Ok, I've got a 2001 Sportsman 400. The past 2 weeks its been acting kind of funny. All my power is there, but it would sputter from a stop in forward or reverse, and sometimes cut out all the way. Changed the plugs & gas.
So today I go out to crank her up. NOTHING. I can hear the starter turn, but nothing is happening. Its not like its trying to turn over or anything, I just hear the little electric motor turning. I tried to pull the aux rope starter and there is no tension on the other end. I don't know what to make of it. Ideas please? I'm stuck in the middle of my driveway and my wife will be home soon :-)

 

You might want to check the ETC which is the black box above the thumb throttle. There are 2 metal contact in there. If they touch then it will make the bike stall. It is a safety device incase your throttle cable should brake the bike will shut down. You cable might have stretched a bit and now the contacts are touching. Just use the adjustment in the cable to keep them from touching. As far as the recoil starter not working, I am not sure about that. Good luck.