Guys, i need help. I flipped my 2004 polaris 500 h.o in a 3 foot deep stream last weekend and now it is stuck 2 miles deep in the woods on me. I changed the oil before i went riding because it was slightly bogging down, but now that it is stuck, i noticed the air box has about an inch of oil/water mix in the bottom and the filter is wet. It will not stay running. It just quits when i give it gas. can you please help me get this thing out of the woods and i will deal with the repair later. Thanks in advance.

 

i would check the spark plug see if its real wet and maybe flooding out. if so maybe float needle is sticking open? check the throttle to make sure when it flipped it didnt knock the etc out of wack on the throttle and you still have about 1/8" gap on the throttle. just a couple of ideas.

 

Thanks stendori, when it flipped, it knocked the handlebars out of whack. I removed all accessories, removed handlebars and straightened them out on the vise, so i am positive the etc is all good. Can you tell me wher i might find the spark plug on my machine and if it is a part i will need to get from the dealer, or will the right size plug from Autozone or Pepboys do. Thanks

 

Did you clean the airbox and buy a new air filter? Also check to make sure the oil is not milky, if so you need to change it before riding.

 

I was able to get the quad out of the woods by removing the air filter. It was wet and oily. I took the assembly apart and have it soaking in the slop sink right now. I will get a new air filter tomorrow and all should be good. When i changed the oil, it was just slightly milky and only visible when oil was almost completely drained. I checked the new oil after 3 miles or so and it looks good, so hopefully i am good. Thanks guys.