2004 Polaris Sportsman 500 Fuel Issue

[Junkmanpuzo]

2004 Polaris sportsman runs out of fuel after 12 miles and over half tank remains.   Top off with one gallon of gas and it runs out again at 12 miles even though gas remains in the tank.

[rundrave]

Do you have the fuel petcock turned to reserve?

 

is this a carb or efi machine? what engine, 500-800cc?

[Junkmanpuzo]

Does not have reserve .It is carb model

[Wanderer]

Can’t say specially about your wheeler but usually situations like that are a result of the fuel pickup tube either being out of position and too high in the tank, or broken off.

 

I’ve experienced what you’re describing in a leaf blower, snow mobile and boat gas tank used for a race car.

[cam7069]

Could be your fuel cap not venting.

[Surface Tension]

 I'll guess fuel pump.  Pull the gas line after the fuel pump and crank the engine over. You should have a good flow.

[PRO-V]

12 miles on a gallon of gas is pretty bad mileage on an ATV.

[SkunkedAgain]

My 2002 is carbureted with a reserve tank. However, if you had the switch on "Reserve" it would just run through all of the fuel. Is there a pump in the 2004? Mine is gravity fed from the tank into the carb.

 

My guess would also be that there is an issue with the pickup tube, either being out of position or possibly clogged. Maybe it needs a certain amount of pressure (from a full tank) in order to get gas past the clog to the motor.