I bought this machine not running and found a lot of wiring and mechanical problems....not knowing alot about polaris, i finally got the right Clymer service book and got the front AWD clutches to work(broken wire in the transmission shifting microswitch and the front bearings and clutch roll cage installed backwords). After studying the manual it seems to me that the wiring diagram shows the FW drive coils only engaging when the transmission switch is in the FOWARD position (hi or low range) and the AWD button is depressed. If the transmission is put in REVERSE, it seems the transmission switch sends no power to the coils, even if the AWD button is depressed.....therefore no AWD

SO TO MY QUESTION...if anyone has a 1993 sportsman 400 that has On-demand FWD, I want to know if it actually drives the front wheels with the AWD button on and the transmission in reverse? (ps: the AWD light might light up, but does it actually drive the fronts?)

 

On my '95 Xplorer, the AWD light goes out in reverse and there is no 4 wheel drive unless I push the overirde button, then the AWD light comes back on and 4 wheel drive is enabled

 

The overide button has to be pushed in for it to work in reverse.Or you can bypass the overide thien it works no matter what when the AWD bytton is on.

 

Polaris did not build a Sportsman with a 400L engine in 93, it came stock with a 350L. If you have a 400L in your 93, someone has swapped it out before you got it. It is simple bolt in job. You need to get yourself a Polaris ATV and Light Hauler Service Manual 1985 - 1995. It covers all questions you are asking.