Either way though one of the hoses should be at the top and the other at the bottom. If the hot coolant is beint put in at the top and taken back in by a hose that is 2" from it, how effective is that?

Besides what if your coolant dropped below that line? Your motor would not be able to get coolant into it.

 

Does the return (to the engine) line go into the top of the rad and down? I find it hard to believe the rad would have both lines simply leading into the top tank. If the coolant is not directed through the core somehow, then the rad might as well not be there.

DJ

 

The "coolant flow" through the radiator is not the same in different year models on the sp500.
AS i am at work right now and don't have my shop manual with me. Will post info later.

 

Look at a few radiators. I had heard that they rectified the problem, but have'nt seen one yet. I bet what they did was use all remaining radiators on the new models so some may have a new one, some may not.

On mine, and all other I've seen both hoses (return and inlet) are at the top of the radiator, about 2" from each other.

 

There is a baffel inside the rad which devides the core in two, it goes down half of it and comes up on the other half.

 

Dirtyhowies,

Now that sounds logical. From the posts I was picturing inlet and outlet going into the same tank side by side, with no baffles, and thus no need for the core!

DJ

 

According to the Polaris service manual: 1996-1999 SP500 radiator flow is in at top, down, across, and back up on the other side and out at the top
The 2000 model SP500 radiator flow is in at the top on one side, across, down, back across, and out at the bottom on the same side.

COOLING SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS:
Fan switch off----165 F degrees +/- 8
Fan switch on------185 F degrees +/-7

Hot light on-------------221 F degrees
System Capacity-------2.25 Quarts
Radiator Cap Relief Pressure----------13 PSI

Thermostat Starts opening--176 F degrees
Open 8mm--205 F degrees


Someone might not have the manual…..

 

Cooling System Specifications
Fan switch off-165 degrees F +/- 8 degrees
Fan switch on--185 degrees F +/- 7 degrees

Hot light on--221 degrees F
system capacity 2.25 quarts
Radiator cap relief pressure 13 PSI

Thermostat starts opening 176 degrees F
Open 8mm @ 205 degrees F

This one you can read .....

 

I followed these instructions since I have had problems with my Sportsman 500 overheating. And it seemed to work, for a while. I took it out this weekend and after going about 4 miles (mostly up), the hot light came on just after I started down again. After playing with it for a good part of the weekend, I seem to have a steady stream of bubbles coming out of the radiator. Also, the coolant comes out of the radiator overflow more when the engine makes a kind of pinging sound, like it is overworking, or if I am accellerating.

Now I don't know what to do. A couple of questions.

1. Is the radiator supposed to be completely full when you open it cold?

2. What could cause air to get into the cooling system? Blown head gasket? I don't see any leaks whatsoever, nor is there any coolant in the oil.

Looking forward to answers, because this is highly frustrating. Don't know what else to do now.

 

I followed these instructions since I have had problems with my Sportsman 500 overheating. And it seemed to work, for a while. I took it out this weekend and after going about 4 miles (mostly up), the hot light came on just after I started down again. After playing with it for a good part of the weekend, I seem to have a steady stream of bubbles coming out of the radiator. Also, the coolant comes out of the radiator overflow more when the engine makes a kind of pinging sound, like it is overworking, or if I am accellerating.

Now I don't know what to do. A couple of questions.

1. Is the radiator supposed to be completely full when you open it cold?

2. What could cause air to get into the cooling system? Blown head gasket? I don't see any leaks whatsoever, nor is there any coolant in the oil.

Looking forward to answers, because this is highly frustrating. Don't know what else to do now.