My Polaris dealer installed an engine block heater on my 03 Sportsman 600. He tried to weasel out of doing the carb update for me. On a cold winter day, I plug-it in about 15-min before startup and the cooling fan kicks on about 5-min after startup.

The heater bolts into the freeze plug flange just below the thermostat housing on the left side cylinder block. It heats the coolant inside the water jacket and the heater gets warm to the touch seconds after plugging it in. The power cord joins the wiring harness above it and the three prong plug tucks neatly behind the side cover.

I ride in the snow as much as I can and the trailhead at my house is real rocky and technical so a properly warmed-up Sportsman is a lifesaver. No more messing with the choke on ice covered rocks. Even with the update done the carbed twins are a little cold-blooded, this is more evident on freezing cold winter mornings.