I have 1996 500 sportmans it has 5000kl about 3000 mile.It has just started backfiring out the carb.I believe I'm on the right track .I think it needs new cam.where should I buy one and how much should I pay?If anyone has direction on changing it I would be thankful for it .Thanks

 

You have low mileage so I'm betting your carb needs cleaned have you been changing the oil per the manual .

 

question...how does the sparkplug look? Sounds to be a fuel problem...if plug is bright white or erroded the fuel mixture is too lean, if the plug is black and fouled the mixture is rich! In either case the carb would need clean/adjust as Spdecat says

 

I've be reading a bit on here and see a lot of people with cam problems.I have change oil like manaul says.I put new plug in with same results.It runs fine entil I rev it up then backfires thanks for any help

 

IT isnt hard to check the cam.Chances are you need to adjust the valves any way.Best to have a manual for the first time.
I too bet the cam is bad

 

if anyone has a manual to set the valves and remove camshaft it would help me a lot thanks

 

Before jumping into the engine how are the ramp buttons in the secondary clutch?Belive it or not these can cause your problem too.

 

I put 3000 miles on my ATV last summer its a 08 I'm sure it won't need a cam after one season will do 3000 this summer also and it still better not need a cam after 2 years or I'll sell it and ride something else .

 

We have 7000 miles on our 97 SP500, the trick to long cam life is regular oil changes and you MUST use 0W weight oil. The oil pump tolerances are tight and only that oil weight flow quickly on cold starts, 10w or 5w will work for awhile but the cam is going to be a little dryer on cold starts,before the oil flows to it,it adds up after a long while causing wearing down of the cam.

 

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

We have 7000 miles on our 97 SP500, the trick to long cam life is regular oil changes and you MUST use 0W weight oil. The oil pump tolerances are tight and only that oil weight flow quickly on cold starts, 10w or 5w will work for awhile but the cam is going to be a little dryer on cold starts,before the oil flows to it,it adds up after a long while causing wearing down of the cam.</end quote></div>

I think that could of been my problem use 5w30 for oil as the book that came with quad says too do I think next time I'll use 0w thanks