Ask the Editors: Fuel for the Wrong Strokes
Does not need premix.
Absolutely- you were close when you drained the carb’s float bowl but the problem lies a bit higher. The 2007/ 2008 Polaris Sportsman 90s were equipped with 4-stroke engines. By adding 2-cycle oil to your fuel, you likely clogged up the pilot jet in the carburetor with the oil.
The hole in the pilot jet is very small and sometimes even the sludge in regular gasoline can gum it up; imagine the effect thick oil in the fuel would have.
Pop open the carb, locate the pilot jet, remove it and try blasting compressed air through it until it’s open completely. There are also a variety of spray cleaners on the market to break down the gunk if the air isn’t enough alone. Absolute worst case scenario, head to your Polaris dealer and buy a new jet (it shouldn’t cost more than $10). Screw it in, close up and reattach the carb and your problems should be solved.
Were it us, we’d snag a carb rebuild kit and just replace all of the jets while we had it apart. Ordinarily the difference in cost between buying a single component and a rebuilt kit is minimal.
