Problem with my 1999 Sportsman 500 engine dieing when climbing hills or under load. We rebuilt carburator a couple of months age, everything went great, ran better that ever, no problems. Couple of weeks ago took it out, started fine, ran fine but when started up a steep grade the engine died. Started right up, no backfire or smoke, drove another 50 yards and it died again. Found if I put it in low-range and eased up the hill it doesn't tend to die as often but is still an issue. Seems to run fine on level ground but every time I start up a hill it continues to die.....anyone have any ideas on how to trouble shoot this short of taking it to a Polaris dealer???

Thanks in advance,
Jim Parker

 

Check your Float level or partially stuck needle for the float. Sounds like it is starving for fuel and having a chance to sit no draw the bowl fills back up.

 

Thanks for the response BigBros, that makes sense......Anyone else out there have any ideas???

 

Not likely, but check the fuel filter.

 

Anything in the gas tank besides gas? I know it sounds like a stupid question, but it wouldn't be the first gas tank to have a foreign object in it. When it's not one of the more obvious things you have to start thinking about the less obvious ones.

 

Thanks again for the replies, I have checked the fuel filter, gas tank etc...sounds like this is not a commen occurance but seems to be fuel related?????????

 

I'm running out of ideas, but if it's bad gas I think it could have problems under load like that. If there's any question about if it's good or bad, drain it and get some fresh gas. I've drained bad gas before and mixed it in with a tank full of good gas in my truck. I had to do something with it and didn't want to throw it away. It worked good with a little old gas mixed with lots of fresh gas.

 

Good point, thanks Jumbo

 

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

Good point, thanks Jumbo</end quote></div>

I've come across bad gas in lawnmowers and other small engines that were never winterized/summerized. I know fresh gas might help, and it won't hurt. Sometimes I get lucky and that's all it takes. If it doesn't help then I suspect the carb, but you took care of that already. On a scale of 1-10 I might be a 2 as a mechanic, but I know you need, fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source to make fire. If it's getting a good spark and lots of air then it's fuel related.

It is getting air isn't it? A dirty air filter will rob you of power. That's so simple it never even occurrred to me before. I just assumed it was fuel related like everyone else.

 

Part of me still goes back to carb and not getting enough fuel, seems to get enough on level ground but when I have to give it gas to make it up a steep grade amount can't keep up with requirement hence the engine dies, when it sits for a minute or so and I keep cranking it over seems to pump enough fuel back in the bowl, engine catches and it runs just fine until I continue up the hill then go thru the same dog and pony show.... even though we rebuilt the carb is it possible jets not set just right or something along that line??? Could it be weak fuel pump???