I'm thinking of selling my modded 700, simply because I no longer ride, except to plow the driveway in the winter. I dont want to have nothing, so I thought I would sell mine for as much as I can get, then try to buy a used 500 for a little less, just to free up some money. Anyway, I was thinking 500 HO because I like Polaris a lot, but I found an 02 AC 500i for what seems to be a real good price. I like the look of the 500i, and the ground clearance, but I dont know much about them. I have ridden three older ACs, a 375, 400 and 500, but that was late 90s stuff. I have to say I didnt like any of them. I figure the 02 must be improved, so any opinions on whether or not its something I should consider? Oh yeah, what sort of 4 wheel drive does it have? Does the front diff lock? I dont want it if its 3 wheel drive.
Thanks for your opinions.

 

my 02 500i i gotta say was the absolute best atv i have ever had for being solid and trouble free they don't have much power in high range but low range it will push snow and the handling and feel for the 02 is wayyyyyy different then the late 90's well up to 01's for 02 was the first year with that chassis and unfortunately it does have what i refer to as the one wheel wonder 4x4 but for pushing snow i don't see that as being much of a problem and i believe you can buy a locker for them probably through highlifter but if you want the more power in high range hold out for an 03 but sometimes less power means better reliability

 

to best answer your question, no, the front differential doesn't lock, and you can't buy a locker for it. Only way to make it lock is with some extreme modification, that of which very few people have done. I think CatCrazy is the only one I've seen in the past year that locked an older AC500.

 

andy doesn't the 02 500 have the same front diff as the 04's? and i thought i remember something on here about people locking the front diffs but that might on the newer ones and well you could always weld it solid thats an option

 

Nope, other than the 2004 650's only the 2005 models have a locking differential. The old 300's had the King Quad differential, and you could rig it up to lock back then, but never could lock the 500's til this year.

 

Nope, other than the 2004 650's only the 2005 models have a locking differential. The old 300's had the King Quad differential, and you could rig it up to lock back then, but never could lock the 500's til this year.

 

well with the grace of god and a welder as god is my witness you shall lock up that front end but not really recommended

 

yep, that would pretty much do the trick.