11 Sportsman 500 HO - HD Springs / Snorkel ?'s

[swanny297]

Quick question - I have done some searching and found a little information but - last weekend I got in a little water and decided I would like to do a few mods which at first I wasn't going to do, so here is my questions:

Instead of a lift for my sportsman I think I am going to go with HD springs, I have seen where a lot of people just install the front, since I want to lift it a little should I do both front and rear? If I want to go taller from here if I have read the information correctly I could do a 2" lift but would probably want to replace the rear axle with a stronger aftermarket axle correct?

Water - since I have the front storage box, Triangle Snorkit now has stealth kits available for 2011 and 2012 sportsman 500's, I know they are a little pricey but I would like to keep my front storage box, so snorkels being drilled through the front are out of the question. Does anyone have the Triangle and do you like it?

Thanks
Clint

[antoniodef]

I don't think rear springs will lift the bike any. It can only go as high as the strut allows it. The rear has preload adjusters that you can use to make the springs push the bike as high as the strut allows, the front doesn't have adjusters. That is why people go with HD springs. I did HD springs on the front because of the added weight of winch/plow and I didn't like how the front dipped while cornering.

I have my rears adjusted to the middle. Anymore and the ride was to harsh for me.

Right on the axles. Seems if you lift it, the axles will break. Rumor is they went to a cheaper axle in 2011.

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[PolarisRich]

What I did was to make some Spring Spacers that go on the strut below the spring. All they do is lift the bike to the top of the strut travel to keep the front of the bike up ( removes front end sag). They dont change the ride characteristics at all un like the HD springs will give you a stiffer ride.


I've found with trial and error that a 1" spacer is all you need.
I made mine out of 1 1/2 abs black pipe 1" in length and 1 1/4 PVC pipe 2" length. All you do is glue the two pieces together and install.
I've hade mine in for a few years now with no signs of wear at all.

[factionfx]

I have highlifter HD springs on my 500 all the way around and I absolutely love them.

We trail ride, kind of hard at times, jumps etc.

The problem was not necessarily that the bike would sag under its own weight (which it did), but that #1, it was compressed quite a bit by the time i got on it, and #2) i was bottoming out the rear when getting up to 2ft of air. Yes, 2 ft. Not much at all. I am 210lbs.

With the springs in the rear it does not roll near as much, but i still feel the rear IRS works great. Sure, a lil more bouncy. Still about 10x better than my 250 trailblazer with
solid axle. Note that i have the springs adjusted in the rear up 2 clicks for it to ride where like i want. (I am turning them all the way up to ride with my gf (400 lbs total), I think they will do great--We were bottoming the stock ones out with the rear adjusters cranked up all the way.)

With the springs on the front, it does not dive near as much (or roll for that matter). I went ahead and left on my front adjusters (moose pregressors) so that when the springs in the front eventually sag, I can just adjust them up.

Cheers.

[bohicaatv]

Originally Posted by factionfx

I have highlifter HD springs on my 500 all the way around and I absolutely love them.

We trail ride, kind of hard at times, jumps etc.

The problem was not necessarily that the bike would sag under its own weight (which it did), but that #1, it was compressed quite a bit by the time i got on it, and #2) i was bottoming out the rear when getting up to 2ft of air. Yes, 2 ft. Not much at all. I am 210lbs.

With the springs in the rear it does not roll near as much, but i still feel the rear IRS works great. Sure, a lil more bouncy. Still about 10x better than my 250 trailblazer with
solid axle. Note that i have the springs adjusted in the rear up 2 clicks for it to ride where like i want. (I am turning them all the way up to ride with my gf (400 lbs total), I think they will do great--We were bottoming the stock ones out with the rear adjusters cranked up all the way.)

With the springs on the front, it does not dive near as much (or roll for that matter). I went ahead and left on my front adjusters (moose pregressors) so that when the springs in the front eventually sag, I can just adjust them up.

Cheers.

Thanks, factionfx for the review on the highlifter springs. I have the same problem trying to ride 2 up. I just purchased the 4 spring kit but have not installed. I think I have made the right choice.
What did the patv1, primary clutch spring do for you?

[factionfx]

Originally Posted by bohicaatv

Thanks, factionfx for the review on the highlifter springs. I have the same problem trying to ride 2 up. I just purchased the 4 spring kit but have not installed. I think I have made the right choice.
What did the patv1, primary clutch spring do for you?

The PATV1 spring is great. I didn't want to spend 2-300$ on a full blown clutch kit. I got the idea to email EPI from when we installed HPD exhausts on our 250 trailblazers and the 'clutch kit' was composed of just a stiffer spring.

Think of it as shifting the powerband 400 rpm, so you engage 400 rpm higher (say it's 2 horsepower difference from where it is now). So 2hp more at the exact same speed. (see stock line of hp vs RPM)
Aaen Performance - Polaris ATV 500

Just bumps up the engagement about 400 rpm, and supposedly gives 200rpm on the top end. (I'm getting somewhere in 6800 on top end--I don't know what it was before since it wasn't broken in and i did not keep it wide open for sustained RPM's.)

Plus, the spring is only $25 on Amazon. That's the best part .

[swanny297]

2" lift and no issues with axles yet, I figured I would just replace them if and when the factory axles break - having the stealth snorkel installed this week by a buddy that has done a couple of them is putting it on for me - 2011 sportsman 500 HO. Ran through some creeks last year hunting and stalled it out a couple of times, plus had water in the belt box.

A note on the lift and axles - highlifter is the only 2" lift kit that states new axles are required on 2011 and up - RDC and other lifts don't state it is required, and if you call and ask they will also tell you they are not required. When we installed my lift, we compared one of my axles on the 11 with an axle on a 10, the dimensions and weight were the same.....

[lost cause]

The lift will put more strain on your stock axles and you will eventually need to upgrade to better axles. As far as the triangle kit, I have been running the stealth kit on my 2009 800 for a couple years now and it is a good kit.

[bohicaatv]

I got the springs on yesterday and rode it for the first time last night. Rides great!! It sits a little higher, definitly stiffer and less sag when I sit on the bike but the ride seems
just as smooth. I think they will work out great. Thanks for the info on the clutch spring. I am worried about strain on the belt riding two up. I am not sure what the best option if any I should look at to try and get the most life out of it.
Thanks again!

[factionfx]

Originally Posted by bohicaatv

I got the springs on yesterday and rode it for the first time last night. Rides great!! It sits a little higher, definitly stiffer and less sag when I sit on the bike but the ride seems
just as smooth. I think they will work out great. Thanks for the info on the clutch spring. I am worried about strain on the belt riding two up. I am not sure what the best option if any I should look at to try and get the most life out of it.
Thanks again!

No problem. Glad you like the springs!