I have a 2004 sportsman 400 that bogs down when I go up hills. I have taken it to the dealer ship before and They did fix it. That was a year and a half ago. It is starting to do it again so whatever they did didn't really fix it and I don't want to take it back to them because I feel they are jerking me around on this because I'm younger. I have read online and other people seem to have this problem as well. Some people say that it needs to be rejetted.
Is this true? and how do you rejet your carburetor if that is the problem?

I ride at 1,000 to 3,000 feet usually

 

First off do you ride it every day or just occasionally? Do you have fresh fuel plus do you keep some kind of stabilizer in the fuel tank? If you don't then if the dealer did any kind of carb clean/rebuild you may have the same problem again. Air filter clean also? Stock jetting should be fine as it covers sea level to about 3000 ft or so. OPT

 

I usually take it out for a day of riding about every 2 weeks or so. and it is usually fresh fuel because I will fill it up every time I got out. I also do not keep any stabilizer in the tank should I? and what kind? It also did sit for a good 2 months in the garage over summer because I was a canoe guide in the boundary waters. So how can I fix my problem? I can't afford to take it in to a dealer I'm a broke college student thats why I am trying to do it myself

 

Could be all you have to do is drop the carb bowl and clean the pilot jet and main jet from any accumulated varnish from the ethanol fuel. I just about guarantee you there will at least be a little.This might solve the problem on bogging as long as the float needle isn't varnished up and sticking also. Just my on this one,if I have to pull a carb,it's well worth the piece of mind to install a carb kit or at least a new needle and seat as well as clean the jets. Again just my is Marine Stabil is my preference and 2nd choice is Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment. There are others out there such as Seafoam,Lucas,STP, etc that people swear by. The main thing is to use one!! Gas can go bad and varnish up now in as little as a month or two. I'm a broke old retired man and that's why I keep Marine Stabil in my old Honda http://compare.ebay.com/like/3703916...Types&var=sbar

 

I bought the carb kit and I'm going to go ahead and do that. I am also going to start using the stabilizer.
THANKS!! I will let you know if it works or not