Inquiring minds want to know.....

Jack up your machine...3 wheels (both rear 1 front) off the ground. Will the remaining wheel have enough torque to pull it off the blocks?

I've done this with a Polaris sportsman, Traxter and a modified AC 300 4x4....All passed the '3 wheel test'

I'm thinking about getting a 500 and want to know

thanx....John C

 

Are we allowed to tap the brakes?

 

mine won't. I've never done it with one wheel on the ground, but I can easily hold a front wheel with all 4 jacked up. Hold it easy and watch the other 3 go crazy.

I want some guys with newer quads to do this, so we can see for sure if there is anything up with a mythical new differential. If there is, (and I would like there to be), I would consider getting one.

 

Andy,

Congratulations on duplicating the old Gordon Banks "Limited Slip Differential Test".

As I recall Gordon tried that test with his Honda 300, his Prairie 400, and his then brand new Suzuki 500 (of which the AC500 is a near clone). All three failed the test. Gordon said he could easily hold either front wheel with just one hand while the other front wheel continued to spin merrily.

Personally, I'd like to see someone conduct the "Gordon Test" on a Honda Rancher or Rubicon. Both of them have Honda's new limited slip differential that supposedly transmits power to the wheel with traction. But I will remain a sceptic until someone credible runs the "Gordon Test" and reports they could not stop either front wheel with one hand.

Army Man

 

I want a 2001 any way, if they are PROVEN to have a better front differential I will almost certaintly get one.

 

I tried this test with a 98 500 Cat & 99 Suz 500. The cat had a hard time but would pull itself off the block with the brakes on ( all the brakes). The Suz pulled itself off much easier with front brakes only on. Neither would do anything without working the brakes. Both guys say that this method seldom helps if the bikes are really stuck.

 

Why not just nose up against a strong wall and gas it in low range and see if you dig in 3 wheel ruts or 4.

 

Johnc:
On any vertical sand bank I try to go up I always get a 4 wheel spin and 4 very deep holes with my 2001 AC 500 auto.
shmoky

 

Good question, Tim1. With equal traction, equal torque is applied to both of a differential's wheels, even with an "open" (non-limited-slip) differential. Only when one wheel loses traction relative to the other will one wheel spin and the other stay still with an ineffective limited-slip differential.

I hope this information explains why one of a differential's wheels must be permitted to spin to test its ability to transfer torque to the wheel with traction.

Diogenes

 

Well, it will either spin all 4 wheels(been there done that) or climb the vertical wall(been there done that).