I've got an 08 Sportsman 500 EFI and have had a couple of issues with it stalling at low RPM's (say, at the end of the driveway when I switch to reverse back up when plowing) lately. I'll admit, I did let it sit with a near-empty tank for about two months (and it was cold at night) so I poured a bottle of isopropyl dry gas in it and it's been okay my last three nights of plowing.

Anyone have any ideas what else could be causing it (if anything else)? I had the MPT harness replaced (on the last day of the warranty) because it was stalling and then sometimes the starter wouldn't turn over when I would try to start it.

Any ideas? I'd like to have something more concrete before I get stuck out in the woods with it this spring. Thanks!

 

you can make an adjustment on the throttle cable to kick it up slightly, look at the cable on the handlebar, there is an adjustment screw under the rubber grommet, just did it to mine

 

Thanks, Fish...I'll give that a try if it starts stalling again.

 

from what ive read it will as the machine breaks in, its an easy fix, no tools needed. pull the rubber back and there is a thumb screw that locks the cable, unlock the thumb screw and the piece next to it turns for the adjustment. you have to play with it because the rpms jump a little when you put the rubber piece back on.

 

that adjustment is made for the etc and really not for the idle. most of the time you to have a dealer put it on the computer to set the idle on the efi's.

 

what is the etc. i know mine was loose when i took it apart and you needed to be careful tightning it back up or it would take off by itself in drive.

 

etc=eletronic throttle control. it has to be set about 1/8". its made for a throttle override so you have a stuck throttle.

 

Mine started doing that, I tried to adjust the cable thing but didnt work, What i did was use my thumb and flick the thumb lever 10 times or so and it quit acting up.

 

What should the RPM's be at idle? When I bought the machine the dealer told me ~1140 RPM which is what is is now - holds nice and steady. It just stalls every now and then. Haven't had a chance to get it out in the snow to mess with the throttle cable yet.

 

I heard it should be 1180 to 1200