I have been having fan issues on my 98 sportsman 500.

To solve these problems I was going to switch to the new style fan. Got a fan and shroud for a 2001 sportsman 500, but the radiators are different, making the shrouds different etc. Long story short, i just want to make my fan work.

Now if i have my machine on the fan will not kick on, eventually the hot light come on. Its happened the past 4-5 times i've run it. But if i take a piece of wire and jump the thermal switch the fan comes on. (manually make the connection between the 2 prongs on the thermal switch.)

I think this means i have a bad thermal switch, but my dad thinks its a bad wiring issue.

Which do you think it is so i can get this working again!

 

I would lay money on the radiator thermal switch being bad! Especially since its had and updated part number and they usually go out if coolant is below sensor! Later models have the sensor on the bottom of the radiator(smart thinking finally!). Be sure to teflon tape the new sensor and leave cap off to purge any air in system for awhile when running. I've had a bunch of these go out. OPT