Sportsman 500 "Priming oil pump"
 

I've read mixed opinions on priming the oil pump.My SP500 is a 99 model mfg in 8/98. No where in oil change section which includes removing both drain plugs,removing oil line to clean screen ect. does it mention clamping off vent line before slit to bleed, this is directly from a 1999 Polaris shop manual that come directly from a closed dealership,not Clymer ect. So do you prime the older models or is this a revision Polaris come up with later?

Priming the oil pump mainly started showing up on Polaris oil change kit instructions first,then the manuals. In my opinion Polaris added the priming method as just a matter of routine maintenance and entirely up to you whether to do it or not.Priming allows the oil to get to the upper end quicker. Whether you block off the oil tank vent line or not,the oil pump will prime up.It just takes longer to do this if the vent line isn't clamped. The only time I primed the system is when I removed the screen for cleaning on machines with filthy oil or on newly rebuilt engines. You don't have to mess with the sump drain plug if you don't want too. You can drain the oil tank, leave the old oil filter on,crank the engine for 10 seconds only then kill it,the sump oil(approx 8 ounces) will pump into the tank and out in the pan. Then change the oil filter and add fresh oil. This is entirely up to you on how you change oil.