Black soot-like substance?
 

Was washing the Sportsman (06 500ho) and noticed that there is a black soot(ash) like sunstance over the head of the motor and around that area. Pulled off the air box lid and it is in there too, guess it sucked it in from the same area. Looked for exhaust leak and couldn't see anything. Only thing done lately was new wheels and tires?????

Any ideas???

check around your valve cover for missing bolts bought about a dozen of em for when i work on ranchers wheelers and i'm about out of em

May sound stupid but not familiar with these motors. Where do I look for the bolts. Right on top of the head around the spark plug area??? Any pics??

sounds like rubber soot does pvt exhaust in that area just fishing

Just checked around the valve cover and the bolt on the left of the sparkplug boot is missing. I called a friend of mine who has some experience with these engines and he says that it sounds like the donut gasket on the exhaust manifold. Any ideas?

Would a bolt gone from the valve cover produce dry, black soot on the engine?

Would this cause the ATV to lose power?

been riding in or around old coal mines??
what's the oil look like?

No coal mines here. Going to pull the exhaust tonight and see if the exhaust gasket is gone.

??????

Just a thought, how is your clutch belt? I hear is its starting to go, the dust and rubber fragments could be in the housing, not sure how the dust would escape or anything?

Regards,

R'

Turns out to be the donut gasket between the exhaust and the exhaust manifold. Just a metallic ring that goes in there that the dealer said was a common part he sells for the Sportsman. FYI.

Also found a valve cover bolt missing next to the spark plug boot. Going to replace but it is not leaking, just want to fix it before it is a problem.