Polaris ATV Forum banner
Cancel

Sportsman 850 burnt up its toast

3791 Views 45 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  madmatterphotos, 
HisGirl
My boyfriend had a 2020 sportsman 850. He went riding today but before he even got 10 feet, he heard a pop under the engine, saw smoke, lost power and then flames. Anyone have any ideas?
He’s had a power issue before with it losing power then during, and a dealer diagnosed a fuel pump so he replaced it then no problems for months till now. Thanks
Ecoregion Fire Ash Flame Pollution
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
  • Wow
  • Sad
Reactions: 4
21 - 40 of 46 Posts
WillB
HisGirl said:
My boyfriend had a 2020 sportsman 850. He went riding today but before he even got 10 feet, he heard a pop under the engine, saw smoke, lost power and then flames. Anyone have any ideas?
He’s had a power issue before with it losing power then during, and a dealer diagnosed a fuel pump so he replaced it then no problems for months till now. Thanks View attachment 174738
Click to expand...
Glad no one was hurt.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
latebird
UncleMeat said:
I found this today.

I might buy two: one to test, one to install.
Click to expand...
I WOULD NOT BUY ANY IF THEY WERE FREE

Home appliance Font Fluid Gas Cylinder


Chances are they will not work when needed and they will not work well in an unenclosed space - ATV's are pretty well ventilated so I would suggest at least 10 per vehicle - 5 might work and would be adequate for the appx. 35 square foot area the average ATV occupies.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Y
Take the money for the fire extinguishers and put it toward the atv insurance , I'd rather have a new ride than a repaired fire damaged atv 😀
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 5
pcaster
yooper265 said:
Take the money for the fire extinguishers and put it toward the atv insurance , I'd rather have a new ride than a repaired fire damaged atv 😀
Click to expand...
Another reason I carry fire extinguishers is for others around me in case a fire occurs with their equipment. I can save my stuff or someone else's. The same applies with the gun I always carry - I can save my ass or yours.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 5
konehead763
HisGirl said:
My boyfriend had a 2020 sportsman 850. He went riding today but before he even got 10 feet, he heard a pop under the engine, saw smoke, lost power and then flames. Anyone have any ideas? He’s had a power issue before with it losing power then during, and a dealer diagnosed a fuel pump so he replaced it then no problems for months till now. Thanks View attachment 174738
Click to expand...
I just got a recall for my 2021 Polaris 570 wire harness issue and we're it is about catching Fire I wonder if that is affecting your vehicle I took mine to the dealer last week they inspected it they said mine was good to go wonder if you have the problem with that model
Reply
Save
Like
konehead763
HisGirl said:
My boyfriend had a 2020 sportsman 850. He went riding today but before he even got 10 feet, he heard a pop under the engine, saw smoke, lost power and then flames. Anyone have any ideas?
He’s had a power issue before with it losing power then during, and a dealer diagnosed a fuel pump so he replaced it then no problems for months till now. Thanks View attachment 174738
Click to expand...
There was a recall on my 2021 Polaris 570 Sportsman took it to the dealer last week they inspected it it was a wire harness that the recalls about they said that could catch fire wonder if that is affecting your ATV I would look into that mine was good to go thank goodness for that
Reply
Save
Like
konehead763
HisGirl said:
Definitely toast. He heard a pop then saw smoke. Thank goodness fully insured but still owe on it.
Click to expand...
Well I just Received a recalled for my 2021 570 sportmens ..it was for the wireharness that it could catch fire..took it to the Dealer last week they inspected sent photo's to the Manufactor and it was cleared..wonder if that could relate to your ATV..
Reply
Save
Like
madmatterphotos
latebird said:
Well, if it had been an electric vehicle it would not have happened - no gasoline or oil to fuel a fire! But wait; isn't the container for the EV battery made of petro-chemical material? How about the insulation on the wiring, the body, the tires, lighting equipment, motor controller and brake system materials? How much of an electric vehicle can be constructed without products derived from coal, oil or gas?
Click to expand...
Lol, truth
FPD218 said:
View attachment 174742 to the forum View attachment 174741
Click to expand...
thank you!
Reply
Save
Like
Doc8404
Consider an ABC extinguisher.
many of the “automobile” extinguishers are simply BC.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Smithsonite
I buy NOTHING from Amazon. Counterfeit or chinese garbage, always. eBay isn't much better, but if you know what you're looking for you can at least buy something decent from a non-commercial seller.

Pop, then fire - sounds like an extreme dead short of something thick, wiring-wise. Either carelessly installed accessories, or poor build quality. Both are extremely common today, no matter what you buy - cars, trucks, lawn mowers, etc.. The amount of crap out there today astounds me as a mechanic.

