Well I found out what the snapping noise was in my right rear wheel/axle assembly.The wheel bearing in the hub has at least 3/16 of a inch play in it(up and down) and the left wheel has play to.This bike has only 1000 miles on it, has anybody else had bearing failure on their 02 500ho sportsman's like this or am I just extremely lucky with bad luck?At least it's not a axle joint(much more $$$$)bodean---02 500ho x sportsman --many mods

 

do you take care of it?

 

Same problem with my 02'500Sp.Mine went out at around 450-500 miles.Mine is only ridden in the mud,never anywhere else.Easy to change though.Just be sure to heat the bearing housing with a propane torch,comes out much easier.Put your new bearing in the freezer to shrink it and again heat the housing up and the bearing will literally fall in to place.

 

Polaris relies on the bearing seal to keep out mud and water and does not add a lip seal to ensure longevity. This is OK for most riding but if all you do is mud then you can expect to replace your bearings more often.

 

My bike is very well taken care of and sees about 95% work and 5% leisure riding.I don't walk the bike around mud holes but I don't get it up to the headlight either as far as that goes it get's more water on it from a garden hose than any puddle.If the bearings are that fragile maybe I need to sit down and look at some other bikes and their specs.I guess I'm just a little peeved that my bike isn't abused and it's treating me like it is.bodean[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

 

The bearings in the rear are sealed.They do not have a lip seal like the front.

 

I run my quad through the mud lots of times and I'm still on my original bearings. Of course I wash it well after every outing try hard not to hit the bearings hard with the HP washer. When you have to replace the bearings go to your local bearing supplier and take your bearing with you as a sample. Specialized bearing suppliers generally can sell the bearings for considerably less $.

 

I tried that with the rear bearings.They are a special bearing made for polaris.They are a double row sealed bearing.Looks like two bearings stacked on one another but is one assembly.

 

The bearing are a special of sorts but they are not made specially for Polaris. I replaced mine in my 98 Sportsman in 2000 and paid $40 from my local bearing supply house, Polaris wanted $80. The bearing supply house had to order the bearings as they didn't stock it but it only took a week for them to come in.

 

thats about how long my raptor bearings lasted