How hard is it,& what do you do to replace the starter & drive on a 2011 Polaris Sportsman 500HO?Starter is missing sometimes.
Thanks

 

Hard part is to get to the bottom bolt on the starter since it's behind the inner clutch cover. Some with good hands have taken air boxes off and been able to get them,but since I had a lift I just removed the clutch cover,drive clutch and loosen the inner cover enough to get the bolt out.Pull the recoil and bendix and se if the starter motor is ok. May just need a bendix if it's worn.Plus here's a good video on the bendix. If just a bendix is needed,plenty of them on ebay.http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...endix&_sacat=0 DB electric has starters and bendix as a package if you need.http://www.dbelectrical.com/c-1804-sportsman.aspx

 

Ditto on OPT's post. Chances are it's the starter and not the drive.

 

If it is the starter it may just be a sticky brush needs cleaning. Happened to me, sometimes it started but most times it just clicked. I cleaned a sticky brush and its been good for years now.

Not sure it would work on yours but I took the air box out . The starter has two bolts one at 12 o'clock and one at 6 o'clock.

Take the easy 12 out first ,the loosen the 6 o'clock it will not come out because it hits the back belt plate but will disconnect . The with channel locks spin the starter so the 6 o'clock bolt is at 12 o'clock and pull out the bolt then remove starter.

 

Starter is spinning good,just spinning doesn't engage flywheel first off.Then it will grab & spin motor.
This one doesn't have pull rope start.

 

Then sounds like the bendix spring is weak and you just need to replace the starter bendix.You can try to clean and grease it,but as cheap as they are not worth the effort.