i have an 02 sportsman 500 that pulls to the left on pavement...it feels like it is pulling left and biting into the pavement. the handlebars also shake like crazy if i take my hands on....gets better at higher speed but worsens as slow down.....i have a service manual and can fix if anyone can give me clues to what i might need to fix



thx a million

chad

 

Check the tow out.

 

check (on dirt or grass maybe) that the front wheel thats grabbing isnt locked in awd by trying to spin it under power.

 

chad does it pull left all the time? or only on occasions like when your going from 4wd to 2wd?

 

You either have a bent rim or you need to adjust the tie rods.

 

all the time on pavement....do not notice it when on loose dirt/sand/ gravel

 

Did it just start doing this?

Like Stendori said, the left side might be locked in. If it is, you'll be able to tell by getting into some sand or mud in 2WD and spin the rears. If the front left spins with it, then that side is still locked into AWD.

Usually you start by changing the hub fluid.

 

If changing fluid doesn't help probably magnetized armature plate. Older model if left in awd full time can magnetize the plate,plus eventually all plates reguardless of awd position will wear down and allow hilliard to engage. If pulls starting out,then stop, put in reverse then forward again and if pulls ok is usually plate. About 10 bucks per side

 

ok...so sounds like i should change hub fluid first...because it wouldnt hurt even if it does not need it, then put it in some sand in 2wd and get the rears spinning and if front left spins with it then the front left is stuck in AWD.....is that correct???


also sounds like it might be magnetized armature plate.......and to find this out i start it moving and if it pulls then stop, reverse it then put back in forward and start going again....and if it still pulls then probably not armature plate.

if these two things above are not the cause then what should i check next????tie rods????

FYI...it only has 56 hours and about 220 miles on it and i am the second owner......original owner was older gentleman that was not rough on it,,,,but sat for about a year or more with little to no use in that time. i have performed all the services on it EXCEPT greasing all 32 of the zerks>>>>would that contribute?

thanks

 

The wheels may actually be pointing left when the handlebars are straight. That happened when someone changed a tie-rod on mine and the adjustment was way off. If the toe adjustment is off that will cause problems on pavement that you may not notice any other time. The tires will grab pavement better than sand or dirt. Try to eliminate simple things as posssible problems, before starting any complicated repairs.