Hello,
Is am looking to replace the lower bushing on my Polaris Sportsman 500. I do not want to replace with the OEM part. Does anyone out there have a recommendation on what else there is to replace it with? If so can you point me to where I can purchase? Currently I have about an inch of play in the steering making it very difficult to ride.

 

Have had this same thing at the shop on people wanting to do away with the lower plastic block for the newer bearing style block. Problem is that the steering post is smaller in diameter than the later ones that have the bearing.Steering post would have to be changed along with the,upper holder and bushings,along with the block,but don't know how that would affect the tie rods and alignment. Most people just went back with the plastic block and used bolts instead of rivets to secure it.Loose rivets along with a little internal wear was the major problem on this block.A machine shop could possibly make a steel sleeve for the block for the shaft to ride in but don't know well that would hold up.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping there was some other solution. I have read many other posts about some aftermarket replacements but all of those posts were so old maybe those manufactures are out of business. Anyways in 1999 they made a great reliable machine. Probably have this thing forever.

 

If you haven't had a cam problem by now that many had problems with,you may have a good one and dodged a bullet..

 

Yes I think it did. It was rebuilt before I got it. So some other unfortunate soul didn't dodge that bullet. Hope the issue doesn't come back.

 

That's the way to buy one... Now hopefully it should last awhile. Even the after market ones are supposed to have a good heat treatment on replacement cams. Just a bunch of soft ones on the 95 and up 425 Magnums and 1996-2000 Sportsman 500 models. HO cams came out in 2001 on the Sportsman and 2000 Scrambler 500.