I am going to try and change the oil in my 03 sportsman 500, how do you get off the lower delivery hose?, mine has the hose coming off the side so you can't get a socket on it. Also I need help locating the sump drain plug.

 

1 more thing, is the sump drain plug in a horizontal or vertical position?

 

It's been a while since I changed the oil on a HO, but if I remember correctly, I used several extensions (the wiggle type) and got at the bolt holding the return line to the reservoir from the right hand side of the quad. Mine was an 01 with the aluminum reservoir, but I think the bolt should be in the same place. I remember thinking that I was going to break something as hard as it was to break it loose. I know that I never removed that line again (to get at the screen) after that time b/c there was nothing in the screen. As far as the drain plug on the engine case, I can't remember if it screws up into the case or into the side of it. I want to say that it screws up into the case, but can't be for sure. Someone who still owns a 500 will be along soon and can answer that for you.