Polaris Sportsman 570 Valve Adjustment - The DIY Guide To Restoring

Is your trusty Sportsman 570 starting to sound a bit… chatty? Maybe it’s getting harder to start on a cold morning, feels a little sluggish on the trail, or just doesn’t have that crisp throttle response you remember.

You’re not imagining it. That ticking sound isn’t just a personality quirk; it’s your engine telling you it needs attention. That sluggish feeling is lost performance you can get back.

I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly what’s happening and have the confidence to perform a polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment yourself. You’ll save a hefty bill from the dealership and forge a deeper connection with your machine. We’ll walk through why this job is so critical, the tools you’ll need, a detailed step-by-step process, and some pro tips to get it right the first time.

Why a Polaris Sportsman 570 Valve Adjustment is Non-Negotiable

Deep inside your Sportsman’s ProStar engine, valves are opening and closing thousands of times per minute. They let the air-fuel mixture in (intake valves) and the exhaust gasses out (exhaust valves). For this to happen perfectly, there needs to be a tiny, precise gap between the rocker arm and the valve stem when the valve is closed. This gap is called valve lash or valve clearance.

Over time, due to heat and mechanical wear, this gap changes. A polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment is simply the process of resetting this gap back to factory specifications. It’s a fundamental part of engine maintenance, not a major repair.

Ignoring it is a recipe for trouble. Embracing it as part of your regular maintenance—your polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment care guide, if you will—unlocks some serious benefits.

The Big Payoffs: Benefits of a Proper Valve Adjustment

Restored Power and Performance: When valves open and close at the right time, your engine breathes efficiently. This translates directly to more power and a snappier throttle response you can feel.
Easier Starting: Incorrect valve lash can mess with engine compression, making your ATV hard to start, especially when cold. A quick adjustment often solves this frustrating problem.
A Quieter, Smoother Engine: That annoying “ticking” or “clattering” noise is often the sound of excessive valve clearance. Setting the lash correctly will make your engine purr like it’s new.
Improved Fuel Efficiency: An efficient engine is a fuel-sipping engine. By optimizing combustion, you’ll burn less gas on every ride, which is a key part of any eco-friendly polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment plan.
Prevents Catastrophic Damage: This is the big one. If the lash gets too tight (not enough gap), the valve might not close completely. This can lead to a burnt valve, which is a very expensive, top-end engine rebuild.

Recognizing the Telltale Signs: When to Check Your Valves

Your Sportsman is pretty good at telling you when something is off. You just need to know what to listen for. The Polaris service manual recommends checking the valves at specific intervals (typically after the first 25 hours, then every 100 hours or annually), but you should also be on the lookout for these symptoms:

Loud Ticking or Clattering Noise: This is the classic sign of valves being too loose. The noise will be most noticeable at idle and will increase with engine RPM.
Hard Starting: If your machine struggles to fire up, especially when the engine is cold, improper valve clearance could be robbing you of necessary compression.
Noticeable Loss of Power: Does the ATV feel flat or sluggish? If the valves aren’t opening and closing correctly, your engine can’t produce its peak power.
Backfiring or Popping: While often related to fuel issues, incorrect valve timing from bad lash can also contribute to popping on deceleration.

If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s time to break out the tools. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Gearing Up: Tools and Parts You’ll Need for the Job

Having the right tools makes all the difference between a frustrating afternoon and a successful repair. You don’t need a professional shop, but you do need a few specific items. Here’s your checklist:

Metric Socket and Wrench Set: You’ll need various sizes, especially 8mm and 10mm, for plastics and the valve cover.
Feeler Gauges: This is the most critical tool. Get a good set that includes a 0.006 inch (0.15mm) gauge. Angled feeler gauges can make the job easier.
Torque Wrench: Essential for correctly tightening the valve cover bolts without damaging the gasket or cover.
Spark Plug Socket: To remove the spark plug for finding Top Dead Center.
Flathead Screwdriver: For prying off the timing inspection plug.
10mm Box-End Wrench: For the valve adjuster lock nuts.
Square-Head Adjusting Tool or Small Pliers: For turning the small square adjuster nub.
New Valve Cover Gasket: Highly recommended. While you might get away with reusing the old one, a new gasket is cheap insurance against oil leaks.
Clean Rags and Brake Cleaner: For cleaning the gasket surfaces.

