You can see, because of the number of replies, that the question about Hondas front differential is a hot topic.

I have personally seen many Ranchers that do not perform as advertised. If you remember, justin started the post because his didn't operate properly. There were also other people in the post that said it does not work as advertised. I have ridden with several Rancher owners that say their Rancher doesn't work right either.

Then you see people that seem to be very upset and even angry explaining how it works right all the time. Maybe their Rancher does, but this doesn't account for the majority that does not work. And why are they getting angry about other people discussing their thoughts on the matter? All ATVs have weaknesses including my SP500. It doesn't make me mad to hear about them though.

We hear about people drivie up hills going around trees and both front wheels pull. Any limited slip will do that. That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about when you are high centered front to rear on a rut leaning to one side. Which wheel spins, the one in the air or the one on the ground. It has been my experience that the one on the ground sits still or occasionally turns while the one in the air spins freely.

Just wanted to clarify a few things. If you would like to reply, do so in a civil manner. People get so worked up over this stuff, I am afraid someone is going to have a stroke.

Greg

 

I would like to request a civil answer to a questions posed thre times to Gregisms and was never answered.
You stated how disappointing the performance of the Rubicon was at FunWheeler Park in the mud race. You were asked if he was running a stock bike against others who were extensively modified. The others had 27 and 28 inch Vamps, lifts, snorkels, etc. So, I would not be disappointed in a stock bike against others that were heavily modified. Even the addition of tires would make a big difference. I don't think a 25 inch Dirt Hook has ever been a choice against a 27 or 28 inch Vampire for mud use. But, I could be wrong. Someone on the other forum said you seemed to know more than anyone at the mud run at FWP and another.
I am not sure why you chose to run the bike down on a couple of different forums, and not tell the whole story, but it did occur.
By the way, my diff works as advertised. I love it and the rest of the bike. Would not sell it or trade it for anything.

 

you 4x4 guys sure do complain a lot if you really dont like the way honda makes the front diffs y dont you just weld them up and make it full time 4 whell drive we do it on derby cars why not a quad

 

TXDOC2,
If you will read my other replies, you will see I said I was not sure what tires the Rubicon had. I talked to someone at the Park that thought he had Mudbugs. What size, I don't know. I am in no way trying to degrade the Rubicon. Every ATV in the race that had a solid rear axel had trouble at one point or another high centering. That does not make it a bad bike. That doesn't make the SP500 a better bike. In that instance, with the terrain rutted the way it was, the 3 SP500s dominated the race. I am sure you Honda Lovers would like to see the same race go 50 laps so something could break on my SP500, luckily for me it was only 2 laps. Like I said before, all the ATVs have weaknesses. This post, however, was not about the Rubicon, I was referring to the Rancher. They may have the same front differential, but I haven't witnessed the Rubicon. I didn't even know there was a Rubicon in the race until I was told that the bike wasn't a 450ES.

Not knowing what tires or lift was on the Rubicon, I can not say it was a fair race. There were however several Foremans with tires and lifts that did not fair so well. Regardless of what mods were made to the other atvs, I think we Polaris Enthusiest have the right to be please with the SP500s performance.

I did over hear at the BBQ stand at the park that the Rubicon let out a loud squeal while in thick mud out on one of the trails. The driver mud have had it in high gear?

TXDOC2,
I see you live in Texarkana. I lived there for 8 years. Clifton Mathews lives on the Arkansas side and rides with our group every long weekend He gets. He rides an awesome wolverine. Lifted, Locked, Pipe, 27"tires etc.. You are more than welcome to ride with us anytime. We go to Wolfpen and Lake greason occasionally to trailride, but we ride around Marshall Karnack and longview most of the time. That is if you can ride with someone as arrogant an all knowing like myself. All my buddies aren't as cocky as myself. I am not all that cocky when I break down on the trail. All of a sudden I start passing out beer and admiring the quality of the Honda.

Back to the topic of this post. My question is why do the Honda Riders get so bent out of shape when people point out that the differential does not work as advertised. Even alot of Rancher owners admit that. If yours works, fine. But alot of them do not.

Greg

 

I believe that all of Hondas ap differentials work. That being said, I think what is confusing you and others is that it does not always shift power on its own. It has been explained how to make it do this already, so I won't explain it again.

 

Bob4x4,

If it doesn't shift power on its own then it's not working correctly. It is working like a standard differential.

The trick of feathering the brakes to slow the free spinning wheel, and trick the diff into applying power to the stuck wheel works equally as good on a regular diff. The trick works on my '87 Four-Trax.

That said, what does the ap diff do for you if it doesn't switch power to the stuck wheel on its own. If it acts like a regular diff, it ain't work'in right.

Correct?

There appears to be some possibility that not all of these units are working correctly. Do some units have the new diff and some don't?? For the sake of the guys that have them, and they are not working correctly, it is worth a trip to the dealer, or worth a response from Honda. Was there a manufacturing problem? Were regular guts inadvertently put in an ap housing? Who knows what may be wrong, but we have to open our minds to the possibilities so that our fellow ATV riders can find out for sure and deal with the problem. We pay too much for these toys to ignore things that don't work as advertised.

DJ

 

God Blees Deej!!!

It appears he rides a Honda and can admit there is possibly a problem with the Ranchers differential. People that haven't ridden all their life may not understand that a limited slip will pull both tires with some work and effort. The people that think their Rancher work as advertised have mentioned working the front and back and forth to get the other wheel to pull. This is the way most Differentials work. I am sure there are some that work as advertised, or people would be complaining more to HONDA. If I had one that opperates the way I have seen them operate, I would complain. Honda advertised it as a new and improved torque sensing differential that automatically sends power to the wheel with the most traction.

Automatically to me means no work on my part.

Greg

 

The new AP is similar to fords old sure track cam style limited slip, it isn't a locker and yes in extreme conditions it wont produce the needed power to the ground. I have ridden a friends rancher and with work was able to get it nicely stuck in a 2 foot deep rut covered with ice the Front wheel in the air spun, (didn't suprize me a bit) that is because the one on the ground was receiving the Max power that the AP could send (around 60%) I wont complain because it is much better than the old style and steers better too

 

As you may have seen me post, I think the SP00 is still gonna be the best mudder of all. It will have the best ground clearance with the IRS. There is no substitute for ground clearance. Once you hang, you have a problem. I just was getting the impression that you were implying something else. You don't have to buy me a beer, just pull me out if I am stuck.
I guess the reason some of the new diff owners get upset is they keep getting asked the same thing and wonder if someone is trying to perpetuate a myth into fact. Some of the folks (not you) were saying things without riding or seeing one work. I have a friend I ride with and he has a lifted and vamped SP500 and hsi AWD has failed due to the wiring getting damaged that goes to the front hubs. If you ask any Polaris owner about that, they get very upset, also. I am not sure why the ones that appear not to function right are doing so. If mine did not work correctly, I would take it back to the dealer and have it checked and made to operate as it should. I much prefer the large gear/tooth structure to the clutches.

 

I agree the wiring for the front hubs is a very poor design. That cheesy foam seal they put over the wire on the strut is a joke. I have never had a problem with it yet.

Greg