08 Sportsman winch mounting

[HONDARACER]

Did anyone manage to get the original cover back on after mounting a winch? Is there a template to use to cut it out or will it even fit anymore with the winch installed?

[blueline15]

there is no templete to cut the orginal panel, and its not really worth it because it is a pain in the ass to make it look good. but luckily, polaris makes and sells a front cover that already has a hole cut out for the winch. honestly, the dealer should have put one on for you when they were done. but still you can order the cover from any dealer. it is PN# 5436991-070 and is $9.43. for less then $10, its worth saving the headache of trying to cut your orginal. the new cover though wont come with the blue polaris star decal, so you will need to try to find the orginal one if the dealer has it, and with a flathead screwdriver, you can peal the blue star decal off of the orginal one and put it on the new one with the winch cut out.

this is the panel i am talking about. already pre cut. only the winch fairleads stick out.

[chuckraduenz]

yes there is actualy a template. but i got mine when i got the mount from kfi. they had about 6 templates with it. and if i would have gotten the polaris oem cut out it wouldnt have worked as mine was centerd in the opening and the plate was cut out in the center. if your winch sits in the center i maybe able to scan it and send it to ya via email. or i could scan them all and send them to ya. the winces that polaris sells or the mounts looks like the off center. but heres mine. i cut mine out. did a good job to.

[buster634]

I cut mine myself like "Chuckradunez" It actually came out pretty good. I cut it with a jig saw. It also allows you to cut it big enough so you can use the "free spool" option of the winch. It looks like the pre-cut one won't give you enought room to get to to the free spool lever. Just my two cents!!

[HONDARACER]

Ya those look pretty nice, I think I might try and get mine to work. I definatly need to access the free spool latch. I have to look at my install. I thought mine was over to one side rather than in the middle.

[blueline15]

Originally Posted by buster634

It looks like the pre-cut one won't give you enought room to get to to the free spool lever. Just my two cents!!

it does. there is enough room to slide your fingers in and flip the free spool lever up or down

[joker]

Thanks blueline15 for that part#. Got mine today from my dealer.......$10.

[HONDARACER]

I dont know why those dicks didnt sell me one of those when I bought y quad. Bunch or muther fuggers.