The K&N flows more air but does not filter down to the smaller micron rating like a high quality paper or synthetic element. There was a series of changes to the 2009 to the air box and the way it seals to the intake boot and a shield added in the bed. The best way is to run a snorkel kit to pull air from a cleaner air source. let me look into the changes and i will post it later.

Steve. Did you install the equipment that Polaris said to install to fix the problem. If so the warranty was extended and you should be able to get it taken care of by the dealer, If you ignored what they said to do it could be a problem but a good dealership may ignore the fact that the upgrades where not installed.

OK i am rolling. Do you work for Disney.    

First off i almost missed your post because i don't normally look in the photo gallery on technical questions and normally don't look here much at all. You never mentioned that you ever installed a clutch reprogramming kit which is normally required for the use of taller tires and that kit reprograms the drive and driven clutch for the taller tires and also the kits adjust for the altitude that you mostly ride at. The kits depending on manufacture are set from 0-3000 feet and 3000-6000 feet and so on. the price for your clutches seem high and normally last thousands of hours if properly set up and taken care of. Without seeing what you have and more details on what your dealer said has gone bad and maybe some pictures i would not be able to make a guess and would say that he may be wrong. Dirty dawg performance as well as EPI sell belts as well as clutch tuning kits for your machine. 2 belts in 227 hrs is not normal and it could be caused by a broken engine mount or bad and improper belt alignment as well as what your dealer said if he is right.

The heat issues have been taken care of on the 2010 and the parts will soon be available for the 2009 to take care of the same problem....

I do not know of a fix as of now but I would assume that since Polaris was made aware of this heat issue on release of the 2009 models that they would have updated the 2010 model over this issue. Until the parts manuals are available from Polaris little is known on what has changed from 2009 and 2010 other then power steering and a bigger engine. Because the 2010 now runs what looks like last years RZR engine and being equipped with power steering now i see no need to look at the 2009 models as an option anymore.

The big improvement is in the Ranger Xp and it finally got the engine it always needed and also the power steering and I would really consider a new one if the money was there. They must have had a misprint on the H.D. or they really de-tuned it because it still only shows 40 HP with the 800 engine. As for the RZR the only thing mechanical is they must have finally removed the primary clutch limiting spacer to get to 60 mph. This makes me think since the new Ranger XP now has the RZR engine and possibly the same primary clutch this can be done for a top end boost for the XP as well in the area of 58 to 60 mph. Other then cosmetic stuff the RZRs has no change as fare as i can see. It is also great that the Ranger Crew also now has the 800 engine and that really was needed as fare as i am concerned......