I have a 2005 Sportsman 500 HO and I am unable to start it. The electric start does not work, if I try and pull start I am generally successful after 4-5 attempts. After the bike starts, it will idle as it should with NO problems, once I give it gas, all of the readings no longer work (everything will flash and it goes blank). The spedoomoter will not wok but I can drive it for approx. 400-500 meters before it will then back-fire and abruptly stop. I have checked the battery and it shows a reading of 12 volts. ... Another note to this issue, when I would turn the Headlight on it would flicker like a strobe light and as mentioned, it would then shortly just die. Any suggestions on how I can fix this issue? My battery is about 8 months old and I only have about 30 hours of total ride time on it. I have looked in my manual to help me get to the root of the problem but that seems very vague and not descriptive in the least. Can anyone help me with this matter and if so, would it be too much to ask for a step by step instruction? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

when your in your diagnostic mode go in to the volts gage and see what it reads and at the same time try to hit the starter to see if it drops. also when you so have it started in this mode what is it reading for volt while you idle it up? should be at least 13.5 or better. if not then its not charging and could be the emc gone bad as a bunch has and there was a recall on certain yrs and bikes.

 

Thank you so much for you quick reply! When I do you have mentioned, in the diagnostic mode it reads 8.5 volts....I am unable to get in over 1000 RPM's before it dies.

 

you need to charge the battery up w/ a battery charger to see if it holds a charge to make sure its not the battery thats bad. if you charge the battery it should start the bike. if i would have to guess, i would say the ecm is gone bad. do a search and you might find the post about the recall info on what years and bikes it was. im pretty sure it was in the 05' area as well as the 500's. maybe even call the local dealer to find out from them if they know about the recall.

 

I have tried to take the battery off the bike and charge it alone, the battery charger I am using flashes "fault" and is not able to charge. I had this happen (meaning with the battery, not same symptoms as I currently have with my bike) with the first battery that came with the bike. I bought a new one and thought that would fix the issue...as it did for a short time.... I have only put maybe 5-6 hours on the bike with the new battery ... both batterise (new and old) were factory (polaris) batteries.

 

Anyone know how to test the stator???

 

dont quote me but i think you do it w/ an ohms tester and have to know the correct readings. maybe if harley reads this or someone w/ a service manual can look it up and see what they find.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: stendori

dont quote me but i think you do it w/ an ohms tester and have to know the correct readings. maybe if harley reads this or someone w/ a service manual can look it up and see what they find.</end quote></div>

There are a couple ways to check the stator. The easiest is to unplugg the yellow wires at the regulator and run an ohm check across each of them to each other, and then each of them to ground. There should be continuity to each other and no continuity to ground. .13 ohms, open to ground

The other way is an ac amps output test. Should be above 5 amps.

The ohms test has always been enough to determine whether the stator is good or bad in my experience(except on a Harley once)

Let us know if you have more problems.


Edit - Quoted info out of wrong year, sorry. Fixed!

 

souds like my 2004 500 ho it might have a bab e.c.m.u. it might be even be replaced by polaris on a recall if the vin # matches you will have to check with a dealer. my machine goes in to see if it needs another one. its been changed once and stii doesnt run your problem sounds like mine the first time around. good luck