Couple weeks ago my 500 sportsman started making a loud clicking noise from the rear when I turn to the right. I thought maybe bad cv joints but I popped open all the boots and they all still full of grease with no holes everything looks good. Also has new wheel bearings in the back.

 

A lot of times people start noticing noise when they back up. Click clack in reverse,but forward range is ok. Usually the plunging joint,the one next to the gear case is the culprit.Later on when they wear more they start making this noise in forward range when you turn a sharp right or left,one shaft will plunge inward,the opposite side shaft will come outward in the joint. The click clacking is the ball bearings riding in the channel of the joint moving around.And it can be the one inward or the one extended making the noise! I've had guys at the shop hanging off back of affected machines trying to locate which side was making the noise.. Been snake bit on this a couple times and just replaced the worn joint only to have the wheel side cv joint start making noise later on. Costs more to replace joints individually than as a complete assy. As cheap as they're getting now easier to just replace them.8TEN High Strength Rear Drive Shaft CV Axle 1999 2002 Polaris Sportsman | eBay Or you can check out Sixity drive shafts also.Good cheap replacements for oem driveshafts. You can still drive it as is,will probably last a while,that is if you can stand the racket that will get worse. Any yes at first I thought it was wheel bearings and replaced them first with no change in noise..

 

Random question do the 500 ho's have a larger carb then the regular 500's

 

34mm(BST34) on the pre HO models,40mm(BST40) on the HO models. Here's a good read on Polaris 2 stroke and 4 stroke carbs.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...U2gGlaHJWSIlbA