How can the front suspension on a sportsman be stiffened. Good freind of mine bottoms it out continually (he's a big guy) Is there an eftermarket spring kit or something?

Also, he's gone through 3 tranny belts, just lost his 3rd this weekend, they are replaced for free at the dealership, but Ive never heard of this problem with other sportsman's and I was wondering if it spoke to a larger issue?

Thanks for any help, even though I dont own a Polaris I think theyre great rigs.

 

his belt problems are probably due to his riding habits. you have to know when to use low range or you will go through more than your share of belts. there are upgrades for the front, i just cant remember who offers them.

 

For the belts I would say clutches are out of alignment or he is not using low gear when he is supposed to.
For the struts I seen some after mrket adjustable ones come in a kit with the adjusters and the springs polaris also makes heavy duty springs.

 

There are spring rubbers you can order thru Polaris, that slip into the coils to stiffen up the front end. Or you can make a set of aluminum spacers that mount between the the bottom of the spring and where it sits on the strut housing, this gives you extra preload on the spring. Also I think the SP700 springs can be dropped right in.

I have done all but Sp700 springs, and it has made a world of difference, I go well above 250lbs, and can jump the machine, and it will not bottom out.

Hope this helps...

 

I know this guy is not very experienced and is probably smoking the belts. I just hadnt heard about this issue with any other sportsman bikes.

So sp700 springs can be dropped in on the existing strut?

This guy is well into the 350's and bottoms the front on everything, the rear does not seem to be a problem.

Would we be able to order the springs through a polaris dealer?

Thanks for the help guys!

If you've done a preload spacer could you take a picture of it?

 

I ordered by rear springs thru Polaris, and they are the Sp700 springs. Re the spacers, If you just pull the front strut apart you will see where it goes and how big to make it.

 

2001 Polaris Sportsman H.O. (yellow) Uni Filter, 700 springs and belt. ITP Wheels custom offset with 26" Vampires

Is the 700 belt better as well? also, how much did the uni filter help without a pipe? Is anyone running an aftermarket pipe with this bike? does it wake it up much?

 

I have heavy duty springs that came from EPI, they were around $25.00 ea and they work great.

 

It feels stronger with the 700 belt, also, I installed the UNI for better filtration, not for preformance, but never really seem much difference from the filter.