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Jumpy front end on 1997 Polaris Sportsman 500

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Old Apr 9, 2010 | 08:09 PM
  #11  
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Check to make sure your front brakes aren't sticking a bit. I had this problem on my bike and it sure made the steering feel bad. It would just stick on one side causing a bit of a pull and a similar feeling to crabbing that you get when your four wheel drive is engaged on pavement
Good luck
 
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Old Apr 10, 2010 | 07:50 PM
  #12  
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Default Jumpy front end?

Let say- maybe flat spots on your tires? If you ride for a while does it go away? More noticable in cooler climates then in warmer? Just a thought!
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 07:23 AM
  #13  
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thanks again everyone for your support. One think I did notice is that my front brakes on the right side seem to be sticky or you could say that when the wheeler is up in the front and you try to spin the tires, the right one does not spin like the left one. I put new pads on and figured it would be like this for a little bit, but it hasn't gone away and maybe that is the problem? Why would new pads be such a problem? the other question is that if I leave room and then apply the brakes it will be back to square one with the brakes being tight. Is there some other adjustment I need to make?
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 11:17 AM
  #14  
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You can easily have the tire balanced at any shop, at least you'll know the balance is correct and you can focus on something else- also, did you or anyone else put a bunch of tire slime in the tire? You might have fluid in your tire causing the wobble. Water can get in there via the air hose while inflating (from a poorly drained air tank) and build up over time and cause a noticable wobble- I've seen it happen in cars.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2010 | 08:33 PM
  #15  
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I got a flat on a swamp trail (ripped out valve stem) and the tire filled with some water. I had to get evey drop of water out of that tire so it didn't shake. On the street or the trail that tire would be so out of balance and it had only a small amount of water in it. I had to take it to a coueple of shops before someone would tak the tire of the rim and wipe it out with a dry rag. After that everyting was ok.

Jimn
 
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Old May 9, 2010 | 07:39 PM
  #16  
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Ok, Well Tire pressure is correct, and the next step I replaced my tie rod ends on the front. Both inner and outter. I loaded it the wheeler up and took it too my land. When I was on soft ground or moving faster no jumpiness. When I was on pavement or gravel, the front end is jumpy. I went to a long gravel road that has little traffic on it, put the wheeler into High grear and got off of it. I know my idle speed is a little hight becasue it wants to creep forward. I got infront of it and watched the front. as it crept foward, you could see the left side turn a little, then the right and it just kept going back and forth. This is the same problem when i am sitting on it. When I get going faster, it goes away but as I slow down it comes back. I have a new drive belt on and new secondary clutch. Brakes are good. Everything seems perfect except for the front end bing jumpy. One other thing I noticed was that where the ujoint is under the engine closer to the front, when I grab it and shake it a bit with my hand it feels like it has play in it. Not sure if that is part of the problem or not. Anyways, I don't know what else to do. The jumpy front is so annoying. I could get a new ujoint and replace it, but I don't want ot put any more money into it until I can have a better idea of what else to look for. The tires seem fine, but how do you know if the rims are bent. What do you look for? Anyways, if anyone has anything else I can look into, it would be much appreciated. I am so frustrated right now.
 
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Old May 9, 2010 | 08:01 PM
  #17  
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Just pay the $75 and have polaris diagnose it-
 
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Old May 9, 2010 | 08:19 PM
  #18  
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Did you over load the tires with "Fix A Flate" or "Slime"? That throws the wheel balance off.
 
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Old May 9, 2010 | 08:26 PM
  #19  
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The tires are the original. I bought it with 1900 miles on it. Goodyear tires. Nothing has been done with the tires except for air being applied to them and I used the correct tire gage.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2013 | 06:40 PM
  #20  
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Any luck on this? Working on one with the same issue. Replaced u-joints,tie-rods, wheel bearings, tires and rims. Front end still jumps at low speeds. does it in 4 and 2 wheel. Nothing wobbles when up on the stand, no play to be found. Acts like a locked 4x4 on pavement. bent axle? completely lost on this one... tie-rods set by the book.
 
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