2 free quads

I got the fan out. It was rusted up solid. I got it to turn, but it still doesn’t work. I ordered a used one, it came in today, I’ll probably put it back together tomorrow. You have to take the bumper and radiator off to get to it. It looked like it was going to be harder than it was, I had it out in less than an hour. I have to clean the radiator up before I put it back in, the fins are packed with mud. It’s probably good that I did have take it out, because I couldn’t see that with it in. Hopefully that fixes the overheating problem, then I just have to change the engine oil and transmission fluid. If it’s all good after that, I can put the plow on it, and put it to work when we get snow.
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4getgto said:
Nice job Nick..you'll have yourself a good snow toy this winter..
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Thanks Bill. I can’t wait to see how this does plowing compared to a GT. It should go pretty good with the 4 wheel drive.
Cvans said:
I’m pretty sure you can figure that you’ve solved the overheating problem. :thumbs:
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I think so, it’s definitely a problem. The only other thing that could be bad is the thermostat, which was my original thought before I figured out the fan wasn’t working.
 
IHCubCadet147 said:
Thanks Bill. I can’t wait to see how this does plowing compared to a GT. It should go pretty good with the 4 wheel drive.

I think so, it’s definitely a problem. The only other thing that could be bad is the thermostat, which was my original thought before I figured out the fan wasn’t working.
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I knew of a couple guys that plowed with four wheelers. While pretty fast the problematic part of both was going into reverse. Never wanted to go in easily and clunked bad at times. And you use reverse quite a bit when plowing..
 
4getgto said:
I knew of a couple guys that plowed with four wheelers. While pretty fast the problematic part of both was going into reverse. Never wanted to go in easily and clunked bad at times. And you use reverse quite a bit when plowing..
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It seems to shift into reverse ok so far. It does clunk sometimes, but I think that’s kind of normal. At least, the other two we have do that too. My dad used to plow with his a lot. He even did our whole mile long dirt road with it a few times when his plow truck was broken down. I’m hoping this is quicker than a GT since I have to do our driveway, and now two neighbors driveways, one of which is pretty long.
 
I never had any issues plowing with a 4 wheeler. The first place I worked at right after high school had a sportsman’s 500. I used to do the parking lot with it. That one had a gear lever (like all Polaris) and it would slip right into reverse. The reverse override would let you full power in reverse.

My Foreman 500 goes right into reverse without a problem. No clunks or bangs. Smooth as shifting any other vehicle into reverse.
 
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A guy switching from a GT to a 4 wheeler for snow removal was how I got the MF8E 30 some years ago. He broke the engine so he gave it to me as partial payment for lettering his racecar. He figured I would use it for dirtwork on my go-kart track more than snow but it ended up being the primary snow mover too. Same guy I just made that little display car for in my junk thread.

DAC
 
I have the 500 engine in my ranger that come out of a Sportsmen. Don't think there is much difference between the 450 and 500. If you still have heating issues, check the thermostat for a tiny vent hole at the flange where it goes against the engine. That vent has to be at the top to vent the air out of the engine. That is casually mentioned in the service manual. I put in an aftermarket stat and it still overheated. No hole in that one so drilled a tiny hole and back together. No more issues. Good luck.
 
chieffan said:
I have the 500 engine in my ranger that come out of a Sportsmen. Don't think there is much difference between the 450 and 500. If you still have heating issues, check the thermostat for a tiny vent hole at the flange where it goes against the engine. That vent has to be at the top to vent the air out of the engine. That is casually mentioned in the service manual. I put in an aftermarket stat and it still overheated. No hole in that one so drilled a tiny hole and back together. No more issues. Good luck.
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That’s good to know, thank you.
 
I got it back together and rode it around a little. So far it seems to be running cooler, but it has also been really cold outside too. I have not seen the fan come on yet, but I probably did not get it warm enough. I’m not sure what temperature it comes on at. I know it works, because I tried it before I put it in. Now I just have to change the oil. I think I can put the plastics back on now too. We got a little snow, I might put the plow on it and try it out tonight if it doesn’t melt before then.
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I got to plow with it last night. It did a good job. There was only about 3 inches of snow, but it was heavy and wet. Much quicker than a tractor, and the 4 wheel drive is nice. I still think the tractors are more fun though, so this won’t replace them completely.

The fan did come on a few times, so now I know it’s working. There was no antifreeze pouring out the overflow bottle either, so I think I got the overheating issues fixed.
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When I first put the plow on, it didn’t touch the ground. I had to add two links to the lift chain. I think the front tires I have on here are a little taller then the originals.
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4getgto said:
Trying to see if your plow angles Nick ? I believe it does ?
Also a lot of times people like their blade off the ground a bit so might explain the 2 links short.
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Yeah, it does angle. That is possible, but I think the taller front tires, and bad rear shock are making the front end sit higher than it should be. The chain may be right when I replace the shock, and get the correct size tires. I guess it’s also possible that something is bent somewhere, but it doesn’t look like it.
 
Your probably ok using those tires in the snow but it would be a lot better for the drivetrain to get the correct size on there again. Odd sized tires tend to bind things up.
I like those old Polaris quads. They were good machines and there seems to still be quite a few of them around.
 
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