how long do the belts usually last and how fast will they run? and how much difference does a clutch kit make in speed,power,and accelleration?
500 spotsman and 500ho how much different in all the above thanx!!

 

Blazer316, I have almost 2,700 miles on my 01 Sportsman 500HO and still using the original belt. I just tore apart the sportsman last night and checked the belt and its still lookin like new. I am thinkin of putting a clutch kit in now that its all tore apart. Can anybody tell me if I have to remove the handlebars to get the front plastic off completely? I already have the rear plastic off. Thanks in advance!!

 

blazer 316... top speed for a 500ho is close to 60mph

about the belt... it depens how y drive and where... my father has a 500ho and i swear his strap will last for ever... i had a magnum 425... never chaged the belt and never had to do it.

my scrambler 500 is a 2001 and i changed the belt once...

the main difference is the low gear !!

when driving slowly in the rocks or over logs... if you use your low gear... don't ever think you'll see the end of that strap... if you stay on high gear... the strap could last 1 week if you bad with it. mine was all right and i killed it in a week-end. we were 2 on ii and driving slowly through rocks, logs following a creek !!! don't have a low gear on the scrambler.

good luck

 

At $35 to $40 bucks for a new belt.I change it once a year just to be safe.A clutch kit will actually extend your belt life due to less belt slip.Later.

 

Correction:
Handlebars no big deal - you do have to seperate the pod, pull off the grips and remove the switch, brake and throttle. Not hard.
remove the front rack
remove the bolts by the rear of the gas tank
remove the bolts under the front hood
remove the bolts where the fenders connect to the floorboards

Thats about it. 30 minute job.

 

so it takes a little while to install a belt? how much difference in speed is there between the 500 and 500 ho, just want to know. I know there is supposed to be a 20% difference in power. What exactly is different, besides the cam. Also can you change a regular 500 over to a ho? thanks for the knowledge guys!

 

i know the 500 has a 38mm carb. and the 500 HO has a 40 mm carb. i don't know what is different other then that.

 

so the carb and the cam are different i guess?

 

the big difference is the cam listen to the 2 bikes idle the ho has a really "skippy" idle and yes a bigger carb but I think thats is about it...about the clutch kit it depends on wheather you want more top end or bottom end power ..you can do this by playing with the spring and different shift weights. check out www.heelclicker.com or www.daltonindustries.com they both make good kits for the sportsman.Hope this helpsa