1998 Polaris Indy 500 bogging down - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Xaalona · 02-09-2013, 09:50 PM

I need some help.

I have a 1998 Polaris Indy 500. Here's my symptoms:

-Takes FOREVER to start. I'm not a mechanically inclined person, so I can't tell if it is getting flooded, or if it's not getting enough fuel, but the choke doesn't seem to help with this.

-Bogs down at about 6500rpms after it gets warm. Cleaned the carbs and didn't help. Put new gas in, and didn't help.

I did notice that when I take the plugs out, they are wet, and black. I don't really know what that means though. Sometimes it runs fine. Other times it doesn't. It seems like it only started bogging down when I put carb cleaner in it. Checked the carbs, and I don't know what causes this. It did it a lot last year too. It has ALWAYS taken forever to start up. Like a half an hour of pulling on it, and it has to be held wide open before it even begins to fire. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks!

**RJ Gleason** · 02-09-2013, 10:57 PM

Start with a compression test, anything below 120 and it's getting time for a top end.
Have carbs been cleaned?

**kccats** · 02-10-2013, 08:08 AM

When you cleaned the carbs did you remove all the jetsincluding the pilots (up the tube). And did you check that the floats shut off at level? Also have you done an oil useage test? Fill both oil and fuel, then ride! You need to use about 1 qt of oil to 12.5 gal of gas!

sledhead48 · 02-25-2013, 02:34 PM

I am having the exact same problem with my 1998 polaris indy 500. Runs fine when cold, once warm at about 6500 rpms the thing bogs down. If running below 6500 rpms runs fine.
Cleaned the carbs, no help. Changed fuel filter, no help. Changed plugs, no help. Plugs are golden brown when removed.
Any suggestions?

**RJ Gleason** · 02-25-2013, 05:46 PM

Then it's time to start testing the stator.
The high speed coil may be breaking down when warm.

asmith · 02-26-2013, 07:47 AM

5555

jordandakota · 02-26-2013, 10:14 AM

Contribute relevant information, or don't post.

sledder1985 · 02-26-2013, 10:30 AM

Yes, get rid of what is usually one of the most reliable sleds around and buy one from a company that hasnt made anything reliable since the early 90's. anyways. How about clutching? Could that be causing some kind of bog if its not clutched right? Could make it run good then go to hell after a certain spot. Id make sure theyre lubed well with some water resistant silicone spray (wd-40 makes it now!) and try crackin it then. Doesnt explain the hot vs cold but alot easier than tearing a motor apart

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sledhead48 · 02-28-2013, 11:45 AM

hey guys thanks for the help! Turned out to be the stator coil, borrowed one from a buddy to see if it would run better, ran great hot or cold. Thanks again for the help!

edge800ves · 02-28-2013, 02:14 PM

Xaal I hate to say it but my 1990 Indy 500 was the same way right before I totally destroyed my pto side piston. It was a bad crank seal which was cooking my piston, which led to hard starting since the pulse line runs from pto side. It would still run though and I eventually destroyed that piston completely. Take Rj's advice and do a compression test and save yourself a bigger problem down the road! Check your crank seal and carb boots too an air leak could be cooking a piston up. Hope your problems a smaller one, just don't want you to cook your motor when you can test for the problem still