Snowmobile Polaris 550 Transport Trail Touring. Manual - part 29

114

TROUBLESHOOTING 

Engine Troubleshooting

Unless you have experience and training in two-cycle engine repair, 

see your dealer if technical problems arise.

Problem

Probable Cause Solution

Erratic engine oper-

ating RPM during 

acceleration or load 

variations

Drive clutch binding

• Disassemble drive clutch to inspect 

shift weights for wear and free 

operation. SEE YOUR DEALER.

• Clean and polish stationary shaft 

hub.

Driven clutch mal-

function

• Replace ramp buttons and rollers. 

SEE YOUR DEALER.

• Inspect movable sheaves for exces-

sive bushing clearance and replace 

if necessary. SEE YOUR 

DEALER.

Harsh drive clutch 

engagement

Drive belt worn or 

too narrow

• Replace the drive belt.

Excessive belt/

sheave clearance

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Drive belt turns over

Wrong belt for appli-

cation

• Replace the drive belt.

Clutch alignment out 

of spec

• Adjust alignment offset. SEE 

YOUR DEALER.

Engine mount bro-

ken or loose

• Inspect and adjust or replace. SEE 

YOUR DEALER.

Machine fails to 

move

Clutch jammed

• Check for twisted belt, broken 

spring, sticking weights, lubrica-

tion. SEE YOUR DEALER.

Track jammed

• Foreign object may be caught or the 

rail slide melted to the track clips 

due to lack of lubrication.

• Track may be iced up or frozen to 

the ground. 

Chaincase sprocket 

or chain jammed or 

broken

• Chain is loose or broken or chain 

tightener is loose. SEE YOUR 

DEALER.

115

TROUBLESHOOTING

Engine Troubleshooting

Problem

Probable Cause Solution

Noise in drive sys-

tem

Broken drive clutch 

components

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Bearing failure/ 

chaincase, jackshaft, 

or front drive shaft

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Drive belt surface 

flat spots

• Inspect and replace as needed.

Drive chain loose

• Inspect and adjust (or replace).

Drive chain worn, 

sprocket teeth bro-

ken

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Poor low RPM per-

formance

Worn drive belt

• Inspect and replace as needed.

Excessive belt/

sheave clearance

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Loose torque stop

• Inspect and adjust.

Sticky clutch

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Engine doesn't turn

Seized engine

• SEE YOUR DEALER. Seizure is a 

result of poor lubrication, inade-

quate fuel supply, broken parts or 

improper cooling.

Hydrostatic lock 

• Fuel may have entered the crank-

case while the vehicle was standing 

or being transported. SEE YOUR 

DEALER to correct the cause. 

Drain plug(s) are located on the 

lower crankcase for emergency 

draining.

Engine doesn't start 

(electric start mod-

els)

Wire connections

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Engine requires 

more than normal 

pulls to start

Poor fuel

• Replace with fresh winter fuel.

Not enough fuel get-

ting to engine

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

116

TROUBLESHOOTING

Engine Troubleshooting

Problem

Probable Cause Solution

Engine turns but fails 

to start

Faulty ignition

• Install new spark plug(s). If engine 

still fails to start, check for spark. If 

there's no spark, SEE YOUR 

DEALER.

No fuel to engine

• Make sure the fuel valve is on.
• Use the choke. See page 52.
• Make sure fuel tank contains fuel.
• Ice may be in fuel line, filter or 

pump. Add isopropyl alcohol to 

fuel system. On the standard 

Polaris carburetor, the choke will 

not function with the throttle 

depressed. See second item under 

Probable Cause" of Engine Contin-

ually Backfires".

Flooded engine (too 

much choke used)

• Hold throttle open, crank engine 

several times (may be necessary to 

change plug(s).

Poor engine com-

pression

• Mixture is too lean. A main jet that 

is too small will cause seizure 

resulting in loss of power. This 

indicates a major engine problem 

that must be repaired before operat-

ing. SEE YOUR DEALER.

Engine lacks power

Fouled or defective 

spark plug(s)

• Replace the plug(s).

Fuel filter (loss of 

high RPM power)

• Check fuel filter flow. Disconnect 

hose and drain 1/2 cup. Fuel flow 

should be steady and encompass 

the entire diameter of fuel line. If 

not, replace filter.

Incorrect clutching

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Carburetor and fuel 

pump

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

Engine continually 

backfires

Faulty plug(s)

• Change plug(s).

Carburetor / Fuel 

System

• Dirt or ice may be in the fuel sys-

tem (add deicer to non-ethanol fuel 

at all times to prevent icing).

Incorrect throttle 

freeplay or faulty 

switch

• SEE YOUR DEALER.

117

TROUBLESHOOTING

EDGE 136 Suspension

Problem

Solution

Rear suspension bottoms 

too easily 

• Increase torsion spring preload
• Increase rear shock compression damping by turning 

screw clockwise

• Increase torsion spring wire diameter (see your dealer)
• Rotate RRSS to a higher position. See page 39.

Rides too stiff in rear

• Check for binding suspension shafts and grease all 

pivot points

• Decrease torsion spring preload adjustments
• Decrease rear shock compression valving by turning 

screw counterclockwise)

• Check for proper track tension
• Rotate RRSS to a lower position. See page 39.

Machine darts from side 

to side

• Make sure skis are aligned properly
• Make sure spindles and all steering components are 

free turning

• Make sure skags are straight on skis
• Check rail slide and replace if worn
• Reduce ski pressure: 

A) Increase front track spring preload
B) Reduce IFS spring preload

C) Reduce rear torsion spring preload

Front end pushes

• Check for worn skags
• Check for binding suspension shafts and grease all 

pivot points

• Increase IFS spring preload by adjusting cam or 

threaded adjuster

• Adjust RRSS to a higher position

Steering is heavy

• Check ski alignment
• Check skags and skis for damage
• Reduce ski pressure:

A) Increase front track spring preload
B) Reduce IFS spring preload by adjusting cam
C) Reduce rear torsion spring preload

• Make sure spindles and all steering components are 

free turning (elevate machine to check)

Too much weight transfer 

under acceleration

• Rotate RRSS to a higher position. See page 39.

Not enough weight trans-

fer under acceleration

• Move RRSS to the rearward upper hole on high posi-

tion. See page 39.