PSA: I tried a cheap aftermarket carb on my old Polaris and it was a total mess

I mean, I got one of those $80 kits online for my '98 Indy 500 because the original was shot. Idk, maybe it's just me but it ran okay for like two rides, then it started flooding the engine really bad on a trip up near Eagle River. I had to get towed back by my buddy, which was super embarrassing. I learned that saving a few bucks can cost you a whole day and a lot of hassle. Has anyone else found a decent, reliable carb rebuild kit for these older sleds that won't leave you stranded?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason_stone2mo ago

Yeah those cheap carbs are a total gamble. My uncle swore by getting a genuine Mikuni rebuild kit from a dealer, even though it costs more. It's just not worth the headache when you're miles from the truck.

jenniferc712mo ago

My old Yamaha had a float bowl gasket from a cheap kit that swelled up after one tank of ethanol gas. Mason_stone is right about the gamble, because that failure is almost never in the parts you can easily see. You end up chasing your tail over a two-dollar piece of rubber.

anderson.gavin1mo ago

Ugh, been there. That exact thing happened on my '96 XLT. The cheap float needle was just a hair too long or something, never sealed right. I bit the bullet and got a genuine Mikuni kit from Dennis Kirk. All the gaskets fit perfect and the jetting specs were right. It stings paying more, but it just works. Haven't touched it in three seasons now.