I bought a Sportsman 500 this sping and have had it out a couple times on our farm - basically its slewy mud and some water. My main questions are what are areas that I need to make sure are clean and werent penatrated? the deepest I get would be top of tires - I am not into the extreme stuff you see on YouTube but will probably push it as well. I clean it off after each mess. I have done some looking around and am not wanted to put a snorkle on, but then I read about gear box snorkles, tranny protection and got a little worried?

As well as winching - can you ruin you quad with your winch? if pulling a buddy out, where do you guys hook up?

Any pointers you guys have I am all ears!!

 

Clean radiator, wheels inside where brakes are, radiator, around the shafts, radiator, under engine, radiator, pretty much any place you see anything, radiator. I use a pressure washer with a 40 degree nozzel. Many suggest only using low pressure garden hose. As for where to hook, the hitch works great. In front never hooked up as I winch myself out with mine. About the only way a winch will hurt the machine is if you draw the battery WAY down. Don't use it to jerk with.

OH YA... Did I mention to clean the radiator???

 

ancor the the bike to a tree if your pulling someone out thats really stuck so the winch is doing the work instead of the brakes or trying to pull w/ the cable in reverse. although im sure alot of do itincluding myself lol. make sure to hook the cable to something solid like good frame points if the hitch isnt free. never try to winch much w/ the bike off as you are using stickly the battery and will drain it done if you use it alot.

 

Another thing, just from my own humble exp. is when winching
out someone else, have them in neutral or in gear all the while
trying to assist with moving in the direction of the pull. Keep
your head protection (Helmet/goggles) on, soon as it becomes unstuck
and moving free and in the clear loosen the tension first (winch out) and
then unhook (wear gloves as many times spurs on wire winch
rope).

Always stand clear while winching and have buddies back away too, in
case the worst happens with a snap.

Sorry for the being Mr. Safety!

R'

 

Cleaning:

I find it easier when spraying down the bike with garden hose
to pop off the seat, side panels to reach areas better as well
as opening front cargo box, POP off top RAD cover panel to
reach down into RAD area.

Under fender wells, avoid exhaust PIPE hole (LOL) and RAD RAD
RAD, everything else already mentioned above!

R'

 

thanks a ton for the info - I am new to this and so far am loving it. the problem with most the crap I go through is grassy stuff and get all wound around junk so I take forever to clean it up - but I do it up.

the winching stuff is helpfull as well - have you guys ever had a cable snap on you?

Still not sure if I am supposed to clean my radiator? : - >

 

if you get into mud that gets the radiator dirty you better beleave you want to clean it or you will have overheating issues down the road. i clean mine everytime we ride and even take a traill washer w/ us to do it on the trail as when the rad. gets plugged w/ mud, your screwed. so keep it clean.

 

I had a cable snap on me when I had my bike stuck in the ice. It kinda just unwound though, it didn't do the slingshot thing everyone talks about.

 

Another tip when getting the grass away from your cv joints DON"T use a knife around the boot. (83$ when you OOPS)

 

Yea of course we are
talking about the external
areas of cleaning the RAD.

Like Stendori said, mud will
find its way to start clogging
and starting plugging up between
the coils, after enough heat is generated
and has no way of adequetely cooling,
overheating can occur. Your dash will
flash "HOT HOT". The best thing to do
in that situation to avoid any type of
damage is pull over, shut off the quad
and look for a way to clear out the
mud/dirt clogs from the RAD.

Stendori's trail wash system is an
excellent live saver. How much are
you selling them for Stendori? LOL

R'