I got a sportsman 500 H.O. 2001 the Question that I have will it run with the stock carb and with out rejetting, if I take the air box cover off.
I don't plan on doing this I just want to settle a 20.00 bet that I have with my brother.
He says it will run, I say it will not it will sputter and sound like crap.
I would try it on mine but it is at the cabin.
please help.
Thanks Shedhead

 

I dont know about the 500 but the 700 well run like that.When I put my k@n filter on my i rode it around without the cover on it ...but not long

 

It most likely will run bad, will run lean because of increased air flow. Will cut out when you hit the throttle. Tryed this with my trail boss and it ran like crap. If you run it lean for any length of time you could burn a hole in the piston.

 

It will most def run like crap. If you do anything to the airbox you must modify the carb, even then, you have to know what you're doing or you will just be wasting your time.

 

I took mine off to see what would happen with the stock carb. It ran like CRAP!! So I lhad to put it back on . But I did put a K&N on it and did a little rejet and it runs great.

 

So if you open up the air box for more air flow is it possible to rejet back to the correct mixture through the full throttle range? I realize this means the needle will need lifting and a larger main. Will this improve performance significantly?