I just found this forum lots of good info posted here.
I would like some input from you please.

I just purchased a used 700 2003 Polaris with 300 miles on the clock with the 2000 LB Warn winch.

I repaired the fuel leak, that was seeping from one of the brass fittings that is screwed into the bottom side of the fuel tank. The fuel was seeping through that heat insulator foil that is placed over the fuel line and seeping on the exhaust. Maybe, that is why the first owner sold the machine? It was terrible on fuel before I tightened that fitting.

I have a on-going problem (battle) with the bracket that is located on the carb (2 screws) and bolted to the frame (2 bolts).
If the rubber isolators pull out from the frame (2 bolts), the carb shakes so much that it will not feed fuel properly and it runs poorly and backfires will not idle.
I had to take it to the dealer to find this one out and they said they had never seen that before. $72.00 dollar repair. The technicians their told me it was a great machine except for, high maintenance and do not roll it over because you will bend the frame and total it.

When you take the bolts out of the frame, the bracket is well over an inch spaced from the frame. I would appear that this bracket wants to pull out. Well, the third time around I have placed some through quarter inch bolts with nylon lock nuts and fender washers and automotive type rubber isolator bushings. The rubber intake boot appears to be placed in its proper position. Has anyone seen this before?

Now, this machine was manufactured late in 2002 and according to this forum, I am going to have a coolant leak as well?

Whoa, did I buy the wrong brand? How about that new Honda 650?

Comments and or suggestions welcomed!

 

I don't think you made a bad descision on the 700, I chose the SP700 over the Rincon, Grizzly, and Prairie because I liked it better than the rest. I am still very impressed with this machine and really enjoy riding it. Mine is a 03 model with a build date of 11-15-02 and so far (400 miles) I have had no problems with it but you have got me thinking about that leaking gas fitting. Could you smell gas when it was leaking? My 700 is not very good on gas but I have never noticed any leaks.

 

i have seen this on several 700's ,polaris knows this to and they have a new carb bracket coming I wish i had figured this out on my 700 sooner ,I got tired of these problems and traded it back in on a 04 500H.O. and lost my shirt ,cause dealer said it was o.k. to backfire and hesitate, not to mention the right side upper engine mount broke at 80 miles and the engine shifted and allowed the mounting bolt to rub a hole in the backside of the head pipe . keep an eye on it and GOOD LUCK !!!

 

Hello! Makes me think that I have that gas leak to. 65 miles to a tankful including reserve? My 500 got 90 or so I think on the main tank.
And I fixed my waterpump myself with gasket cement but should I bring it in cause I cant find anything on a recall...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]
IT SHOULD BE

 

I had the same fuel leak on my '02 700. Mine is a very early model, #498 off the production line. The dealer took out the fitting and put teflon tape on the fitting and re-installed it. It has not leaked since. The real reason for my reply is in regards to your dealers reference to roll overs. I don't know where he's comeing from on that one. Mine rolled end over end, about four times, down a steep hill and it suffered NO frame damage. It did about $3400.00 in other damage though.

 

How do you know that it was the #498 made??

can you tell ferom the serial 3 what year a quad is??

 

The first 1000 700"s made had the serial # on a decal on the headlight pod facing you as you were sitting on the seat. Mine said #498. You can tell from the serial # what year the machine is but I'm not sure which # of the serial # it is. The manufactured date should be on the large decal on the front of the machine under the headlight pod. Mine had a manufactured date of 9-11-01. Not a very good date in our history, which may partly explain all the problems I've had with it. Mabey all the production workers at Polaris had one eye glued to the T.V. while they were building it.

 

kool.
I know that mine is a 2004, if someone else were to look at the build date on the front hood it would say 03/31/03.
I have a hard time convincing people don't know polaris that mine is a 04, because of the early build date on the tag.

 

The tenth digit of the vin is the model year on ATVs starting in 2000. Before that it was a letter and before that
you needed a model number.

 

A little late, but still worth noting.

As Sportfish stated, the carb mounting problem is indeed very common. Best solution is to buy the rubber bushings for a 2002 SP700 from Polaris. These are not only higher quality bushings, they fit perfectly (thicker) and last alot longer. The 2003 bushings are junk and only last a few months.
Be careful tightening the fuel tank fitting as it has straight threads and no shoulder so it will not really "tighten". Just remove the fitting, apply teflon tape (perferably the yellow) and re-install it.
And yes, you will get a coolant leak at the water pump cover sooner or later, they all do. Polaris has a steel reinforcement plate that goes over the cover to eliminate this problem.

P.S. NO, you did not buy the wrong brand. These are great machines, unfortunatly Polaris built in a few minor problems to test your mechanical skills.