I bought a used 03 Sportsman 600 and I've seen in a couple posts that there are 2 service bulletins for it. One is for the cold starting, the other is for a vent line freezing. I have a few questions...

1. Does Polaris cover the cost these repairs? There is a local dealership, but I bought the quad from a private owner and the dealership he bought it from is 3 hours away.
2. If not, what have people been paying to get these repairs done?
3. Are they something that I could do myself ?(keeping in mind that my mechanical knowledge is somewhat limited)

Thanks in advance.

 

The carb update should be covered by Polaris. I have heard of several dealerships trying to charge for the install which they shouldn't. I can't remember the bulletin # on the recall, maybe hit your local dealer up for it. As far as the ventline freezing, Polaris states that it is a regional thing. So, depending on whether you live in a cold enough climate, the fix should be no cost.

 

I would call first but the dealer did both updates to my '03 600 sportsman and did not charge me. but I bought mine new from him. I'd push him though to do it free if he wants to balk on you. The update for the cold starting involves installing a new jet, and they have to drill out for it first. And it solved my problems. the other mod installed a new drain line and rerouted it.




'03 600 Sportsman
02 350 Rancher

 

Are these recalls you are talking about,and go into more detail about the vent line.

 

I called my dealer about this problem. They told me it's not concidered a recall but a modification for a known problem in cold weather climates.

I live in North Jersey, we have pretty cold winters here and my 02 700 Sportsman has always given me a hard time starting in the cold and would take forever to warm up after it started. I think this venting problem has been the culprit all the while. They told me they would do the modification but it was really for 6 & 700 owners who live in upper USA & Canada (cold climate areas). I told him I don't care if you live in Palm Springs 10 degrees is 10 degrees. Anyway I tried starting it one day after a snow storm to go for a nice ride it turned over once and locked up it wouldn't turn over again and i wound up cooking the starter and bendix drive mabey the fly wheel too I haven't gotten that far into it yet. I don't know, but I would think this venting problem would cause alot of back pressure or compression thus making it really hard to turn over in extreme cold, and I think the starter is just too small to turn over the Twin it either engages and can't turn over because the engine locks up,or it spins without engaging or patially engages and starts spitting teeth. Anyway they said they'ed do the mod but the starter and what ever else cooked is mine and I should install a coolant heater for cold weather starts. Polaris knows they had big problem with them thats why they came out with the new fuel injected models