I would not suggest buying this atv to anyone but my worst enemy. I own a 2000 remington sportsman 500 4x4 and it has been in the shop 8 or 9 times, I lost count. I have owned it for about 2.5 years and have only been able to ride it for about a year because it has been in the shop so much. Here's a list of what has gone wrong, at least what I can remember.
1) 2 low beam Headlights burnt out, (not covered under warranty)
2)starter only starts sometimes, have to use backup pull starter on this monster, usually only starts when someone else gives it gas and I pull
3)front struts leak and broke (not covered under extended warranty)-all 4 shocks-struts are leaking fluid. all need replacement now!
4)clutch sticks, walks away while idling, (not covered under extended warranty)-
5)electrical problem- headlights go dim an go out-wont start up, no power to anything- stalls when put in reverse, speedometer goes haywire, (shows 60 mph while standing still)
6)burnt 3 speedometers
7)bushings needed replacment on front a arms(not covered under extended warranty)
8)radiator fan went bad, twice
9)Thermostat went bad, twice
10) replaced 4x4 switch
11) front hubs leaked fluid and were replaced, Not sure if they replaced whole hub assembly or just seals- this happened 3 times
12)Front cv joint broke and replaced
13) shift linkage broke and replaced, twice
14)replaced 20 amp circuit breaker under seat
15)carburetor replaced because the air box would fill up with gasoline to the rim when loaded in truck, still does it.
16)replaced ignition key switch, twice, shorted out
17) brake calipers sticking, replaced fronts and pads.
18) replaced starter switch, twice.
19) Speedometer cable shorted out, replaced
20) steering tie rod ends worn out, not covered under warranty
21) steering bushing on bottom of shaft broke, replaced with aluminum one, works fine now
22) overheats alot, radiator gets clogged with mud every other time I ride it. have to remove radiator and pressure clean or spend alot of time with a hose and formula 88 to clean it. what a hassle.
This is all that I can remember off the top of my head, be warned. Personally, I will never buy another polaris, NEVER!

 

Wow, your right what a piece of junk. Too bad, sounds like you got a lemon. I would think that it would have held up much better considering you drove according to Polaris's reccomendations in thier owners manual, right? How many belts did you go through? With all those problems, you must have buzzed though at least a dozen belts, eh?

 

hay arrow head, how are the trails up your way? Can you get from there down to Brantingham legally with out doing to much pavement?

 

I also have a 2000 SP500, but I've had ZERO problems with it so far. I must be a lucky one [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

It sounds to me like many of the issues you're having are rider related. Looking at the end of your post, you mention that you ride in mud. Well of course your radiator will get clogged if your riding in mud. Any machine with a front mounted radiator will have the same issues. You mention that it clogs every other time you ride it. That would lead me to believe that you are cleanging it only every other time you ride it as well. This is only a guess. But if it's true, then your overheat problem, thermostat problem, and cooling fan problem are all rider related. Also, if your in the mud and don't get your struts and shocks cleaned out, the mud will take it's toll on the seals. Again rider related.

Without knowing you or your maintenance practices, my first guess would be the source of your problems is "YOU". If you clean and take care of this machine religiously, then you have my apologies. I would certainly switch dealerships. Every manufacture has a few flaws here and there, but never have I heard of anyone having this many troubles without some sort of dealer support or help form Polaris. I used to own a Polaris, and only had a few issues that were relatively minor, but taken care of by my dealer.

 

You didn't say how many miles you have on it but I had a 2000 335 sportsman and had some of the same problems. Brakes,speedometer,Hubs leaking,driven clutch assembly,steering bushing,all in 800+ miles. I now have a 2002 500 polaris sportsman and have in 1000 miles only had to replace the fan motor(started making noise,didn't break)I know others who have a 2000 500 sportsman's and have had no problems. I know Polaris has fixed a lot of the problems that have occurred on later models I know that doesn't help if you are keeping the quad but that was why I bought another as I liked the quad just didn't want the problems. There are problems with all quads Hondas seem like they have fewer problems but up until this year didn't have independent suspension,Yahama's overheat just like the sportsman's. Grissley's sputter at times when going through and after water. If you want to eliminate the overheating problem use engine ice and make sure the rad is cleaned out as much as possible. Around here that is almost impossible because Our DCNR makes us have bridges over every creek crossing. If you hit mud and muddy water and don't clean the rad if its hot outside(90's) you are going to have problems. To end I agree you have had lots of problems and I did too but I bought another and am not dissatisified with my second one but would I buy another, Have to wait and see.

 

I ride in the Everglades, in florida. I know that the mud is hard on machines, alot of extra drag. I haven't burnt out one belt yet. I have only gotten the belt wet once and let it dry like you are supposed to. I don't ride on pavement, just dirt roads and mud. I clean the bike every very good when I get home, thank you very much. As far as maintenance, I grease all 25 of the fittings about every 3-4 times I ride it. I use the special grease for the universal joints. I have been riding ATV/motorcycles for 25 years. My first ATC was a honda 90. I've been around for quite awhile. I also owned a 2001 Honda Rancher 4x4 ES and it worked perfectly under the exact same conditions that I ride the Sportsman 500 in. I sold the rancher because of a lack of power. I don't think that I bought a "lemon" because of all of the different problems that have come up. I just think that the Sportsman 500 is not made for riding primarily in the mud. Most of the country is pretty dry compared to the Everglades. For about 5 months out of the year it is not very muddy down here and is actually dry. I have some buddy's that also have Sportsman 500's and they have similar problems. I have about 1500 miles on mine. The bike is in the shop as we speak. I am just posting all of my problems with the bike.

2000 Sportsman 500 Remington 500

 

sbatzold,

I think you got your Stillwaters mixed up, there are two in NY, I'm by Albany. You can't ride anywhere around me leagally, except private property. Sorry


sirmill,
No one denies that these machine have had some problems, but then again, you could not have gone the places you went on another machine. Like they say, you got to pay to play.

 

Lep77,
I hose out the radiator EVERY time I ride it. The fins are so close together that the mud will accumulate no matter what I do. I still have to take out the radiator and get all of the mud out. How could the Thermostat going bad possibly be rider error? What about all of the other 20 problems? When I spent $6600 dollars on this machine I expected to be able to ride it most of the time. It usually gets me home. The way out is a great slogan for Polaris, but they forgot to mention the way back in. I am just very unhappy with my polaris product. I made the decision before I bought it that I was going to spend my hard earned $ on an american made product. I bought a Chevrolet truck and a Polaris ATV. Little did I know that the engine in my American make ATV was actually made by Fuji. I found out afterwards. My truck has been flawless, but I will not buy another polaris. I have given the Sportsman 2 1/2 yeaers to prove itself and all it has proved to me is that it is good at falling apart. I'm going to have to buy a Japanese ATV now.

 

<< These problems will happen to ANY machine under the same circumstances I'm sure >>



I'm not so sure, i see LOT'S of Honda's on the trails that are from the late '80's-early '90's (not bragging about honda's, but the 300's were pretty damn reliable!)

On another thought i think that you just got a lemon, i have noticed this with polaris a lot, i ride with 5-6 polaris ATV's, we all drive the same, and some don't do anything to their quads and have no problems, while others have problems after problems after problems after............................................. .............

But i see your point in not wanting to buy another polaris, i wouldn't either, although next year i'm gonna be looking at a sp600 (blue)