Hi all. This is my first post so be easy on me. I'm looking at a used sportsman 500. It has 3030 miles on it and seems to be in good shape mechanically for $2500 (sorry, but i can't remember if it's a 01, 02, or 03 model at the moment). Engine sounds good and the frame and suspension parts all look to be in good shape. Looking at the plastic tells me that the quad has been ridden and not been babied though. I figure you polaris owners would be a good group to ask about what i should look out for that i might not have thought of. Any ideas on engine life before problems set in? Tranny seems to be in good working order as well.
Thanks

 

a guy I hunt with has a '99 Sportsman 500 and I bet he hasn't changed the oil more than twice. I don't know how many miles or hours he has on it but it's definitely been used and he's never had any trouble with it. Both of my Sportsman's have been extremely reliable so far. I was always leary of the "wet belt" thing but I drove the 400 into flooded timber in Arkansas. The water was up past the tops of the tires, I had a guy on the back and we drove like that for a good while. Had to drive out also and I never had one second of belt troubles. I even had to go back in to pull out the Ranger that stalled out.