Hello, I have a 2000' Sportsman 500 and the starter won't do anything. I was trying to start it and it was like the starter seized. I took it apart ...thought the brushes where finished but they where OK so I clean it up lubed the bearings and then it would try to turn over the motor but no go, I think it might be the benix. But at one point the lights on the speedometer pod where going dim then bright, now I know they had problems with those sometimes. I took the starter out of the 2000' and put it in my 04.5' and it starts it so it isn't the starter. Now I turn the key on and there is no lights on the speedo pod at all. I did a few times have no speedo at all while out on the trails but the bike would start no problem.
If anyone has a idea where to start checking for this problem, it would be much apppriciated so I can fix the starter which I think is the bendix or maybe it lies within this electrical problem maybe not enough power going to the starter

All I want to do is get this bike running, fix the other things wrong with it and upgrade to a 550XP or 850XP And with that would be the next ? Does the 550 XP Touring have more power and speed than my 2004.5' Sportman 500 HO ? I would just go for the 850XP Touring but I don't want something really hard on gas ! I get about 20 to 24 mpg with the HO which I am happy with

 

I would start with load testing the battery and also check that while running the battery is charging 14-14.5 volts,plus on the speedo I would check the wiring under the pod for any shorts if the speedo goes off and on. OPT