09:56 AM

A couple of times I pulled the plugs and poured sea foam down the cylinders and ran it for a minute. I haven't dome a compression check yet, but it runs a lot smoother now. Who knows, maybe I did free up a ring.

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powerranger262 · 06-16-2012, 06:47 AM

Hopefully you get it running right. They are some heavy sob's but are a blast when they run well. Can't beat that triple sound!

aduck · 06-16-2012, 02:13 PM

x2 on carbs mine had same symptoms simple carb clean runs perfect again

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerranger262

Hopefully you get it running right. They are some heavy sob's but are a blast when they run well. Can't beat that triple sound!

i dont consider the xlt that heavy for a trip. compare it to any prs doo and its featherlite

XCRacer440 · 06-17-2012, 10:17 PM

Dont ever dump sea foam down your cyls again. All sea foam is, is basically kerosene, which washes oil off things like bearings and cyl walls.
I would go through the clutches with that many miles also. I'm sure there has been some work done at sometime on them, but cleaning them at least is necessary I'm sure.

Snowweasel · 09-28-2012, 06:28 AM

Finally got around to tearing down the engine. It's as I suspected. Blown pto side piston. Cylinder head is done, piston is non existent, and the crank is 23 thousandths outa wack. Damn