Sportsman 500 HO Model Year Revisions
#1
![Default](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hey guys. I'm looking into sometime in the hopefully near future to move back into the 4x4 market and will be doing so with the usual minimal budget. Looking as far under $2500 as I can get. I recently rode my uncle's '01 SP 335 and was quite impressed. Its no speed demon, but I have my DVX for speed; I want grunt.
So with regards to the older body style Sportsman ATVs, which years are ideal and which are the ones to stay away from? I want this body style or newer:
![](http://www.tradebit.com/usr/manualman/pub/9002/2003-sportsman-500-polaris.jpg)
I believe thats a 96 and up? Currently there's a nice, clean looking '98 500 HO for just over $2K. Anything to know on the '98s?
Thanks in advance.
So with regards to the older body style Sportsman ATVs, which years are ideal and which are the ones to stay away from? I want this body style or newer:
![](http://www.tradebit.com/usr/manualman/pub/9002/2003-sportsman-500-polaris.jpg)
I believe thats a 96 and up? Currently there's a nice, clean looking '98 500 HO for just over $2K. Anything to know on the '98s?
Thanks in advance.
#2
#3
#4
#5
![Default](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
H.Os Sportsman came out in 2001,they used the Scrambler's larger 40mm carb from the 34mm carb and high duration cam.
Stay with a 98 or up, the 96 and 97 had weaker u joints axles not CV joint axles. I perfer my 2001 over the newer 500 H.O, it has some feartures I like better. like no ECM brain Box,much larger 5.25 gas tank vs the 4.1 gal tank now and the twin locking hub AWD set up is much stronger then the single front locking diff with the plastic roller cage AWD. I also like the vented alloy oil tank over the new cheap plastic one they used now and EBS was standard not a option back then.
The cam problem was due to people not using Full synthetic 0w-40 oil in the earlier days and running what ever oil they had around the house or found on sale. We have a 97 SP500 with almost 8000 miles and my 2001 has 3700 miles.
You have no choice on that, the sportsman 500 did not come out untill 1996 and had that body style, it look the same until 03 or 2004 I think.
Here is what the first 96 Sportsman looked like. Below is a 2003. Not much has changed.
![](http://www.tradebit.com/usr/ridered-atc-atv/pub/9002/57367661_Sportsman500.jpg)
Stay with a 98 or up, the 96 and 97 had weaker u joints axles not CV joint axles. I perfer my 2001 over the newer 500 H.O, it has some feartures I like better. like no ECM brain Box,much larger 5.25 gas tank vs the 4.1 gal tank now and the twin locking hub AWD set up is much stronger then the single front locking diff with the plastic roller cage AWD. I also like the vented alloy oil tank over the new cheap plastic one they used now and EBS was standard not a option back then.
The cam problem was due to people not using Full synthetic 0w-40 oil in the earlier days and running what ever oil they had around the house or found on sale. We have a 97 SP500 with almost 8000 miles and my 2001 has 3700 miles.
I want this body style or newer:
Here is what the first 96 Sportsman looked like. Below is a 2003. Not much has changed.
![](http://www.tradebit.com/usr/ridered-atc-atv/pub/9002/57367661_Sportsman500.jpg)
![](http://cdn-6.psndealer.com/e2/dealersite/images/NewVehicles/2003_14sportsman400rd.jpg)
#6
#7
![Default](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Both automatically engage if the rear wheels slip a 1/8th of a turn ,than automatically disengage once rear traction returns. It so fast and instant that you do not feel it happening while riding. The ATV is in 2wd even if the awd switch is turned ON if the rear wheels are not slipping. The Off 2wd mode just makes the machine 2wd 100% of the time.
Is more like the ATV going in and out of diff lock on its own,and it happens in milliseconds.
Trending Topics
#8
![Default](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
There both AWD , Polaris has no limited slip 3wd mode. The older models locked both wheels at the front two hubs the new set up locks both wheels at the front diff instead.
Both automatically engage if the rear wheels slip a 1/8th of a turn ,than automatically disengage once rear traction returns. It so fast and instant that you do not feel it happening while riding. The ATV is in 2wd even if the awd switch is turned ON if the rear wheels are not slipping. The Off 2wd mode just makes the machine 2wd 100% of the time.
Is more like the ATV going in and out of diff lock on its own,and it happens in milliseconds.
Both automatically engage if the rear wheels slip a 1/8th of a turn ,than automatically disengage once rear traction returns. It so fast and instant that you do not feel it happening while riding. The ATV is in 2wd even if the awd switch is turned ON if the rear wheels are not slipping. The Off 2wd mode just makes the machine 2wd 100% of the time.
Is more like the ATV going in and out of diff lock on its own,and it happens in milliseconds.
Is there anyway to physically check for the cam problem upon inspection, or any other things to check on when inspecting one of them?
I know when I picked up a POS '91 350L, the clutch rubbed on the cover and was likely due to a broken motor mount at some point or another. Anything like that to look out for?
Again, I appreciate the help.
#9
![Default](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
![Smile](https://atvconnection.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Yes I'm bored at work today...
#10