im just about to change the oil for the first time~! just wondering if i will need to prime the pump on my sportsman after changing it..and if so how do i do that? found some old threads but they were about pred. oil chage......any ideas?
thanks guys!

 

no you shouldn't have to prime it...it should do that itself.

 

sweet...thanks..that was so fast...faster than my dealer could answer the phone!
lol

 

If you removed the oil hose from the rear of the oil tank to clean the internal screen you need to prime the oil pump. Otherwise you do not need to prime the pump.

 

If you have a 400 or 500 engine you NEED to PRIME it!!!. The 600/700 engines don't need it.
If you have your owner's manual look in their. If not you can download the owner's manual off of Polaris's website. www.polarisindustries.com
Go to the bottom of the page to Manuals and Brochures and fill you'll find the rest from there. you can download any year sportsman owner's manual, the engine and procedure hasn't changed in years.

 

owners manual says nothing about how to prime the pump...just says to refill it as soon as possible after draining cranck case...how do i prime it?....

 

If it is like my Scrambler, and it probably is, there is a hose coming out of the top of the oil tank going back to the oil pump. About two inches down the hose from the tank there is a slit in it running long ways. Pinch the hose off between the slit and the tank and start the motor. Run the motor for at least 30 seconds, then release the hose. You should hear a hissing sound from the slit. If so your pump is primed, if not repeat the procedure.

 

great ill give that a try tomorrow ...thanks!

 

I had changed the oil in my 04 500 @ 10 hrs and went by the owners manual which said nothing about priming the oil pumpit now has 60hrs or so and havent had any problems with it and i did disconnect the oil hose to clean the screen./BUTTTTTT I resently got a shop manual and in one section in the oil and filter change it does mention to prime the oil pump when ever the hose connection between the oil tank and the pump inlet has deen disconnected. This is done by pinching off the vent line 2 inches from the oil tank to avoid the oil tank fitting and the vent line relief slit,run engine for 10 to20 seconds.Remove the vent lone clamp and it should be primed.If done properly you should hear some air release.This vent hose runs to the air box and it looks like it is at the top of the oil tank. ATTN, all the info here is from the 2004 sportsman 400 and 500 service manual part #9918802.
I am pissed that this is not in the owners manual, and hope that no damage was done.On monday I am going to call the dealer to let him know that the owners manual sucks., and this info would be helpful when changing the oil only going by the owners manual.In the morning I am going to try the above to see if there is any changes
So to answer your yes if you want to clean the screen in the tank,no if just changing the oil and filter.
Hope this helps Rich
Should the pinched line be released while the moter is running or after the motor is shut off????????????//

 

Release the pinched line while the motor is running. I do suggest cleaning the screen. Mine has had gunk in it every time I have cleaned it. I'm not worried about this gunk getting to the motor. That's what the filter is for, but I want a good exchange between the motor and the oil tank.