2004 Polaris sportsman 600 test drive review

[@98dodge360v8]

Have a good friend that I helped with his 600. Perfomance was declining, bottom and top end power wasnt quite there like it had been. Seemed to be starting harder. Starting getting noticably hotter. Cleaned the carb and found the rubber intake manifold had split all along the bottom third of the boot right where it diverges to feed each cylinder. Went from 58mph to 65mph on the speedo. He has 8400miles on his.

[@rockspowersports]

Thats pretty impressive mileage on your friends 600! After I got done my test ride I noticed I was blowing coolant out of the reservoir so I obviously have a head gasket problem which I’m sure it’s down on power do to that. I also noticed my intake boot was heavily weather cracked..

[@98dodge360v8]

@@rockspowersports yeah a blown head gasket doesnt help. My dad has a 02 sportsman 400 with 17, 348 miles on it.

[@rockspowersports]

@@98dodge360v8 wow thats a ton of miles for around my area anyways… I don’t see to many machines around here that ever make it to 10,000 miles. I’m curious where do you live?

[@98dodge360v8]

@@rockspowersports North Dakota. Lots of ranch and farm units that get a couple thousand a year. Dealer an hour away had a 2yr old sportsman 850 with 9400miles for sale a year ago. Also the people that ride the black hills in South Dakota rack up the miles. Lots of areas around here where you can ride on road.

[@98dodge360v8]

@@rockspowersports Also my 455 is still running good with that aftermarket piston

[@wyattotten3216]

I have the same machine. I’ve only been able to get up to 54. Nice review

[@LarsVibstad]

I like you channel! I own a 2008 sportsman 500HO. And i love the machine. Very good to drive and it runs great for the age.

[@rockspowersports]

I’m glad you enjoy it. Those sportsmans are very smooth and for the most part reliable machines.

[@asherbasher8765]

My wheeler is the exact same other than mine is the yellow paint I’m happy it has kmh in the big section as I’m canadian

[@brettwaltman3386]

Great content as always, thank you!

[@TimothyMohr-b9i]

When you take the muffler off of it sounds really good

[@afastcuda1970]

Nice, I have a 700 sportsman and a 500 HO sportsman and I can't see why they made a 600. The 700 is not that much more powerful than the 500 HO.

[@rockspowersports]

Ya I’m not sure why Polaris had so many engine choices back in 2005 you could get the sportsman in a 400,500,600,700 or 800…

[@jsl5570]

Looks like fun. Brings back memories of riding my 2003 Sportsman 600 around the mountains near Colfax. Now I'm old and beat up and haven't ridden it for several years. I got it new but now don't use it at all. I start it once in a while in the garage. It's still only has 855 miles & 110.3 hours. What do you think it's worth in Bakersfield, CA?

[@rockspowersports]

@jel5570 I’m not familiar with your area at all. I’m located in Vermont. In my area these sportsman 600’s would usually go for $2500-$4000 depending on condition and miles. Yours sounds like it’s still like new with those kind of miles and hours. I would certainly think you would get the higher range for you machine.

[@freelancerider100]

Yeah what's it worth? Ridgecrest...

[@billspencer8156]

i just picked up a 2003 600 twin with 1100 miles on it. seems to be in good shape . can you tell me what fluid go's in the running gear on this thing the more i look the more confused i get. haha. thanks.

[@rockspowersports]

Are you looking for alternatives for polaris brand fluids?

[@billspencer8156]

@@rockspowersports no not really. just front and rear diff and trans. angle drive in the rear? agl plus in the trans ? 80 90 gear oil in the front.

[@rockspowersports]

@@billspencer8156 The rear diff any 80-90 will work. The trans calls for Polaris AGL (automatic Gearcase Lubricant) The front diff is the most sensitive to oil. Either use the Polaris Demand drive fluid or Valvoline ATF max life works as well.

[@billspencer8156]

@@rockspowersports thanks man . just want to change the fluids so i know where i'm at with it.

[@brycegrounds476]

Do you just find these beauty’s on fb market place?

[@rockspowersports]

I search all over but Facebook market place is a big one.

[@ethansalony4624]

My 1985 trx250 utility topped out at 55

[@shanegiggie]

Definitely needs a tune up and a fluid change.

[@rockspowersports]

Should be a decent machine after the tune up…

[@MrAlternation]

how the mpg on it?

[@rockspowersports]

@MrAlternation. It all depends on how you drive them. I’ve seen these 600’s get as low as 50 miles per tank and I’ve also seen them get close to 100 out of a tank. I’d say taking it easy just trail cruising you should get an easy 20mpg and the fuel tank is 4.75 gallons. Hope this helps!

[@MrAlternation]

@@rockspowersports yeah just all day work and cruising on the ranch. hate to go back and fuel up

[@rockspowersports]

@MrAlternation I’d expect 75-100 miles from a tank of fuel for that type of use.

[@jeffjackson2196]

Always thought those 600 & 700’s were junk and I’m a big Polaris guy the 500 where perfect even the 570’s are amazing but not the 600

[@Martyvison]

Nice rig! I got my 2000 Arctic cat 500 manual but she won’t engage gears goes thru them but acts like it’s in neutral any ideas ? Btw I’m the guy from Saint Albans VT lol

[@rockspowersports]

Is it the 2x4 version or 4x4?

[@rockspowersports]

@Just NickM I would look at your reverse and forward lever first to make sure it’s not stuck in between gears also check your high low gear selector on the left hand side. If it’s neither of those then If it’s 2x4 then it could possibly be your rear drive shaft or differential. If it’s 4x4 and not moving at all it most likely internal in the transmission, could be that the clutch is stuck or one of the shafts in the transmission broke. Hard to diagnose without tearing it down…

[@Martyvison]

@@rockspowersports it’s the 4x4 all of the gears shift thru just not engaging checked the forward reverse it’s in forward wierd part is if I push the machine some then try to shift again sometimes it catches and engages the gears then works fine thru all of them! It’s a wierd problem because when they work they work flawless and shift thru all of them

[@rockspowersports]

That is strange that it does catch sometimes… I have a arctic cat 454 here that is setup similar and just went out to see if I could duplicate your problem. The forward and reverse lever didn’t seem to get caught in between gears at all, however if the high low lever is in the wrong spot it would act similar to your issue so I would make sure that lever is actually turning the shaft and going into gear.

[@andrewinsinga2993]

Those 500 arctic cat atv break the bevel gear in the transmission You can Google it