Looking at purchasing a Sportsman 400. I heard that some of the 2004.5's are having problems with bogging down going up hills because of the size of the carb. Anyone have similar problems? Will this be a good reliable purchase for me? Thanks for any comments that you may leave.
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must be a new thing cropping up......many miles on my 04, no big complaints so far

 

Still have pretty low hours on my '04.5 400 Sportsman but I'm not having any problems. I was pretty confident that Polaris had this motor pretty dialed, it's been around for a while.

 

I have 2 that are giving me trouble and 2 others in the area are also. The dealer is working with Polaris to fix the problem. All 4 were manufactrured in Oct. 03. Maybe just a bad batch.

 

OK TrailriderX2,
You have MY attention.....what specific problems are all these machines having? My unit was made in 10/03 as well!

 

I have an '04 Sportsman and I finally got to ride today. Me, my brother and nephew were riding on a trail today. We came across this place where a land slide had taken out the trail but I noticed another trail back aways that went up hill. We backed up and got turned around and I started up the trail. It got really tight and my nephew was right behind me. The futher I went the steeper it got, but with no place to turn and the thought of backing off this hill I decided to just give it more throttle. My 400 went up the side of this mountain like it was nothing. People often dis the 400 cause it weighs 700 pounds and only has 425cc's. You hear that stuff enough you begin to wonder. But today my sportsman proved to me that it will take me anywhere I want to go and I believe the weight can be a benefit. Not once did the front end act as if it wanted to buck up. All four wheels just stayed glued to the trail and not once did it sputter or try to bog down. No matter what brand of ATV you get you could have little problems. I can't even imaging what kind of power the Sportsman 700 must have but I am very happy with the power of my 400. Hope this helps

 

The problems we are having with 3 of them is when climbing, they start bogging then sputtering only when half throttle or more, they seem to run ok when level ground. an old stock 325 Magnum 4X4 we ride with seems to have more power. The 4th 400 started showing the symptoms anytime above half throttle, high or low range. level or climbing. 35mph is about as fast as it will go in high range on gravel road. Pulling the choke while bogging has no effect. Put new plugs in and checked them today, the worst riding one is off-white on the tip (lean) the other is tan. both have heavy soot buildup near the threads.

 

Trailrider X2,

It sounds like jetting may be your problem??? Just a guess.
I have yet to but a ATV myself but I am getting ready to.
Just from what I have read here on the forum from other
people and from past experience with riding personal
water craft in higher elevations here in the mountains.
It sounds like that might be your problem. Anyone else
think maybe this is it???

 

That's interesting for sure! Mine has never given any indication of that type of problem in the short, 13 hours I have on it. I know that they do come from the factory jetted for sea level to 6000' altitude, maybe they stuffed the wrong jets in the carb on a series of scoots.
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Go with the 500 HO over the 400. HUGE pwer difference, EBS, better resale value and just a little it more $$$$$$$$. I have ridden both and the 500 IS worth the extra $$$$$$$$.