Went riding yesterday (check out the pictures) with a couple of friends. We road all for a few hours in the mud and water. Afterwards, we were running down a trail with just water puddles when all of a sudden my machine started tO BOG. It died out and would not start with out the choke. I rode for a while and stoped and checked the air box (no idea what me do this) and there was water in it. It came in from a kink in the gasket.

Today I was checking everyting out to make sure there was no water in the crank or anywere else. I pulled the plug (very black but no carbo build up, is the ok?) and put everyting back together, EXCEPT for the air box cover. I started it up to make sure it ran and when I gave it gas it bogged out. I started it again and tired to go forward and the same thing happened. I put the air box cover back on and tried it and it worked fine.

My question is, I have always felt that my machine boged down at high speed. It never seemed to wind out. Once in awhile it seemed ot have alot more power and speed, but it would not last. Could the gasket in the air box be letting to much air in and causing the machine to lose power??

 

come on, someone must have some help for me????

 

One thing I can tell you is that your SP will not run worth a sh*t with the airbox cover removed. The reason for this is that the carb is a cv (constant velocity) which means it needs vac to operate. Unfortunately this vacuum is obtained from the airbox. As you can see the air intake snorkel to your carb. is of a much smaller dia. than the carb outlet/engine inlet. This restriction on the air inlet creates a vacuum in the airbox, the more air that is drawn in the greater the vacuum and the more open the carb. slide.
So to answer your question, if the airbox is leaking excessively the vac in the airbox will be reduced preventing the carb slide from opening fully.
I hope I explained this well enough.

 

My '99 Sportsman didn't wind out until I replaced the stock air filter with a K&N unit. Now it will scream along at 55 mph top speed, I think that's pretty good with my 270lb butt on it! Vacuum has a huge effect on these carbs. I wish Polaris would use good old straight sided carbs instead. I think CV carbs are junk. But that's my opinion and we all know what they say about opinions.
Gsport500