I have a '96 400 Sportsman 2 stroke, and I got beat consistantly last niht by a '00 500 Sportsman. Each race though, I was getting closer to catching him. It was probably a 1/8 mile race on gravel. What is wrong with my wheeler? I know the 400's seem way faster, and I thought they were. Is it because of the year difference? Do I maybe just need a new spark plug? What?
Please Help! I know something is wrong here, right?
What do you guys think?
Thanks, Joe

 

your clutchs can make a big diffence if they are wore out or not tuned properly.



1990 polaris trail boss 350L

 

Wait till an 500 HO gets you

 

JWool, I'd be willing to bet you got somthing wrong with your machine cause that just should not happen? When is the last time you replaced your belt or had your clutchs tuned up? Either one can make a big differance in top end. Were you lossing the to him on accelleration or top speed? Could be as simple as a dirty air filter!

 

Best to get the ole boy checked out,I own a 00 400cc Xplorer,no way will a stock 500cc Sportsman stick with me.I know,I owned both.My brother and I weigh the same and we touched them both off,I was about 4 quads ahead of him by 45 mph.The Sportsman was also bored out 10k over.Is the air filter clean?How about a new plug?====Bill

 

He beat me from start to finish, four races in a row. We even switched drivers and the 500 still won. We raced from 0-50 MPH, and I got smoked each time. I'm almost positive it needs a new plug, but the air filters are both brand new.
The only other thing I can think of is the 400 sat for a couple months since I rode it last.
Also, the belt is original. How often do you change these things?
Thanks

 

Well I owned one of those 96 Sp400 4x4 just like yours until about 3 months ago and it would haul a$$. But other times it wouldn't perform good at all. Then I got the teeth on my clutch repared, tightened up the clutch for more torque, new belt, new air filter and pre-filter and a new spark plug from my dealer. There is a guy across the street from me and he has a 2000 Grizz. After I got all of that fixed I was hanging with a 2000 600 Grizz. That 96 Sp400 is a fast machine and sometimes I wish I still had it.