Any Polaris 4WD Experts? I'm Disappointed With My Ranger 500 In Snow

[94BULLITT]

Thanks for the input, that is more than I have found so far.
I went to a different dealer Saturday to look at new Rangers and discuss the 4WD system. He quoted me the same stuff I had already heard about how it engaged. When I asked about how it disengaged he said "whenever it no longer detected rear-wheel slippage". This is simply not a satisfactory explanation to me. He did admit that it will be continually shifting in and out of front-wheel engagement.

I have owned several ATVs and I like the fact that 4WD is 4WD when I want it. My current Ranger stays in 4WD with the front wheels engaged until I disengage it. Maybe the new system is smarter than me or maybe i am just old-school but I am still researching answers.

Have you looked at a Polaris forum? There may be a way to make it full time 4WD.

 

[k0ua]

How about grooving your tires for better snow traction? See the latest testimonial on the last page.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a.html

 

[carpenter383]

The Polaris 4x4 system is just an electromagnetic one way (sprag) clutch in the front axle. When awd is selected and the rear wheels spin faster than the fronts the clutch locks and power the front wheels. I have an 06 ranger 500 that has stock tires and it dosent have the fishtailing problem you describe at all. Also it does better off road than my old mule 610. The mule would spin only 1 front tire if the conditions were right where the Polaris powers all 4.
I did have to replace the front sprag clutch in my ranger which was around $300 if I remember right, they did have some problems with the plastic cage breaking in them. It would bind up in 4x4 and even in 2wd the front wheels would try to engage if you spun 1 tire in turf mode. I read that it was partly from leaving it in 4x4 too much causing the non magnetized plate to become magnetized.

 

[SpudHauler]

Carpenter,

he hasn't told us if the front wheels are even been driven so who knows.

I told him how to test.

It's either your sprag suggestion or no power feed to engage.

 

[jdjdjd]

I just read through a long discussion of this over at a Ranger forum. They even posted a video that shows the 4WD drive engaged and the rear wheels turning at a faster rate than the front. Tires are marked and you can clearly see the front wheels rotating slower than the rear.
This is not what I want on a 4WD UTV.

 

[Xfaxman]

I could do that but in the condition I described, in 2wd it's really fishtailing, which is why I use 4wd. My point/complaint is switching to 4wd doesn't help the Ranger, unlike on my ATV's and old Mule which track nice and straight once they're put in 4wd with all wheels turning in unison. Honestly I think it's a poor system and probably wouldn't have bought this Ranger had I known. Too late for me but I guess sharing this knowledge may help someone else.

Maybe what you call fishtailing, is what I call wander. when I got it, it would not go straight on the gravel driveway in 2wd. It would wander from side to side, I had to move the steering wheel back and forth to keep it on the driveway.

I checked the toe out and it measured 1 1/4". I adjusted it and no more wander.

My Ranger EV doesn't fishtail at all, even on frozen sleet in 4wd.

 

[SpudHauler]

That video doesn't prove anything about the fronts turning slower than the backs.

It's impossible. As I said the system would tear itself apart if they turned at different speeds.

The front is slower there because of the differential shifting power from the left front to the right front.

You can't see both front tires at the same time otherwise you would see the right front is sometimes turning when the left looks like it is slowing down.

If the right front was locked from turning you would then see both front and back turning at the same speed.

 

[PapaPerk]

all 4X4's--tractors or trucks-- the front wheels spin faster than the rear--they are designed that way

What is your source for this "fact"? I've never heard that one before! Lol

Your statement is not true.

 

[PapaPerk]

The Polaris 4x4 system is just an electromagnetic one way (sprag) clutch in the front axle. When awd is selected and the rear wheels spin faster than the fronts the clutch locks and power the front wheels. I have an 06 ranger 500 that has stock tires and it dosent have the fishtailing problem you describe at all. Also it does better off road than my old mule 610. The mule would spin only 1 front tire if the conditions were right where the Polaris powers all 4.
I did have to replace the front sprag clutch in my ranger which was around $300 if I remember right, they did have some problems with the plastic cage breaking in them. It would bind up in 4x4 and even in 2wd the front wheels would try to engage if you spun 1 tire in turf mode. I read that it was partly from leaving it in 4x4 too much causing the non magnetized plate to become magnetized.

Good description. Polaris uses this system so vehicle is easy to steer. So far mine works flawlessly and provides excellent vehicle dynamics.... Especially in high speed low traction situations.

I dont disagree that it would be nice to lock vehicle into 4wd. Vehicle stabilty and handling would suffer. But that's impossible with sprag clutch in place. Clutch would have to be removed and soild connection added... Or disconnect like Honda 4wd atvs use.

 

[SpudHauler]

For all you Polaris 4 wheelers out there.

The number 1 reason for front drive failure is this little note in your owners manual.

Notice: Switching to AWD while the rear wheels are spinning may cause severe drive shaft and clutch damage.
Always switch to AWD while the rear wheels have traction or are at rest.



And this applies to all 4wd systems.

Knowledgeable drivers switch to 4wd before they actually need it and in so doing eliminate the chance of doing damage to their drive system. Otherwise you should return to an idle, switch on the AWD, and then slowly speed back up allowing the system to engage.

His video is a good example of how to switch between forward/reverse and 2wd/4wd with ease allowing the system to engage and disengage. Great video for that part of the demonstration. Too bad he doesn't understand how the front differential was actual working.

Hope this helps save a few owners costly repair bills.