Polaris Sportsman 550 XP EPS User manual

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A card containing important ATV safety information should be
attached to the owner's manual on the next page. If you cannot
locate this card, or if it has been removed, please call 1-800-342-
3764 for assistance.
WARNING
The engine exhaust from this product contains
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

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WELCOME
Thank you for purchasing a Polaris vehicle, and welcome to our world-
wide family of Polaris owners. We proudly produce an exciting line of
utility and recreational products.
• Snowmobiles
• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
•RANGER utility vehicles
• Victory motorcycles
We believe Polaris sets a standard of excellence for all utility and recre-
ational vehicles manufactured in the world today. Many years of experi-
ence have gone into the engineering, design, and development of your
Polaris vehicle.
For safe and enjoyable operation of your vehicle, be sure to follow the
instructions and recommendations in this owner’s manual. Your manual
contains instructions for minor maintenance, but information about
major repairs is outlined in the Polaris Service Manual and should be
performed only by a Factory Certified Master Service Dealer (MSD)
Technician.
Your Polaris dealer knows your vehicle best and is interested in your
total satisfaction. Be sure to return to your dealership for all of your ser-
vice needs during, and after, the warranty period.
We also take great pride in our complete line of apparel, parts and acces-
sories, available through our online store at www.purepolaris.com. Have
your accessories and clothing delivered right to your door!

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POLARIS and POLARIS THE WAY OUT are registered trademarks of Polaris Indus-
tries Inc.
Copyright 2008 Polaris Sales Inc. All information contained within this publication is
based on the latest product information at the time of publication. Due to constant
improvements in the design and quality of production components, some minor discrep-
ancies may result between the actual vehicle and the information presented in this publi-
cation. Depictions and/or procedures in this publication are intended for reference use
only. No liability can be accepted for omissions or inaccuracies. Any reprinting or reuse
of the depictions and/or procedures contained within, whether whole or in part, is
expressly prohibited.
Printed in U.S.A.
2009 Sportsman 550/850 XP/XP EPS Owner’s Manual
P/N 9921973

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Features and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Emission Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Polaris Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Maintenance Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

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INTRODUCTION
The following signal words and symbols appear throughout this manual
and on your vehicle. Your safety is involved when these words and sym-
bols are used. Become familiar with their meanings before reading the
manual.
The safety alert symbol indicates a potential personal injury hazard.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE
A NOTICE indicates a situation that may result in property damage.
The Prohibition Safety Sign indicates an action NOT to take in order
to avoid a hazard.
The Mandatory Action Sign indicates an action that NEEDS to be
taken to avoid a hazard.

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INTRODUCTION
Failure to heed the warnings and safety precautions contained in this manual
can result in severe injury or death. A Polaris ATV is not a toy and can be
hazardous to operate. This vehicle handles differently than other vehicles, such
as motorcycles and cars. A collision or rollover can occur quickly, even during
routine maneuvers like turning, or driving on hills or over obstacles, if you fail to
take proper precautions.
• Read this owner’s manual. Understand all safety warnings, precautions and
operating procedures before operating a Polaris ATV. Keep this manual with
the ATV.
• Never operate an ATV without proper instruction. Take a training course.
Purchasers of a new Polaris ATV and their eligible family members are
entitled to take the ATV RiderCoursesm. Contact ATV Enrollment Express at
[phone] or visit www.atvsafety.org for information on enrollment in the
ATV RiderCoursesm.
• This vehicle is an ADULT VEHICLE ONLY. Operation is prohibited for anyone
under 16 years of age.
• Never permit a guest to operate the ATV unless the guest has read this
manual and all product labels and has completed a certified safety training
course.
WARNING

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INTRODUCTION
Vehicle Identification Numbers
Record your vehicle's identification numbers and key number in the
spaces provided. Remove the spare key and store it in a safe place. An
ignition key can be duplicated only by ordering a Polaris key blank
(using your key number) and mating it with one of your existing keys.
The ignition switch must be replaced if all keys are lost.
Vehicle Model Number: ___________________________________________________
Frame VIN: ____________________________________________________________
Engine Serial Number: ___________________________________________________
Key Number: ___________________________________________________________
####
VIN
Engine Serial Number
Key
Number 550 850

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SAFETY
Safety Training
ATV safety training is a top priority for Polaris. When you purchased
your new ATV, your dealer instructed you on the authorized ATV
RiderCoursesm available to you and your eligible family members. This
training is included in the purchase price of your ATV. Polaris strongly
encourages you and your eligible family members who will be riding
the ATV to take the ATV RiderCoursesm. You were also provided with
printed materials that explain safe operating procedures. You should
review this information on a regular basis.
If you purchased a used Polaris ATV, you can take the ATV
RiderCoursesm by calling ATV Enrollment Express at [phone] or
by visiting www.atvsafety.org. Purchasers of a used Polaris ATV will be
charged for this training.
A Polaris ATV is an off-road vehicle. Familiarize yourself with all laws
and regulations concerning the operation of this vehicle in your area.
We strongly advise you to strictly follow the recommended maintenance
program outlined in your owner's manual. This preventive maintenance
program is designed to ensure that all critical components on your vehi-
cle are thoroughly inspected at specific intervals.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ATV SAFETY, call the Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772, or visit
www.cpsc.gov, visit www.atvsafety.org, or call Polaris at 1-800-342-
3764.