Is it possible to add a front diff lock to a 2001 300 4X4? If so please include a link to the manufacturer of the kit. Thanks

 

Don't have to buy a thing. Just have to adjust the linkage going to the front differential.

Begin by putting it in 2wd!

Step 1: pull pin off the end of shifter rod going to front differential. (Hard to reach and there should be a washer behind the clip that can be easily lost)

Step 2: Take the screw out of the lever that attaches to the differential.

Step 3: Pull the shifter lever all the way back like you were putting it in 2wd.

Step 4: Slide the lever off the differential and reposition it on the splined shaft so that it lines up with the end of the shifter shaft.

Step 5: You can now put the screw back in the lever on the differential and tighten it.

Step 6: Put the bushing, washer, and pin back on the shifter arm at the differential.

Now test to see that you have three gear detents. (It helps if you have the atv up on stands at this point so that all tires are off the ground)

WITH THE ENGINE OFF, spin the back tires by hand with it in 2wd. The front wheels should not turn.

Now push the shifter in one click. Now spin the rear tires by hand and the front wheels should turn. Now hold on to one front tire while spinning the back one by hand and the opposite front tire should spin. Now push the shifter lever all the way in against the front fender. Try spinning the rear tire and all 4 tires should spin. Now hold on to one front tire and try spinning the rear tire and all four tires should now spin. Should also be able to hear a click at the front differential when switching between 2wd/4wd/4wd locked.

Its important to do this test so that you can be sure everything is engaging properly. If it wasn't, you could actually tear up your front differential.

Hope this helps.

Jason

Someone else posted a while back that they actually lengthened the shifter rod. I played around with the lever on the front differential until I didn't have to modify anything. For reference, I have a 2001 250 4x4 and got the shifter kit as an add-on, however the kit was just the factory parts for a 300 4x4, so the steps above should be exactly the same for the 300 4x4.

 

I was unable to adjust the stock linkage on my 2001 300 far enough to make all three positions work properly. I cut the shifting rod and lenghtened it by one and one half inches and put it back on. I didn't move the shifting arm on the differential at all. I now have all three positions. It would pay to try and see if you can make yours work as cat2504x4 did instead of cutting. It definately is an upgrade worth doing.

 

Hey thanks for the info. I am going to do the mod as soon as the weather warms up. First it is beastly cold below zero for a high then 10" of snow. next week it is supposed to be in the mid 20's. It's going to feel like a heat wave.Thanks again. I posted this subject on alt.atv and got "get a Suzuki King Quad" for a response. It seems I am in better company with you guys! plus no off subject vulgar posts to boot.

 

what do you think the majority of the ac is????

 

That sounds like a good way to lock the diff in.
Now I have a little harder question on a 400 4x4 2000 model. You can not take them out of 4 wheel drive. Do you know of a kit(or a way) that you can lock the front diff in and or take it out of FWD? Would the lock work the same way that the 300 works?

Phillip

 

the suzuki 250 has a diff. lock.does not suzuki make the drive train for artic cat???

 

im thinking about getting a guad in a few months this will be my first quad can someone tell me how well the 300 4x4 does in the mud compaired to a polaris 325 magnum or the expedetion 325.i live in south louisiana were we have alot of mud so i need a quad the handles the mud well

 

Yeap, Arctic Cats use the same DRIVETRAIN as there Suzuki counterparts.

 

I don't know off hand about making the 400 4x4 shiftable out of 4wd. As I recall the diff on a 400 has a cover plate where the 250, 300, + 500 have a splined shaft for the shifter. It may be possible to put factory parts from a 500 (since the 400 shares the most from it) in the 400 differential to make it shiftable. If someone has a service manual on the 400 and 500, they could look at the exploded view of both differentials to see what parts they may share(part #'s). My guess would be that the parts could be put in, but I'm just guessing here. I haven't personally seen the service manual for either.

Anyone else have a service manual to verify or disqualify this? You may just want to make a trip to the dealer to take a look. Thats if the service guy/gal will let you look at it.

Jason