Hi, I just bought a 2003 Polaris predator with about 40 hours on it so its in pretty good condition but I seviced it myself and could not figure out how to change the spark plug other than removing the tank ? So...I go to remove the tank and I could not get the front nose plastic off ? I have no owners manual yet but im getting one soon. My next problem is the front wheels do not spin very good when the atv is off the ground so I checked the wheel bearings and they are fine, its like the calipers are sticking, any ways to fix this? I do like the quad but was a little dissapointed with the power, I have a 2006 yfz 450 with a few mods and the predator is not even in the same class as the yamaha is, now im not a brand loyal person, I will ride whatever I like and I read many posts on here before I bought it and most Predator owners were saying that a stock predator would beat a piped and jetted raptor, now I know I dont have a raptor but I would think that the power of the predator would be compariable and its clearly not. Does a pipe and jet kit help out a predator like it did my yfz ?, Ill probably be asking many questions on here over the next couple months to get this predator ready for summer, again Im not gonna bash yamaha or polaris or anybody but I was expecting a little more from the 500, thanks for any help and if anybody knows where to get an owners manual please tell me.

 

First, before I start being an @ss to you.......to change the plug, remove the front plastic, by a bolt near the handlebars, and two bolts under the plastic, near the headlights(not the headlight bolts though)......and also unhook the headlights. Then, remove the tank by 1 bolt and the fuel line.

Next, the wheel problem is the brakes dragging......no way to fix this......just learn to live with it.


Ok, so here we go......first let me say, the yfz is much "quicker" than the pred......and the pred vs rappy are very close. Next, let me mention you have an 03, that could probably use "freshened up" a bit. Throw some mods on that pred, and then you'll be much more happy......the yfz comes pretty hopped up from the factory in my opinion.

 

Go here: Polaris website. At the top under the "Riders" section, there is a selection for Manuals & Parts. You might have to create an account and sign in, but you can download the manual you need.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Bradracer18

First, before I start being an @ss to you.......to change the plug, remove the front plastic, by a bolt near the handlebars, and two bolts under the plastic, near the headlights(not the headlight bolts though)......and also unhook the headlights. Then, remove the tank by 1 bolt and the fuel line.

Next, the wheel problem is the brakes dragging......no way to fix this......just learn to live with it.


Ok, so here we go......first let me say, the yfz is much "quicker" than the pred......and the pred vs rappy are very close. Next, let me mention you have an 03, that could probably use "freshened up" a bit. Throw some mods on that pred, and then you'll be much more happy......the yfz comes pretty hopped up from the factory in my opinion.</end quote></div>

 

The ATV 450s have the same motors from there full fledge 450 racing motocross bikes. The 500 has the same motor used in a 500 Sportsman Utility or 500 Scambler. Bad news 500 is not from a motorcross race bike ,good news it will get 7000 miles without a rebuild.

At the 450 motocross races I go to they rebuild them every 50 hrs!

Polaris seroius race ATVs (Outlaws) motors are from the 450 and 525 motocross motors from KTM.

 

Change your sprockets to gear it down a bit, makes an unreal difference. You dont need that 70 mile an hour top end speed when your flying through the woods or rippin up a track, you wont lose too much top end anyway. I would also put on a pipe and jet it, for most people this would be enough and not break the bank!!

 

hey i ride a 2006 polaris predator tld and all i have done to it is a kn&n air filter and a white brothers pipe and jets. i can beat the raptor 660 that has a yoshimura exhaust, twin filters, jets, gears, plugs and valves. now im not sayin they are slow but you can defiately make the predator do some cool things. and they definately wont tin the yxf 450's because the predator is not considered a race bike like the yzf but in 09 polaris will have a predator 450mx that will kill the yzf450...

 

TLC, not to be a jerk, but the 500 in the predator is much higher output than the 500 in the scrambler/sportsman. The two engines are nothing alike. When my friend on his YFZ and me on my old predator switched we would both come off saying "that thing's fast!" but in different areas. The YFZ is stronger on the bottom due to cams and the accelerator pump carb. The Predator makes more on top due to more agressive cams, but suffers on the bottom b/c of those same cams and the CV carburetor. Here in MI, us Polaris guys are changing people's minds about the company on the MX and XC locals. The trouble is the Predator needs to be in the right part of the RPM range or it doesn't work. I don't like when people say the Predator isn't a race quad, because we race them up here (not me anymore thanks to the 525, but a lot of my freinds) and they make every bit the power of the other 450 class bikes, they're just heavier so being in the right part of the rev-range on a peaky motor becomes much more important... Just my $0.02

 

hahaha what is a TLC?? PREDATOR TLD "TROY LEE EDITION" and the experts don consider a 500 a race quad because of the cc and the size........

 

TLC is the guy i was talkin' too... look above. I understand that, but I'm just saying they're every bit as capable as the honda or Yamaha 450s with the right rider aboard. Also, I dunno how many folks actually race on here, but most district race series don't limit your displacement. I've ran my 525 in MX races here in District 14, and I've competed w/ 700Rs. Say what you want about what's a race quad and what's not, but when my 525 or my friend's 700 "trail/woods quads" come out of a corner side-by-side with a 450 "race quad" it doesn't much matter what their called, the result is the same. I guess my point is that what is and isn't a race quad depends more on if or not you race it than what a magazine categorizes it as... again, just my opinion.