Mine works in both directions. If I'm in reverse backing down a hill the engine braking works about the same as going forward down hill in low range.

 

Yes it works in reverse. And if you want all of the wheels to lock up, put it in 4 and push override.

 

Rephrased to clear up any uncertainty. I want to know if EBS works when in forward range rolling backwards downhill. Thats the situation I'm looking at. Go up, stop, let it roll back 5 feet, change angles, and go up again. I have to do that a lot to go around trees. The hills are normally too steep to turn sideways on without taking a tumble. How good do the brakes hold. I would imagine very well considering that they are hydraulic discs. My AC discs are flat out awesome. The quad will hold with the parking brake on in some very steep grades. How well does the Polaris brake hold on steep grades? It may sound funny, but I sometimes lock the brake and get off to see what the quad looks like climbing up steep stuff.

 

Hey dude,
If your in a forward gear going down hill backwards, give it some gas, it will go forward.In which case engine braking doesn't mean much. If your going backward downhill in reverse, and the engine is slowing you down then its working the way its designed to. Thats how mine works.And its real tight, like a low range. It inspires alot of confidence! Takes alittle of the edge off of going down hill in reverse.

 

I can count the times I have gone downhill in reverse on my hands. At least for sticky situations. Basically when the tires were over a rock or something and the thing couldn't roll back on its own. I can feather the throttle all day, but that is beside the point. Does the EBS engage in forward range (belt drives are not gears) when rolling backwards or not. That was the question there dude.

 

Of course it wont work when you in high or low. It will just freewheel. And yes Polaris brakes will hold with the best of them. And if they dont just pop that puppy in R and shut it off.

 

ANDY
Another thing if you shut machine down put it in gear and it won't move in that direction if your headed up hill put it in reverse and it won't roll back.CM

 

Now I'm starting to back out of changing rides once again it seems. Why does this always happen. I have a guy on here somewhere that is telling me he has a Sportsman and an AC500 both. He has them both modified and the AC with pipe and filter will out accelerate the Sp500 and also tops it in top speed. I would never call the guy a liar (he owns them), but this was a surprise to me. If I thought I could actually gain top end, then I would keep mine and just add the stuff. I always thought the pipe and stuff just gave you acceleration and pull rather than increasing the top speed.

I get 51 on the GPS right now. If I can get 57-58 out of a Sportsman HO, then that is fine. The EBS thing is starting to carry more weight now, but that still isn't a situation that presents itself all the time, just every now and then. The last thing I want to do is get rid of my AC and later regret it. Looks like I'll have to do some more research.

 

I confirmed it for myself today. In forward gear rolling backward, there is no EBS at all. Just like being in neutral. If you put it in reverse, it has a little, but not much. That sucks for me, but I think its something I could live with. It would help if 4wd would be in all the time rather than on demand. That would link all four together and make it roll slower. Oh well, can't have everything.

 

Hey Andy, you seem to really want this Sportsman 500HO. Go for it and don't look back! The only reason I don't have one is because I beleived my Xplorer400 would be snappier. It is... but take into consideration that IRS, no chains, no oil, great sound, DU color, new brakes and steering plus now waterproof PVT and it is no contest. Just add clutch kit and your ready to go!!

As for stopping and looking at your quad in the hill...it's called an "ATV-Look Fetish"! I can understand because my quad looks amazing when I am in the woods, on a ride break. It looks so damn cool! Thats why I carry my digital camera around and take a lot of snapshots.

Brian