1998 Polaris Sportman 500 Specifications
by Tim McQuade
The 1998 Sportsman 500 was a mid-sized, all-terrain vehicle produced by Polaris. The somewhat sleek design made this four-wheeler similar to a sport ATV. However, the carrying racks and large tires resembled a utility ATV. The company called the Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. the world's best-selling automatic 4x4 ATV. They touted it for its trail-riding ability and claimed it was perfect for hunting, according to its website.
Engine Specifications
The 1998 Polaris Sportsman 500 featured a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that ran on gasoline. The total piston displacement of the engine was 499 cubic centimeters. The bore by stroke of the engine was 3.62 by 2.95 inches, and the piston bore by stroke used an over-square and short-stroke design. The engine had a total of four valves on the single cylinder.
Equipment
The ATV had a single spark-plug. The model model number of the spark-plug was BKR5E, manufactured by NGK. The fuel system used a carburetor and a digital capacitive discharge ignition, also known as CDI. The engine lubrication system featured a wet sump system. The transmission was manual and used a cable-operated and wet clutch design. The front tire code was 25/R while the rear used 25/11 R10 tires.
Features and Appearance
The 1998 Polaris Sportsman 500 was equipped with two seats to allow a maximum of two riders. The body featured dual headlights and a third, handlebar-mounted, third headlight. The four-wheeler also featured short handlebars. For added cargo capacity, the front- and rear-end had a cargo rack. The rear-end cargo rack bars could also function as a grip bar for a second rider to hold onto. An anti-lock braking system was not available on the quad.
References
Writer Bio
Tim McQuade began writing in 1999. He has worked for two newspapers, including "The Ithaca Times," and has had a short story published. McQuade received a Bachelor of Arts in writing from Ithaca College.
