My new to me 500 ho performed flawlessly on its first outing but I do have a couple questions.while cleaning I discovered it is missing something between the foot brake and what appears to be a switch ? also should there be any play at all on front wheels if so is that an adjustable item?

 

Spring Item#15.2005 Polaris SPORTSMAN 500 HO/INTL (A05MH50AB) Master Cylinder, Rear & Foot Pedal /Ac/Ag/Ah/Al/At/Fb | Cycle Parts Warehouse Play can be from worn tie rod ends, worn a-arm bushings,worn ball joints,etc. Best to jack the front end up to take the load off and you can tell more about it. Here's a good cheap investment that can help on service,repairs,trouble shooting..2005 Polaris Sportsman 500 Service Manual PDF Download

 

I had it up on the jack tie rods are new and rest of front end is tight definetly very slight wheel bearing play.Although I have been working on cars/trucks and motorcycles for years just never worked on an atv.

 

Several videos on the Sportsman 500/700/800 front wheel bearings which are basically the same procedure. You can fight with them with the strut mounted or take the strut off and work on a bench. I just ripped em off with air tools,remove the large snap ring at the front,had the new bearing in the freezer,heated the hub area up with a torch and impacted the bearing out from the rear of the strut. The strut has slots in the rear to where you can hit the bearing with the impact. Then just used a bearing race installer with the size that fit the bearing,removed the new one from the freezer and seated it. Last step replace the circlip.. Here's one video. Take how some people remove bearings with a grain of salt.. Everyone's different and some don't have the proper tools to begin with and improvise. This guys doesn't showing installing the bearing,gets off subject on the tires..