The Complete How-To: Your Polaris Sportsman 570 Valve Adjustment Guide

Alright, let’s get our hands dirty. This is the core of our how to polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment process. Take your time, read each step carefully, and keep everything clean. Remember, this job must be done on a completely cold engine. Let it sit overnight for best results.

Step 1: Preparation and Access

First, we need to get to the engine. Make sure your ATV is on level ground and clean off any mud or debris from the engine area. You don’t want dirt falling into your engine’s top end.

Remove the seat.
Unclip and remove the side panels and the front plastic panel that sits over the gas tank.
You may need to unbolt and carefully move the gas tank aside to get clear access to the valve cover on top of the engine. You don’t always have to disconnect the fuel line, but be gentle.

Step 2: Finding Top Dead Center (TDC)

This is the most important step. We must adjust the valves when the piston is at the very top of its compression stroke, known as Top Dead Center (TDC). At this point, both the intake and exhaust valves are fully closed, and there is no pressure on the rocker arms.

Remove the spark plug. This makes the engine much easier to turn over by hand.
On the left side of the engine, locate the timing inspection plug and the recoil starter housing plug. Use a large flathead or coin to unscrew them.
Put a socket on the recoil starter nut. Slowly rotate the engine counter-clockwise while looking into the timing plug hole.
You are looking for a “T” mark on the flywheel to align with the notch in the crankcase. While you do this, keep a finger lightly over the spark plug hole. You will feel a puff of air as the piston comes up on its compression stroke. That’s the TDC you want.
Once the “T” mark is aligned and you’ve felt the compression stroke, the engine is at TDC. You can also verify by wiggling the rocker arms (which we’ll access next); they should both have a little bit of play.

Step 3: Removing the Valve Cover

With the engine at TDC, it’s time to expose the valvetrain.

Disconnect the breather hose from the valve cover.
Using an 8mm socket, remove the four bolts holding the valve cover down. Keep them in order.
Carefully lift the valve cover straight up. It might be stuck on a little; you can gently tap the side with a rubber mallet to break the seal. Do not pry it off with a screwdriver, as you will damage the aluminum mating surfaces.
Remove the old rubber gasket and set it aside.

Step 4: Measuring the Valve Lash

You’ll see two rocker arms for the intake valves (front) and two for the exhaust valves (rear). The spec for the Sportsman 570 is the same for both.

Valve Lash Specification: 0.006 inches (0.152 mm) for both Intake and Exhaust.

Always double-check your owner’s manual for your specific model year, but this spec is consistent for most ProStar 570 engines.

Take your 0.006″ feeler gauge and try to slide it between the top of the valve stem and the bottom of the adjuster screw on the rocker arm.
You are looking for a slight, smooth drag. It shouldn’t be loose, and you shouldn’t have to force it in. If it slides in with no resistance, the gap is too big. If you can’t get it in at all, the gap is too tight.
Check all four valves—two intake, two exhaust—and make a note of which ones are out of spec.

Step 5: Making the Adjustment

This part requires a delicate touch. One of the most important polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment tips is to be patient here.

Using a 10mm box-end wrench, loosen the lock nut on the adjuster screw of the valve you need to adjust.
Use your square-head tool or small pliers to turn the adjuster. Turning it clockwise decreases the gap; counter-clockwise increases it.
Make very small adjustments. A quarter-turn can make a big difference.
With the lock nut still loose, re-check the clearance with your 0.006″ feeler gauge until you feel that perfect slight drag.
Once you have the desired clearance, hold the adjuster screw perfectly still with your pliers/tool and tighten the 10mm lock nut. This is crucial. The adjuster can spin as you tighten the nut, throwing off your measurement.
After tightening the lock nut, re-check the clearance one last time. This is the most common mistake people make. Tightening the nut can slightly change the gap. If it’s off, loosen the nut and try again.
Repeat this process for all valves that are out of spec.

