Hey all. Got a few questions. Is it ok to use a 10% ethanol blend gas in my new Sportsman 700 EFI, or would you recommend just plain unleaded? I have been using the ethanol blend in the TB and SP 500 since that is what we order for our family business' gas pump, but the tank is empty now and we need to order up 300 gallons, so I could get either but the ethanol is cheaper. Also do you guys run with the Polaris oil, or if not what do you recommend? Lastly when towing, do you put it in park and apply the brake, neutral with the brake, or in gear with the brake. A coworker of mine big into atving always puts his in gear along with the brake but he has a 2003 SP 400 so no parking feature on his. I want it to last awhile so any info would be great. Thanks in advance, Brian

 

Briman,

Good questions, and I look forward to seeing how the boys answer too.

 

Briman....
Here is my 2 cents.....
Use a high octane fuel for better performance and cooler temp.... Ethanol Blends are fine but not the best!
Polaris Oil is factory recommended, but I have been running ams oil... Why?? I have a freind that sells it....
As far as towing.... I would recommend putting it in park and using straps...
The brake is mainly for a short period of time and I have left mine parked on an incline with just the hand brake on and it will not hold anyway!
I also wouldn't leave my machine in gear for stop and go travel.

Hope this helps!

Jon

 

1. Gas really doesn't matter ... i've used both, but i not racing anyone either.
2. Polaris Oil ... my two local dealers don't charge anymore than ams, mobil one, or lucas oils ... so why not.
3. Put it in park and strap the hell out of it (at lease four) ... it would be hell to see it fall off and can't take but 5 mins to tie in down ... the parking brake doesn't hold over time.


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Leave it in gear, set brake, and strap well. The brake won't hold after a few minutes that's just the way it is and make sure to strap it well, my friend's dirtbike came off a trailer once and that just sux, they weren't even going that quick at the time but it'd be hell to lose a wheeler on the interstate. I just use polaris oil might as well do it right and as for gas I would prefer no ethanol but it's not that big of a deal a higher octane rating won't do anything though.

 

POLARIS OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Transporting the ATV
Follow these procedures when
transporting the vehicle.
1. Turn off the engine and remove
the key to prevent loss during
transporting.
2. Place the transmission in PARK
and lock the parking brake.
3. Turn the fuel valve off and be
sure the fuel cap, oil cap and
seat are installed securely.
4. Always tie the frame of the
ATV to the transporting unit
securely with suitable straps or
rope. Do not attach tie straps to
the front A-arm bolt pockets.

This may help?

 

....everything that has been said with a MINIMUM of 4 straps holding the machine to the trailer. Last year I was driving behind a guy towing a trailer with two sport ATVs. I don't know how many straps he had up front, but he only had one strap from each machine on the back. Both straps went from the tow bars and hooked to brackets on the frame of the trailer. We were doing 65-70 on a two lane highway (speed limit was 65) when all of a sudden a truck pulled out in front of the guy towing the ATVs and he had to slam on his breaks VERY hard. The force of the braking snapped the straps of both ATVs and they went flying!! They bounced off the back of the truck and then flew about 20 yards into the ditch, rolling and breaking up as they went. I stopped to make sure everyone was OK, and both of his machines were definitely totalled.

In the case of one of the straps, the bracket it was tied to broke and in the other case, the strap was a little frayed and it snapped. I used to use four straps (two in front and two in rear), but after seeing that, I added a fifth strap running straight back from my ATV's tow hitch and around the rear frame bar of the trailer. If a light little sport ATV could break a strap, imagine what my heavy polaris could do if I ever had to stop fast!

 

i know of ppl that dont even use tie straps or put their quads i gear in the back of their trucks. they just put them in. imagine the damage they could do hittin the brakes to hard. even smashing in the rear window, that would be pretty bad.