My father has a 1998 Sportsman 500 with only 1025 miles on it, while up hunting this past weekend the machine started to overload not wanting to run. It started burning excessive fuel and had one heck of a time climbing the hills. My first thought was the air filter, after inspection they filter was clean. So instead of tearing into the machine and not knowing what to look for i was thinking maybe some you have expreienced the same problem. Any input would be grateful thanks for your help.

 

Does it have a little clanking sound when it was running? Does smoke come out of the exhaust? Does it run at all right now, just a little sluggish?

 

carb maybe a lil dirty?

 

It runs barely when you give it throttle it bogs down, i have noticed that if you turn the choke on it will idle normal. When you give it throttle black smoke does come from the exhaust.

 

Was it rejetted for the higher altitude?

 

Probably an exhaust lobe worn on the cam. Buddy had a 98 with 1100 miles and the lobe of the cam was GONE. His would belch out black smoke bad under a load. If nothing else works check that. They had bad cams or lubrication in 98.

 

Well we did buy it new and i've had it up on the mountains many times so I assume the jets should be good. I will have to check into the cam lobe being out, as the systems you have stated with your friend TennesseeTider are the same systems i seem to be having.

 

i kno just the other day i had the carb out on myne cleaned it all up and when i put it back together when i gave it gas it bogged out n almost died...so i adjusted the choke cable first and that allowwed me to fine tune the idle.. i woud check that.. but floodin out is more blue than black smoke tho...u sure it aint blue?

 

No it is pure black smoke and smells just like raw fuel, i'll look into the throttle cables and so forth just hope I can pin point the problem before it gets to be to much of a hassle.

 

i'd say its most likely carb related