my 04 sportsman 500 ho engages at around 1700. the owners manual says belt engagement should be between 1200 and 1400. my dealer says the manual is wrong. who is right?

 

Welcome to the forums...


How do you know its engaging at 1700?

 

Well, my machine (same engine) idles at around 1200 RPM (+-200 RPM) That is what the manual calls for. So, an engagement at 1700 is more realistic than 1200. Mine engages at around 2200RPM, but I have a clutch kit in it also

 

thank you for the timely reply. great board. the 500 came with a tach. the problem is taking off from a standstill is a jolt. great hole shot but kind of rough . should not jolt as it does on takeoff. this thing is brand new. dealer replaced belt. it did not do it right at first and right after the belt was changed.

 

Do you own a Roadrunner?????

 

All the late model 500 HOs take off with a jolt, that's the way P set up the clutches to minimize slippage on take-off. I don't like it either but that's life. I rode a Griz 660 the other day and it has a very smooth bumpless take-off wish mine was like it. Like I say that's life.

 

if 1700 rpm's is normal that's ok. my real problem is that the engagement rpm keeps getting higher. it's up to 2300 so, it's back at the dealer for the second time. slow speed is next to impossible.

 

yes i do. 69 plymouth road runner 383 auto #'s match. original except for rebuilt engine and new paint.

 

ENGAGEMENT is at 1700 rpms, usualy good movement comes later, engagement is the point in which the pulleys close on the belt, you will feel it creep at that point, but you must have some rpms up in order to actually move. Think of it as a 5 speed bike trying to take off in 3rd gear all the time, this is equivalent to the polaris high range, you need some rpms to get moving,
HOWEVER if in low it STILL wont move until that high if an rpm, then maybe you have some problems.
I have a heelclicker setup in mine which dropped my engagemnt from 1600 down to about 1450, it still wont really move decent until about 2000 RPMS though.

Ron
04 Sportsman 400

 

Nice car! Dont let it go. MY dad had a 69 Roadrunner with a #'s matching 440 6-pack, 4-speed, dana 60 with 4.56 gears, and a fiberglass lift off hood. It was decked out with a 5 point racing harness, Torque thrust wheels, wide *** tires and a bunch off other stuff. He was getting ready for the NOS before he sold it. My grandpa made him sell it cuz it wasnt an "economical" car for him starting a family. He kicks himself everyday for selling that car to some kid that tried cicle track racing it and BLEW it up[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]