S
Looking at a 97 and it shows its a 500 but if I remember right are those the 488 fan cooled motors? Looks the same as my other 488.
Is the 488 called the 500?
- Thread starter SpencerA
- Start date
They made a fan cooled 500 & liquid cooled 500, both were 488cc but look very different.
1990 Classic
We had a 1990 500 Polaris Classic with a 488c liquid cooled engine. Never a probably with the engine. Always ran great. We did have a wiring issue. That's because Polaris decided to run the wiring harness under the engine. Cleaned the connections and used some dielectric grease and that solved the problem.
We had a 1990 500 Polaris Classic with a 488c liquid cooled engine. Never a probably with the engine. Always ran great. We did have a wiring issue. That's because Polaris decided to run the wiring harness under the engine. Cleaned the connections and used some dielectric grease and that solved the problem.
The liquid cooled 488's were referred to has 500's. Sleds with the fan cooled 488 usually had "trail" in their name. Polaris also made a domestic 500, little brother to the big twins.
S
So this is the 488 fanner. I'm not mistaken aren't these one of the most reliable motors polaris made? I know being a fan cooled motor you don't get the performance but this will be used to put around the groomed trails with the little ones.
V
The 488 should make a decent trail putter.
F
Haha whatever you do dont try make MORE power with these motors, they just fall apart.
But the older fugi 488/500 liquid/fan both shared the same bore and the motors nearly looked the same, I believe the Stator/clutches/crank/pistons/CDI and a few other odds and ends were the same. Both slow but reliable. The domestic 500 was a way different animal all together.
But the older fugi 488/500 liquid/fan both shared the same bore and the motors nearly looked the same, I believe the Stator/clutches/crank/pistons/CDI and a few other odds and ends were the same. Both slow but reliable. The domestic 500 was a way different animal all together.
S
No plans on engine mods. I want reliability not performance.
V
Well, in that case, I have a 340cc twin sitting on the shop floor. With over 8700 break-in miles it should be just broke in for your application.
S
For flatland riding I actually love my wife's 488. They seem to be bullet proof.
I had a 1987 Indy Trail, 488 fan, it had something like 9000 miles on it when I sold it. Did put new pistons and crank bearings in it once. I did bore the engine enough to make it a true 500 cc, maybe like 40 thousandths. Not much to tear those motors down. It would get to about 60 mph pretty quick. That sled made trips to northern Minnesota and the Black Hills and a lot of SW Minnesota miles.
My dad still has a 1990 500 sks with the liquid 488, rebuilt it once in 96, and the crank bearings just went out at the end of last season, and now he's rebuilding it again. It has approximately 13,000 miles on it, (rough estimate, odometer broke about 5 years ago and reads 11,000) sled has been super reliable, and myself, my little sister, and my little brother all started out on it. I'm 19 now, and I was the one riding it last year when it finally crapped out on us. It's a blast to ride even with not much power, and back in the day my dad took it places I have yet to get to on my 03 rmk