Partly because of this, after 14 years of running my own small engine and automotive repair shop, plus another 10+ on top of that doing it on the side, I'm moving on to something different. Between crap parts that are junk right out of the box or don't make it a week, supply chain b/s, USPS / UPS b/s, rust due to road salt, super expensive tooling becoming obsolete in just a few years (and failure prone because it's electronic), I've had about enough. Taking a maintenance position in the city. I'm friggin done.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Doc8404
Smithsonite said:
I buy NOTHING from Amazon. Counterfeit or chinese garbage, always. eBay isn't much better, but if you know what you're looking for you can at least buy something decent from a non-commercial seller.

Pop, then fire - sounds like an extreme dead short of something thick, wiring-wise. Either carelessly installed accessories, or poor build quality. Both are extremely common today, no matter what you buy - cars, trucks, lawn mowers, etc.. The amount of crap out there today astounds me as a mechanic.

Partly because of this, after 14 years of running my own small engine and automotive repair shop, plus another 10+ on top of that doing it on the side, I'm moving on to something different. Between crap parts that are junk right out of the box or don't make it a week, supply chain b/s, USPS / UPS b/s, rust due to road salt, super expensive tooling becoming obsolete in just a few years (and failure prone because it's electronic), I've had about enough. Taking a maintenance position in the city. I'm friggin done.
Click to expand...
ummmmm ok?
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Smithsonite
If you've got something to say, SAY IT.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 1
D
"Taking a maintenance position in the city. I'm friggin done."

I worked for a municipality for 8 years. You are not going to distance yourself from cheap china crap. Municipalities buy from the lowest bidder and hires low bid contractors for anything they do. I spent most of my 8 years fixing or modifying what a low bidder installed. It always cost them more in the long run than if they would have bought quality instead of cheap.

D
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Smithsonite
As long as it's not a modern automobile, I'm good with that. The engineering on these toilets is INFURIATING. The newer the model year, the more frustrating the repair will be.

I'll be working on 70 year old boilers. Right up my alley.
Reply
Save
Like
D
I hear ya. I was the machinist at a water treatment facility. We had a lot of old mechanical equipment that I rebuilt. That part I enjoyed, But, the city was always "upgrading" with modern electronic controllers trying to operate valves and pumps built in the 1930's. It was an automation nightmare. I also did boiler work. Lots of new electronic controls being added to old boilers these days too. Usually by the low bidder.

D
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Smithsonite
Yeah, I hear they plan on upgrading these 4 giants to natural gas units next year or so. Job security, no doubt about it. 😂
Reply
Save
Like
Y
Smithsonite said:
If you've got something to say, SAY IT.
Click to expand...
imgflip.com

Sam Kinison - Say it! Say it!

An animated gif. Make your own gifs with our Animated Gif Maker.
imgflip.com imgflip.com
Reply
Save
Like
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: 4
allenbybrad
Deucer said:
I have never carried a fire extinguisher in an ATV. . I think that will be my new years resolution. I will get several and put one in each car and ATV. Wife's car has one but really old and probably needs replaced. D
Click to expand...
Yes indeed do it today if possible I’m Brad that was my beautiful ATV in flames what a heart breaker. I figured it would out live me so much for that thought.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 3
allenbybrad
HisGirl said:
My boyfriend had a 2020 sportsman 850. He went riding today but before he even got 10 feet, he heard a pop under the engine, saw smoke, lost power and then flames. Anyone have any ideas?
He’s had a power issue before with it losing power then during, and a dealer diagnosed a fuel pump so he replaced it then no problems for months till now. Thanks View attachment 174738
Click to expand...
I just thank God it didn’t happen in the middle of summer or I would have had a Huge forest fire on my hands the flames you see does it no justice they were at least 20 to 30 feet high at one point
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 2
pcaster
allenbybrad said:
Yes indeed do it today if possible I’m Brad that was my beautiful ATV in flames what a heart breaker. I figured it would out live me so much for that thought.
Click to expand...
I don't think a lot of us think of needing a fire extinguisher with a 4-wheeler. I never thought about it until reading enough horror stories on this forum that it scared me straight and I now have them. Another good reason to have one is for the woods, fields, or forests we ride in. I don't want to be the guy who's wheeler caught on fire and also burned up 5,000 acres of a forest and homes, etc.

Its just good insurance to carry one in my opinion.
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
21 - 40 of 46 Posts
Polaris ATV Forum
A forum community dedicated to Polaris ATV owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Rangers, Sportsmans, Scramblers, Magnums, and others. Research modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
ATV Repair and Maintenance ATV General Discussion Polaris Sportsman ATV New Members Polaris XP
Top