I was watching ATV Mag on OLN today and seen quads going thought a mud pit one quad as it hit the big hole and went in to the lights and got stuck only one front wheel keep on spining. At this point if both wheels were going I don't think it would have helped much, he was all ready stuck. I,am sure in some situstions it makes all the differance in the world. But for the most part if you are going for the locker aren't you already pretty much in thouble or at least have good a chance of getting stuck? What do you guys think?

 

The front diff locker makes a big difference when dealing with rock gardens or other situations where you may find one of your front wheels off of the ground. If the front tire of a quad with a typical limited slip front differential gets airborne that is the one that gets the power and will be spinning (not the one still making contact) so you are now effectively a 2WD quad. With the locker engaged both front wheels are turning all the time and will pull whenever they touch. It certainly helps in the mud too, giving you approximately 25% more pulling power (4WD instead of 3WD), but there can come a point in the mud where you are not going any further (except maybe down) even with all wheels pulling / pushing…

 

I think 2TV has small mistake. If one wheel is spining in the air and the diff is NOT engage the ATV become 2X4 so you lose around 50% power. If you are in 4X4 with diff engage and one wheel in the air than you lose 25% power, and you are in 3 WD situation.
I think that in any situation that one wheel is in the air the diff. become very helpfull.

 

My Kawasaki has a lever on the handlebar like a brake lever that you pull to lock the front differential. It works real well but you need to anticipate if you might have a problem going up or through something so you don't get stuck. My Outlander has a viscolock differential that is like a limited slip. I have noticed that when rock climbing when one wheel comes off the ground it will not spin. The viscolock automatically kicks in and it remains full 4wd. Nice system. It engauges so quickly that you don't even notice it.

 

I have also seen alot of the Honda quads and some of the older machines from all the manufacturers perform this 3-wheel drive situation!!! On my Grizz, I hit a button, there is no wait for anything to slip, no lever to pull when I might need it, its there!!! Polaris makes this extremely easy, but yous till gotta wait for tirespin unlike on the Prairie and Yamaha! Though it is DEFINATELY a proven desing and works VERY well!! Not to say that those other means of diff lock arent wonderful, I just like having it in diff lock without worrying about pulling a lever!!! But the lever idea on the Kawi is a very wonderful Idea!!! I would just hate for my Yamaha's diff lock engagement system to tear up or the Kawi Diff Lock lever to break its cable!!! That would suck for us both wouldnt it![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Tellico,
I love the Prairie but I like the Grizzlys diff and 4x4 engagement system turn 4x4 on and flip a switch and mash the diff lock button.