Polaris Sportsman 850SP User manual

PMS 419
Read this manual carefully. It contains important safety information.
This is an adult vehicle only.
Operation is prohibited for those under 16 years of age.
Owner's Manual
for Maintenance and Safety
Sportsman 850 SP
Sportsman XP 1000
Sportsman 850

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.
For videos and more information
about a safe riding experience with
your Polaris vehicle, scan this QR
code with your smartphone.

1
WELCOME
Thank you for purchasing a POLARIS vehicle, and welcome to our
world-wide family of POLARIS enthusiasts. Be sure to visit us online at
www.polaris.com for the latest news, new product introductions,
upcoming events, career opportunities and more.
Here at POLARIS we proudly produce an exciting line of utility and
recreational products.
• Snowmobiles
• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
• Low emission vehicles (LEVs)
•RANGER®utility vehicles
•RZR®sport vehicles
• VICTORY® motorcycles
• GEM® electric vehicles
We believe POLARIS sets a standard of excellence for all utility and
recreational vehicles manufactured in the world today. Many years of
experience have gone into the engineering, design, and development of
your POLARIS vehicle, making it the finest machine we’ve ever
produced.
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
service needs during, and after, the warranty period.

2
POLARIS®, SPORTSMAN® and SPORTSMAN XP® are trademarks of POLARIS
Industries Inc.
Copyright 2014 POLARIS Industries 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
discrepancies may result between the actual vehicle and the information presented in
this publication. 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.
The original instructions for this vehicle are in English. Other languages are provided as
translations of the original instructions.
Printed in U.S.A.
2015 SPORTSMAN 850 / SPORTSMAN 850 SP / SPORTSMAN XP 1000
Owner’s Manual P/N 9925442

3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Features and Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Winch Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Emission Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
POLARIS Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Maintenance Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

4
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.
DANGER
A DANGER indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury.
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE
A NOTICE indicates a situation that could 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.

5
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.
• 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.
European Vibration and Noise
The driver-perceived noise and hand/arm and whole body vibration lev-
els of this machinery is measured per prEN 15997.
The operating conditions of the machinery during testing:
The vehicles were in like-new condition. The environment was con-
trolled as indicated by the test procedure(s).
The uncertainty of vibration exposure measurement is dependent on
many factors, including:
• Instrument and calibration uncertainty
• Variations in the machine such as wear of components
• Variation of machine operators such as experience or physique
• Ability of the worker to reproduce typical work during measurements
• Environmental factors such as ambient noise or temperature
WARNING

6
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.
The manufacturer’s label is located on the front right side of the vehicle
behind the radiator.
Vehicle Model Number: ___________________________________________________
Frame VIN: ____________________________________________________________
Engine Serial Number: ___________________________________________________
Key Number: ___________________________________________________________
####
VIN
Engine Serial
Number
Key
Number
Manufacturer’s Label

7
SAFETY
Safety Training
ATV safety training is a top priority for POLARIS. POLARIS strongly
encourages you and any family members who will be riding the ATV to
take a training course.
If you purchased a new POLARIS ATV in the United States, your dealer
provided information about the authorized ATV RiderCoursesm that is
available to you and your eligible family members. This training is
included in the purchase price of your ATV. 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 in the United States, you can
enroll in the ATV RiderCoursesm for a fee. Call ATV Enrollment Express
at [phone] or visit www.atvsafety.org.
If you purchased a POLARIS ATV outside the United States, please
contact your dealer or local law enforcement agencies for information
about safety 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 in the United
States, call the Consumer 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.

8
SAFETY
Safe Riding Gear
Always wear appropriate clothing when riding an ATV. Wear protective
clothing for comfort and to reduce the chance of injury.
Helmet
Wearing a helmet can prevent a severe head injury. Whenever riding a
POLARIS vehicle, always wear a helmet that meets or exceeds estab-
lished safety standards.
Approved helmets in the USA and Canada bear a U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) label.
Approved helmets in Europe, Asia and Oceania
bear the ECE 22.05 label. The ECE mark consists
of a circle surrounding the letter E, followed by the
distinguishing number of the country which has
granted approval. The approval number and serial
number will also be displayed on the label.
Helmet Eye Protection
Gloves
Boots
Long Pants
Long
Sleeves
E
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051039
0006.31