Step 6: Reassembly and Final Checks

You’re on the home stretch! Time to button it all back up.

Thoroughly clean the valve cover and the cylinder head mating surfaces with a rag and brake cleaner. Ensure there is no old gasket material or oil residue.
Install your new valve cover gasket into the groove on the valve cover.
Carefully place the valve cover back on the head and hand-tighten the four bolts.
Using your torque wrench, tighten the valve cover bolts to the factory spec, which is typically 8-10 Nm or 71-89 in-lbs. Tighten them in a crisscross pattern to ensure even pressure.
Reinstall the timing plug, recoil plug, spark plug, and breather hose.
Re-secure the gas tank and reinstall all the plastic body panels and the seat.
Start the engine and listen. The excessive ticking should be gone, replaced by a much quieter, healthier hum.

Common Problems and Pro Tips for a Flawless Adjustment

Even the best of us can hit a snag. Here are some common problems with polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment and how to avoid them.

Mistake: Adjusting on a warm engine. Metal expands when hot. All specs are for a stone-cold engine. Adjusting a warm engine will result in the valves being far too loose once it cools.
Mistake: Not being on the compression stroke. If you’re on the exhaust stroke TDC, one of the valves will be slightly open, making a correct adjustment impossible. The “finger over the spark plug hole” trick is your best friend here.
Mistake: Over-tightening the lock nuts or cover bolts. These are small fasteners going into aluminum. Use a torque wrench and follow the specs to avoid stripping threads or cracking the cover. This is one of the most important polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment best practices.
Pro Tip: Double-check, then triple-check. Always re-measure the gap after you tighten the lock nut. It’s the only way to be 100% sure your adjustment is accurate.

The Bigger Picture: Sustainable Maintenance Practices

Thinking about a sustainable polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment might sound strange, but it’s all about responsible ownership. A well-tuned engine is an efficient engine.

By keeping your valves in spec, you ensure your ATV burns fuel as cleanly and completely as possible. This reduces harmful emissions and improves your gas mileage, meaning you use less fossil fuel on every adventure. That’s a win for your wallet and the trails we all love.

Furthermore, an eco-friendly polaris sportsman 570 valve adjustment approach means being mindful of your waste. Dispose of used rags, old gaskets, and any cleaning chemical containers responsibly according to your local regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Polaris Sportsman 570 Valve Adjustment

How often should I check my Sportsman 570 valves?

Your service manual is the ultimate authority. Generally, the first check is at 25 hours, then every 100 hours, 1,000 miles, or annually, whichever comes first. If you ride hard in dusty or wet conditions, checking them more frequently is a good idea.

What are the valve clearance specs for a Polaris Sportsman 570?

The standard specification for the ProStar 570 engine is 0.006 inches (or 0.152 mm) for both the intake and exhaust valves when the engine is cold. Always confirm with the service manual for your specific model year just in case.

Can I damage my engine if I do this wrong?

Yes, it’s possible. If the valves are left too loose, it can cause premature wear on the valvetrain components. If they are set too tight (not enough gap), the valve won’t fully seat and cool itself against the cylinder head. This can lead to a burnt valve, requiring a costly top-end rebuild. This is why checking your measurement after tightening the lock nut is so critical.

My engine is still noisy after the adjustment. What now?

First, re-check your work on a cold engine to ensure the gap is still 0.006″. If the lash is correct, the noise could be coming from something else, like the cam chain tensioner, which is another common source of top-end noise on these machines.

There you have it—everything you need to tackle your own valve adjustment. Taking the time to perform this maintenance will reward you with a better-running, longer-lasting machine. It’s a satisfying job that puts you in control of your ATV’s health.

Grab your tools, put on some tunes, and give your Sportsman the attention it deserves. Happy wrenching, and we’ll see you on the trail!

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Thomas Corle

Founder & Automobile expert at FatBoysOffroad

Automobile expert and off-road enthusiast, sharing in-depth knowledge of vehicles, gear, and adventures. Helping readers make smart decisions and enjoy the thrill of off-roading safely and confidently.