Anyone know what the changes/upgrades are for 2003 other than tires and the elimination of zerks?

Thanks.

 

Gaphics, smaller fuel tank (4.75 vs 5.25) seems like there was something else too I just can't remember it right now.

 

Smaller fuel tank is due to moving the air snorkles clear up to almost as high as the cap on the gas tank. They added a 'dent' in the tank to make room for it.

 

Thanks guys.
Anything else?

 

Jeff

You asked what I like better about the 500 and the 700. I prefer the EBS of the 500 and I did not feel $800 worth of difference in power. Also, the 500 is a proven machine that has been bullet proof for us. Why quit a winner? I totaled a 500 by rolling in several times down a hill that was WAY TOO STEEP to be climbing. I had the chance to buy a 700 as a replacement to my 500 but opted to buy another 500. You DO want to get one with the Rawhide tires if you buy a 500. The tires are excellent.

Power has never been lacking for all the different places and ares I have ridden. I once had to pull my 1/2 ton truck out of the mud. These things are very good at pulling in LOW. The top speed is around 57 - 60 mph on our HOs and @55 mph on our non-HO. They are tuely tops in the mud! The ground cleaance is a huge advanatge and the Independant Rear Suspension is unmatched for ride quality. They are very comfortable to ride.

The machines are not light but not much heavier if you put the same type/weight tires on the machine of other manufactures machines. They have a complete steel skid plate which is a nice feature which contibutes to a few extra pounds. The Polaris machines are also larger and that works nicely when you carry a friend.

I ride with alot of folks who ride several brands of machines and I have not yet found a machine I would trade for the 500 HO. Of course I have not ridden the new 600 Sportsman??????????

 

Rear brake larger and inside rear wheel instead of up on the transmission.

Standard Rawhide tires - awesome

New Speedometer

New green color

 

Other changes include the oil tank made out of plastic rather than aluminum and the oil filler moved to the side by the oil filter. Standard goodyear rawhide tires.

 

Thanks.

 

Farmr123,

You stated that the tank was smaller for the belt exhaust snorkel............I thought the same thing when I saw that they reduced the size of the tank on the 500ho to the same capacity as the 700. However, I was at the local Polaris dealership this week and looked at a 2003 500ho, and it had the older style belt exhaust snorkel...........the one that just comes up about a foot higher than the side cover, turns back down, and blows out the left side. Have you seen inspected one to see if they have actually changed it? Also, in the parts diagrams on the polaris website it shows the old style. I hope I'm wrong and that they have improved this, but I'm not so sure. Maybe they're just using up old stock, and haven't updated their parts diagrams. Oh yeah, and I'm sure this was a 2003. It had the new graphics, the rear brake caliper mounted in the rear wheel, had no greast zerks on the a-arms, and had red rear a-arms. It did have grease zerks on the front u-joints though, and I noticed a 2003 sp500 6x6 that had u-joints without zerks.

Waylan

 

Walexa, no I haven't actually inspected it. I had heard that the '03 Sportsmans had gotten improved snorkeling, and since the gas tank shrunk, I just assumed they went with the same system as the 700 had.
Sorry about that, my mistake, I just assumed the improvements carried on to the 500s. I didn't figure they would go with a smaller gas tank for no reason.

Farmr