polaris sportsman 500 hard steering

fastmike22 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 08:39 PM

Hi guys im a new member and am having some problems with the steering on my 2000 sportsman 500. The bike is super hard to steer and is pulling to the right. The bike has never been wrecked and i have owned it since it was new. I have only used it to plow my drive for the past 5 years or so. I know they dont steer like the new ones but its so hard you would be sore after a 2 hr ride. Now here is the best part. I just took it to a small shop to try and get this problem fixed and here is the list of what they did
New tie rods and ball joints
New oem struts
New bearings
Checked,cleaned and chainger the hub fluid.
Pretty much everything on the front of the bike is new. The front hubs are Not staying engaged either. I thought it was going to steer like new when i got it back. Nope. Not much better than it was. So now im clueless. Any help would be super. Bike still runs like a dream but its so hard to steer i really dont want to ride it.

4getful2 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 01:39 AM

There is a grease zerk ,on the upper steering post, just underneath the speedometer pod, that gets neglected,try a couple squirts in there and see if it helps.
Check for any torn or worn cv boots and joints. a stuck front caliper as well.
Factory spec. on the front-end alignment is 1/8"-1/4" toe out------if all else fails you could set it to 0" -1/8" toe in

Russ C · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 04:01 AM

needs alighned

fastmike22 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 06:40 AM

Ok well im going to look for that grease zerk. The handle bars also have some play in them. I hear people using the hpd bearing kit to replace the factory one. If i replace that do you think that would possibly ease the steering some or does it just mainly give the steering a more solid feel?

Russ C · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 04:35 PM

look at it from the front, are tires pointed towards each other or away from each other,? it makes a big difference if its not alighned properly

Kevcules · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 06:15 PM

Put the bike up on blocks in the front. Can you turn the handlebars easy? Sounds like steering bushing or bearing worn and sticky.

Kevin

fastmike22 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 06:47 PM

If you jack the front end up it steers like i feel it should. I know taking the weight off is making some of the difference but it does not feel like there is any binding .Also how do you check for alighnment? Are there factory marks some where to measure from? I know i said the hubs were not engaged but that is what the mechanic told me. The bike is actually my fathers so i told him to bring it to my house so i can give it a look. I am actually going to put the bike on jacks and see if the hubs are working properly or if that is the reason why it is pulling to the right. My father just paid $800 to get this problem fixed and it is still the same so now im on a mission to see what is the problem. I just cant except the fact that it is this hard to steer. Im sure the grease fitting under the head light probably has never been greased either so thats my first chore.

KICKER431 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 07:45 PM

Set the bike on a level flat surface and ensure the handlebars are straight. Hold a level at the front hub and mark the middle of the front tire even with the middle of the hub. Measure distance between the dead center of the front tires. Then, do the same measurement except on the back center of the tires. The difference between the measurement between the front centers and the back is how much toe in (think pigeon foot) or toe out (club footed) your bike is.

4getful2 says your bike should be 1/8"-1/4" toe out. So your front measure should be 1/8 to 1/4 inch larger than your rear measure. If this is not the case, adjust the tie rod ends to extend or shorten the tie rods, pushing the front of the tires out or in until you achieve the proper alignment.

My wife had been complaining that her bike was very hard to steer, especially to the left and that her arms were getting tired. I remembered that I had completely rebuilt her front end (New bearings, cv boots, ball joints) without realigning it. I did it up in about 10 minutes and she hopped back on to try it. When she hopped off she gave me a big kiss and told me what a great ATV mechanic I was. Not bad for a guy who makes his living as a nurse. I wouldn't expect the same treatment from your dad.

fastmike22 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-02-2012, 07:48 PM

ok so i got the quad on a set of jack stands and if you floor it the left front wheel will barely start to move so i dont think the awd is the problem. The hard pull to the right turned out to be a tie rod out of wack. So that problem is solved. I greased both bearings on the steering stem and spray lubed everything that moved in the front end. Is it possible that when the struts turn from left to right as you steer that is causing drag? Has any one ever taken the bushing of the top of them and greased it? I starting to think im stuck with a hard steering machine. It seems a little better but its still stiff.

Dbez1 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-02-2012, 08:06 PM

Let me just throw out a couple of simple possibilities...do you have enough air in your tires? Are you running wide tires on the front that may be worn down? If this doesn't help, you might want to find a really GOOD Polaris mechanic and I'll bet he can find the cure. This forum has some pretty sharp mechanics also. Good luck and keep us posted.