yea i have a 96 polaris sportsmen 500 4x4 it idles good has great low end power but when u pin it it wont go past 40 mph done all the carb work had a air keak in air box fixed it and i lost about 3 mph checked belts could u give some ideas to try cause the previous owner told me it would get to 60 fast

 

welcome to the forum. if some one told you that the 500 would get to 60 mph fast then he lied to you. my 02' would do 60 mph but takes a little bit to get thier. around 50 to 55 mph is around normal for most of them.could be the belt is worn a little. clutches may need to be cleaned, rebuilt.

 

What Stendori said. My 07 500 EFI will run up to 45 very fast and will top out at 63 mph flat out on the road but the speedo climbs a bit slower above 50 mph. Other sp500's I've ridden are about the same.

 

I have 96 sportsman 400, that appears to have the wrong speedo drive on it.
tough to break 40 but runs right along side the 800 going 50
have you compared it to another machine.

 

Yes I was wondering if anyone could help me find a Polaris tach part#8712100 or8712500 I need to set my idle so I can set my pilot jet got close by ear but not close enough to set pilot jet please send me in directions to find that one or something that will work thanks

 

[QUOTE=mikeg900;3055913]Yes I was wondering if anyone could help me find a Polaris tach part#8712100 or8712500 I need to set my idle so I can set my pilot jet got close by ear but not close enough to set pilot jet please send me in directions to find that one or something that will work thanks I bought one bit it doesn't read rpm right

 

Best way is still by sound of engine! Just start at one turn out,slowly turning out counting the turns as idle speed increases until you hear the engine start to load up and drop rpms,then back in one turn! OPT

 

Have your clutch button checked to see if there worn. We have a 1997 SP500 non H.O it does about 53 mph since it was new my 500 H.O does about 57 mph.