Looking for a used 4-wheeler.....a few questions.

[311Hemi]

Can anyone tell me how the Sportsman 700 EFI's are. I seem to see a few of the on hsolist for decent prices.

Are the Sportman HO's hard starting in cold weather? Trying to decide if the EFI is a must have.

How to the 400's compare to the 500's?

I am just looking for something to use around the yard, give the kids rides, maybe drag a deer/logs, ice fishing, and access the back side of my lot which is sometime a little wet/swampy. Possibly plow with it, but I have a snowblower that I was planning on using for the driveway.

[rundrave]

I would stay away from the 700's, they just aren't common, no longer made and may be hard to get parts for. It escapes exactly what the issues were but it was significant enough to stop producing them.

I have a 500HO carb and it starts all the time when its cold with the choke on. 500 motor is about as bullet proof as it gets.

[eyehunter]

The the EFI and HO are the same thing, HO just stands for high output and comes in the EFI and carbed models. I really don't think you're going to pay anymore for the EFI, especially on a used one, so I really don't see why you would go with the EFI. But I guess it all comes down to personal preference. The only time you'll have trouble with the EFI is if your battery goes dead on you. Keep a battery tender on it and it shouldn't be an issue. I do believe that the EFI will be much easier starting in the cold temps out ice fishing. Never had a problem with mine.

[Biggerfish]

Why does the EFI cause the battery to go dead?

I believe it as I had to install a manual cut off on mine so it would not drain the battery. Now I question if this is the right thing to do? Is there a reason the EFI needs power when not in use?

[rundrave]

Why does the EFI cause the battery to go dead?

I believe it as I had to install a manual cut off on mine so it would not drain the battery. Now I question if this is the right thing to do? Is there a reason the EFI needs power when not in use?

Where was it mentioned that the EFI causes the battery to go dead? Thats news to me? Sure a winch or other aftermarket add one could cause draining to leave you with a weak battery. Or if your ice fishing and your out all day when its extremely cold and if you have a week battery at the end of the day and you may run into trouble.

With a carb you still have the option of pull start, where the EFI does not.

[Biggerfish]

"The only time you'll have trouble with the EFI is if your battery goes dead on you. Keep a battery tender on it and it shouldn't be an issue."

Sorry I read it that way. Not sure why the battery tender then?

No, all Rangers have issues with a battery drain. Even the dealers mentioned to my brother in law when he brought his in under warranty and had the battery replaced. This switch I put in fixed my issue but only after I replaced my battery.

[eyehunter]

What I meant was that if the battery goes or is weak, the EFI doesn't operate properly. Electronic fuel injection doesn't work very well without the electronic part, so if the battery is weak or close to dead your machine will not get the amount of gas in the carb that it needs to run properly. You mention possibly pushing snow with it, the winch is needed to lift the plow and can make a battery weak in the winter if you are moving a lot of snow, hence the battery tender to make sure that your battery is always up and you don't have a problem with the EFI.

[BoxMN]

What I meant was that if the battery goes or is weak, the EFI doesn't operate properly. Electronic fuel injection doesn't work very well without the electronic part, so if the battery is weak or close to dead your machine will not get the amount of gas in the carb that it needs to run properly. You mention possibly pushing snow with it, the winch is needed to lift the plow and can make a battery weak in the winter if you are moving a lot of snow, hence the battery tender to make sure that your battery is always up and you don't have a problem with the EFI.

FYI - I see that on our EFI outboard, when we used to fish no wake lake at night, with lights and radio, but never get WOT to recharge, eventually batt got low enough that it wouldn't start (i.e. several nights without running it fast, but using lights, etc.). We thought it was motor prob, but nope, exactly what eyehunter says. Now have 3 bank charger and no issues in about 12 years...

Also my Honda atv with electronic shift, when the battery gets weak, it doesn't shift as well, or not at all. So I keep a maintainer on it and probs gone.

[fishing tech]

I have a 500ho carb and an 800ho efi. I love them both but the efi is nice for starting. My next one will be a 500efi. The fuel economy is way better with the 500.

[Gus]

We have a 700 efi. 06 model year I believe. About 1200 miles, which is pretty low still.

Never an issue other than the oem battery was crud. Replaced that the first year with an AGM and haven't had a lick of problem since.

I'm not aware of any cronic problems with the 700's. I think Polaris was just trimming down the number of sizes available for easier stocking and manufacturing. Just like they did with sleds.

[trollingforeyes]

I have a 04 700 carb. The 1st winter I had a cold start issue. Then I heard thru this form that there was a factory service bulletin where they would take the ATV under warranty and re build and rejet the carb. After this was done there were no issues till the original bat died. I replaced it with a AGM battery from batteries plus. No problems the last 3 years. I have 2600 miles on it.

[Esox_Magnum]

3400 on my 02 700 and no issues, just replace the OEM battery a couple months ago...

[Down2Earth]

Doing a quick google search reveals the numerous problems Polaris had with the 700. I own the 800 and it's been a good machine so far.

[dfv87]

My 2000 500 EFI can be a little cold blooded when ice fishing all day in the COLD, but so can anything if you let it sit out in the wind for 4-6 hours at -20 and then expect it to start right up and rip across the ice. IMO

I start mine several times now and it is not an issue.