My father in law has a 2005 sportsman 500HO that isn't used all that often. A problem cropped up last time he went to use it. It will run for a while and then suddenly shut off. It's not a set time before it goes off, seems to vary. When it dies it won't restart and the electronic display won't come on for a while. Then, just as it died you try the key and the display'll work and it will start up without a problem. Would some sort of overheating issue cause this problem? Thank for any help offered.

 

sounds like a loose connection or broke wire somewhere

 

I've wiggled every connection I can find on the bike and nothing changes. After a while it just dies all of a sudden and if left alone it comes back fine. Jarring doesn't seem to affect it, nor does just letting it sit idling. Same difference. And it seems to be taking longer to die now that the weather's cooling off the last couple of weeks.

 

maybe a bad fuseable link?

 

They do have a recall on the ecm. because it will overheat. It sounds like this may be your problem. Call your dealer they will ask for your vin. # Or look on polaris recalls.

 

Didn't know there was a recall, so thanks for the heads up. I checked, no such luck, it's not part of the recall or the expanded recall. Back to the drawing board.

 

i have a sportsman 700 twin at work thats doing that and i found that the oil seal in the water pump went bad causing oil to go into the radiator and there is a sensor that shuts it off when it overheats but the display doesn't go out but it might be somewhere to start

 

Does the engine turn over or does the machine act as if it has no battery on it? When it shuts down can you still try to start it or does noting happen when you turn the key?

 

When it dies, is the gauge pod still working?
If not, it's the POS kill switch they use.

 

There was also a recall for a coil wire that was run between the frame and gas tank a while back. Both my 2004..5 400 and 500 Sportsman had this issue. Don't know if they solved it for the 2005 model year.

Symptoms on the 400 were same as yours (intermittent). The 500 just died 17 miles back on the road to Muir Cabin (south eastern Sequoia, California out of Dove Springs). What a fun tow that was!!