I have a '04 Sportsman 500HO & Glacier 48" plow. I was plowing snow the other day - really working it for about 2-3 hrs - fan was working off and on - then later the pod flashed HOT - HOT - HOT. About then, cooling started boiling in reservoir and spilled out. Dealer looked at it - all OK - fan cycled on/off. Said everything was OK - after he added more coolant.

The machine has never been very muddy and is quite clean. I plan on picking it up this week and trying it again.

Any suggestions or ideas ???? What am I missing ?? HELP !!

 

Look at the radiator and make sure it is not clogged with mud/dirt. I know before I relaized that it was caking up in there, mine would run the fan a lot more. Make sure the fins on the radaitor are not all bent. Do not use a high preasue washer on your radiator, but low preasure hose. Best way to see radiator is to remove the front rack, and then pop open the front hood. You can see it much better this way.

SLG

 

BikKat: I'm sure there's no mud in the rad fins. I've never used high pressure water either. But - would "dust" in fins clog it?? I've had it pretty dusty several times in working in fine sandy conditions. To get at the radiator - you said to take front rack off - then what ??

 

Dust, sand, and snow will clog and turn into a very hard muck ... you need 70% of the fins clear to keep an sportsman cool. The cycling fan is a good sign, but as BitKat said remove the rack and hood and use a low pressure hose to clear the fins ... also make sure the front screen wasn't full of snow, i've had mine fill with snow and then harden into ice and block the air flow.

 

Had about the same thing happen to me. On mine while out plowing (and playing of course) the ice/snow had built up in fan shroud keeping the fan from turning, ya it blew coolant out of resevoir. After knocked the chunck of ice out had no more problem.

 

when plowing snow that long....if the snow was wet, or you were pushing heavy amounts for long periods, you have to expect your machine to heat up....you have to give it a break every once in awhile....

see how it does next time...if it heats up early, then it could be something else....but if it goes a long time like the last time, then that I would think would be normal....again, it depends on how much you are making the machine work....

dave

 

how is your oil level