One in a million? Billion even?

Chuck403

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Got looking at our sled keys last night. We both have SR Viper mtx's, same year, bought from the same dealership, at the same time. Our keys are identical. Same key code stamped on both of them. I know there are only so many combinations they can use, but the odds of 2 keyed identical sleds built a month or 2 apart, ending up at the same dealership, have to be pretty good. Then throw some more odds in that those 2 sleds would be sold to a couple have to be astronomical.
 

Longhairfreak

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Got looking at our sled keys last night. We both have SR Viper mtx's, same year, bought from the same dealership, at the same time. Our keys are identical. Same key code stamped on both of them. I know there are only so many combinations they can use, but the odds of 2 keyed identical sleds built a month or 2 apart, ending up at the same dealership, have to be pretty good. Then throw some more odds in that those 2 sleds would be sold to a couple have to be astronomical.


If I remember correctly back in the day Polaris only had 5 different keys for their sleds.
 

Frankenytro

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Got looking at our sled keys last night. We both have SR Viper mtx's, same year, bought from the same dealership, at the same time. Our keys are identical. Same key code stamped on both of them. I know there are only so many combinations they can use, but the odds of 2 keyed identical sleds built a month or 2 apart, ending up at the same dealership, have to be pretty good. Then throw some more odds in that those 2 sleds would be sold to a couple have to be astronomical.



Had a key from my old 94 artic cat 700 wildcat start up a 13 Polaris pro 800 a couple years ago when in a bind. I believe these to be about the most crude key switches that ever existed on powersports equipment. On some sleds you can simply unplug the hood harness and they will fire right up... I bet you wouldn’t think that is all that safe once you figured it out either lol. Brand new sled can be stolen with no tools needed, open the side panel and disconnect the harness and the machine is theirs... scary.
 

Mach1

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Had a key from my old 94 artic cat 700 wildcat start up a 13 Polaris pro 800 a couple years ago when in a bind. I believe these to be about the most crude key switches that ever existed on powersports equipment. On some sleds you can simply unplug the hood harness and they will fire right up... I bet you wouldn’t think that is all that safe once you figured it out either lol. Brand new sled can be stolen with no tools needed, open the side panel and disconnect the harness and the machine is theirs... scary.

that was exactly how we started old sleds when parents take the key away, lol you are correct
 

Quattroman

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Yup, keys for our Proclimbs look slightly different in cut profile. But if you wiggle em in the ignition abit one key will start the other easily. They are clearly designed as an on/off switch and not for security.

They should have gone to a coded key long time ago... like my older canned-ham outlander had
 

tmo1620

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Definitely not one in a million, not even close, arctic cat only has like 6 keys, have had it twice now where my sled had the same key as my dads sled, and both times they were different model years
 

tmo1620

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Yup, keys for our Proclimbs look slightly different in cut profile. But if you wiggle em in the ignition abit one key will start the other easily. They are clearly designed as an on/off switch and not for security.

They should have gone to a coded key long time ago... like my older canned-ham outlander had

Why? So when u lose a key you have to spend a bunch of money to replace it, or when you accidentally forget it at home and then you cant ride cause your sled will not start without it? Thats real cool when your in valemount and you realize your key is at home. Also real cool when ur sled goes for a crazy tumble and you get to it and your key is not there, have witnessed all of the above, towed a random guy out of goat ridge bowl because of the last point and had a trip ruined because of forgetting keys at home, real gay when you cant hot wire the sled
 

Rbrduk

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My buddy’s 13 pro has the same key as my 12. Different dealers
 

Caper11

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Its the same with ford too. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the key would unlock the door and start the engine but the security would shut the engine down.
I thought the battery was low at first and the reason for the remote doorlock not working, so I used the key to unlock the door.

What are the odds of have two keyed alike trucks in our small fleet.
 

Invalid Zero

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Ran my 2016 M8000 with the hood off in the trailer. Key was still attached to the hood, sled fired up fine. Could I have driven it like this? Or does the ECU limit revs when the hood harness is disconected?
 

Big A

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Polaris and Cat will both run without the ignition switch, still operate on the same basic wiring principles as older sleds, ‘18 Cat may be different. Doo is the only one with a theft deterent system, each DESS is coded to the ECM so will not run without it.
 

chickenman

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Yup, my Polaris dealer told to just un plug the under hood harness if i for got my key. Also that i could walk into any Polaris dealer and buy a "3 dot" polaris key if I lost mine. I ve moved on to Doo and cary a spare DESS key in my bag incase anything gets lost or forgotten. Also having your DESS coded to the same as your riding buddies machines helps some times too
 
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