My brother has a 01 Sportsman 500 H.O. The problem is its hard to get into gear and once it goes into gear it tries to take off. It will run by itself about 5mph. He says it runs like crap and when he really gets on it and lets off the gas it stops real fast like hes pushing the brakes. A friend of mine has had the same problem out of his sportsman, same year, same model. Any comments would be apreciated.

 

not sure about the gear thing but are you friends familiar with the engine brake?

 

this is not the usuall engine brake, more like an engine breaking

 

They should have got Yamerhammers.HA!

 

Here are a couple of things to check. The EBS drive clutch may have grooves burnt into the sheaves allowing the belt to move to the shaft and engage. Use your finger and feel both faces of the sheaves to feel for a groove. Look at the belt width, is it within spec? Is the engine idle set too high?

Let us all know what you find.

 

Just a guess, but maybe a mis-aligned clutch?

 

Clutches out of alinment
or Idle to high

 

I am thinking that he may have his idle set to high as far as the going when he starts thing. I don't know about the slowing way down. Mine wouldn't stay running when I bought it and all it took was some adjustment on the cable on the right handlebar, coming out of the trottle box.

John