My 2005 Polaris 500 just locked up. Repair or replace with another older atv?

If you’re handy you can probably do it yourself for $2-300. A shop will likely charge you a small fortune for the job if they’ll touch it. A lot of shops won’t work on a bike that old anymore. Past that I’m not sure I would be willing to spend the coin on it. Saw an 07 rancher 4x4 in the classifieds earlier for $2500. It may be worth a look. I know I wouldn’t sell my 07 rancher that cheap. They’re just plain work horses.

First I would investigate what locked up. Unless you already know. Could be something very simple to fix or something that would cost more than it is worth.

Took it apart, head and cam ok. Looks lime the piston is siezed in the cylinder.

I have a friend who does good work and is cheaper than most shops..... he’s done work for several members you know...

He lives in Denton.

Any contact info for him?

May try to soak it it mystery oil. Seen it work a few times on things that shouldn’t have. Had an old dirt bike that I got from a guy that let it sit outside for who knows how long. Water got in the cylinder and locked it up. Let it sit with mystery oil for about a week and it broke free again. May not work for you but a cheap option that may.

Ill send you a PM.

So I think i have found a replacement for my ATV but thinking I will try to get mine fixed also. Been quoted at a couple of places, price is ok, just don't know anything about the shops. Really, just working out of their garages. Any referrals on any reasonable shops that may be in the DFW area. Will need top end cylinder, piston etc. Then of course timing and getting it running again.

Why did it freeze up? Water in cylinder? Run with no oil? Did it happen while you were using it? Just wanting to know for my own sake.

Started missing out and losing power. I was on the other side of the lease so I limped it in. In hind sight, I should have just walked back to camp. Took it home and found the carb had some jelled gas in it. What had happened is that I had leaned it, with the clogged carb, so bad that it was detonating and overheated the engine which caused the rings and piston to expand to seize it up. Had plenty oil and water in it at the time.

Moral to this story, I caused a $800 dollar issue by continuing to run the motr when it was hurt,

Update, looks like piston wasn't the ptoblem. It was the crankshaft.