I have a 2008 Polaris Sportsman 500 HO and at about 100 miles a clunking sound became apparent from the rearend. I cannot pin point its orgin, but it does not sound good. Possibly rear differential area. Took it in and dealership said that's just the way a Polaris sounds. I have many friends who own atv's and all of them cannot believe that this is a normal sound. I know I am not giving very much info, but if I can take some info to the dealership better explaining my situatioin, it woudl be great. Also, so far the clunking has not affected the performance of tha atv but I only have about 2 months left on waranty.
Thanks, Frank

 

Not sure what it is, but I would get it "in writing" from your dealership that it is normal, and that you brought it in 2 months before your warranty expired. Mine doesn't make any clunking sound.

If you don't get it in writing (unless you trust your dealer completely), your dealer could have a convenient loss of memory if something breaks soon.

 

My 08 Sportsman 500 does the same clunking sound, i had to replace my CV Booties do to they tore, but since replacing them it still makes the sound. I asked my employee who is a mechanic and he said more then likely it the cv joints - if my warranty was still active i would of taken it in but its expired so im stuck. -- The axles have a snap ring on them to keep them in place some times it comes on and off especially wen making tight turns and thats wen I realy can hear that clunking!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ridefreak26

My 08 Sportsman 500 does the same clunking sound, i had to replace my CV Booties do to they tore, but since replacing them it still makes the sound. I asked my employee who is a mechanic and he said more then likely it the cv joints - if my warranty was still active i would of taken it in but its expired so im stuck. -- The axles have a snap ring on them to keep them in place some times it comes on and off especially wen making tight turns and thats wen I realy can hear that clunking!</end quote></div>

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]What you are probably hearing is the plunging joint extending close to end of travel in cup where it has the most play which results in the "click clack" noise. Will usually do it in right and left turns. You can verify this by loading up rear rack with feed corn,sand,etc and then make turns.Usually noise is gone or reduced because of the weight keeping the shaft deeper in the joint body. Its bothersome I know,but is a normal complaint of the cv driveshafts. When they make noise constantly in forward is when to think about replacing! Good luck