My brother is having some problems with his 2000 Sportsman 500. This past weekend while on the mountain hunting, it quit running on him numerous times. It was "dead". In other words, when it quit, nothing would work. He would let it set for a while, than it would start back up. He could than drive it for a short time more, till it quit again. This happened about 6-7 times before he made it back to camp. Anyone else experience this behavior before with their Sportsman? He plans on taking it to the dealer this week, but it wont do any good if the dealer cant get it to replicate the problem. Thanks.

 

was it runnin hot???

 

I had a similar problem with my Xpedition this summer. In my situation if I wiggled the wiring harness under the hood, I could either get power or lose power. I turned out to be a pin in the ignition switch had worked itself lose, and provided intermitant contact. I just pushed the pin back in until it locked, and haven't had a problem since.
Brian

 

It wasnt running any hotter than usual. He didnt think it was heat related. He found it may run for an hour or so straight, before quitting. Or it will quit right after starting up. Sounds like some loose wiring to me. But who knows.

 

If the throttle is too loose it will kill it eventually, and also backfire

 

My 99 sp had a problem like that. I would start it and try to take off and it would just die. Didn't do it all the time. I adjusted the throttle and it fixed it.

 

Don't count out a long key chain binding and turning off the ignition...

SP500 in NS

 

I had a similar problem with my new 2000 sp500. I stopped at the neighbor's to show off my new machine, and when I went to start it up to leave, it wouldn't. I checked and rechecked everything, all of the lights worked, and it would crank, but it wouldn't fire. Out of sheer desparation, I gave the key a firm twist. It moved ever so slightly, and clicked. It then would start. So from now on, I always give the key a healthy twist.

 

My 2000 SP will die occasionally on trail rides for no apparent reason, but will start right back up. Its the wierdest thing. Doesnt matter what speed or how long it has been running, it will just die and start back up. Obviously not a fuel problem or heat, or would be hard to start. It has to be some type of short somewhere. If anyone has a suggestion where to start, I am open to opinions. Thanks

 

Them key chains can be a mother. I would be in mud or water almost to the racks and the thing would shut off. Comes to find out it was the key chain. When I would turn the handle bars at a certain point and the key chain was in the right spot, it would hang on the gas cap and turn the ignition switch off.