I have a 2005 Sportsman 500 H.O. and my foot brake has not worked properly sinse new. (it hardly grabs, I can't even lock the back tires up on gravel) The dealer tells me that is the way they are supposed to be, but I don't think that is right. Has anyone else had this problem? What can I do to fix it? or is that the way they are? If anyone can help that would be great. Thanks.

 

Welcome to the boards.

It seems just about every sportsman has this same problem when they are new. When working properly, the footbrake should lock the rear tires, even on pavement.

To fix it, you just have to bleed the brakes. It's an 05; bring it to the dealer and tell him to bleed the brakes and get your emergency (ie safety device!) brake back in working order.

If he says it is supposed to barely work, he is lying to you.

 

He's right, it should lock up easily(to easy in fact). Get him to fix this safety issue under warranty if possible

 

Thanks for your reply Tyler, I actually had it into the dealer already and they changed the master cylinder and blead the brake and it still wasn't any better. That's when they told me that it was as good as it gets and thats the way all of the 500's are.

 

In other words, he doesn't want to bother with it.

Bleeding the brakes should fix it, I'm not sure why it didn't in your case. Someone with more knowledge on brake troubleshooting is going to have to chime in.

Ty

 

Mine is the same way.I have bleed the rear brake many times and have had no luck. they barly slow me down

 

Mine are marginal too, but the will skid the rear wheels if you realy stand on them.
Dealer said to do a few a few hard stops with the rear brake only.
It did seem to help wear the shoes and rotor and the brakes are twice what they first were.