Dave Blancett Falls Hook, Line and Sinker for New RZR

| January 4, 2011

And THAT’S why it was important to fix the steering on the RZR

by Dave Blancett, Polaris RZR Owner

There was a time when I regarded side-by-sides with disdain. I looked down my substantial nose, affording them the same low regard as a paddle-tired golf cart.

“What purpose could this narrow, high center-of-gravity vehicle possibly serve out here in the dunes?” …then I drove one. I was handed the key to a Polaris Ranger RZR last President’s Weekend at Dumont, and took it for a thrash in the dunes. It was a different driving experience. It felt a bit top-heavy, but never fell over, and it felt a bit underpowered, but climbed every dune I pointed it at. The strangest feature is that snowmobile transmission. The RZR rockets forward when you stomp the gas pedal, engine noise happily climbing to a certain rpm, then it just stops. It’s not like hitting a rev limiter, the engine just doesn’t gain any more revs, almost like it has run out of steam. But the RZR keeps accelerating. Very strange. It’s that infinitely variable transmission.

OK, so now I’ve taken the bait and all that is left is to set the hook. I must have swallowed the bait, because I bought a well-used RZR before our trip to the ATV Jamboree in Utah this last September.

The RZR among its own kind

My “new” RZR got the once-over with fresh fluids and a good pressure-washing. Did you know that there are four (count ‘em, FOUR) different lubricants for that drivetrain? One thing I didn’t do was check the air pressure in the tires. More on that to come…

The first time the RZR hit the dirt was in Utah. Sure, I ran it around my back yard, but I didn’t want to tear up the grass too much, so I was very conservative. First fast corner and it plowed like a John Deere. My lawn tractor corners better! I was beginning to wonder what I had purchased, as I was sliding towards the ditch on the outside of the turn. Several similar turns later, I returned to camp and started looking closely at wheel alignment. The fronts appeared to have a bit of toe-out, which would account for the unusual handling characteristics. The right rear looked to be toed in. What the hell! (Now I’m really getting worried about my purchase) Did you know that you can check the wheel alignment with a long piece of string? Turns out, the alignment was off just a bit up front, so I dialed in about 1/8” of toe-in. Better, but not on rails yet.

Sometime during the week, I mentioned the handling to a fellow UTV owner, and he suggested I check tire pressures. The manual calls for 8 #. The aftermarket wheels and tires want 5 #. Mine varied from 12# to 36#. Hmmm. Dropped all four to 5#…goes where you point it now, and does a real nice crossed-up drift in 2 or 4wd.

Oh, did I mention that it will climb until the traction is gone? It’s not too shabby in 2wd, but it is a serious mountain goat in 4wd, especially in low range.

I’m beginning to look at all the performance hardware that can be had with sixteen little digits…no wonder folks who own these things comment on how expensive they can be.

Yeah, the hook is firmly set.

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