"mr fourwheeldrive expert......put a honda in a mudhole and tell me how many wheels spin.......the answer will be 3 .....the front wheel that is spinning will be turning twice as fast as the rear ones ......that is what we call 3 wheel drive.....yes power is applied to all four wheels equally but it doesnt mean all four wheels will spin"

Yes, as you say power is applied to all 4 wheels, technically making it 4 wd, regardless if 3 is spinning, or even 2 for that manner. So calling it 3 wheel drive is not only Technically Incorrect, but I also think it actually confuses people, they think that is how the system works full time, even when driving down the trail. that magically, and randomly one front wheel is disconnected from the drive line.

further this point of view would label almost every car on the road "1 wheel drive". now imagine if that was so? we would all have one big arm from trying to hold the wheel straight as that one wheel kept pulling the car one way.

as far as polaris goes, they use nothing more then a limited slip system inside the front differential. Instead of calling it what it is they post some marketing term on it stating they are the only atv with "TRUE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE", but really thats not true. not even close. but since there is no "real" definition (real meaning consistent, that everyone agrees on, if you google "true four wheel drive" the first 2 results give 2 different definitions) of what is true four wheel drive, if its nothing more then some fancy marketing term polaris has used, then yes they are the only ones who have used it, so they do only have that. if you call it what it is, a limited slip front end, then darn it, we would be raining on their parade as other manufactures have the same.

polaris should make their marketing, "super fancy, overly complicated front differential that acts just like a limited slip" but then that would not look so cool as a sticker on the side huh?

many ATVs, other then polaris has incorporated a limited slip system, wheter its clucth packs or some electro magnetic system, into their front end, acheiving what polaris claims to be the only one to have. their "system" may be one of a kind, but the end product of a limited slip system is far from unique.

to date i have not find a diagram of a honda front differential, so i can not argue the merits of it. I do know that the words "limited Slip" is used in their sales information.

i would be hard pressed to belive they sold a feature that never worked from day one. again, its important to remember limited slip systems are usually some sort of clutch pack, and i would imagine they would wear out on older machines, redering the front to nothing more then an open differential. and unless you got stuck, you would never realize it was worn out.

 

ahh but polaris is not a limited slip type differential....

 

if its not a limited slip system, then its............

 

one way roller clutch.....when the rear wheels turn faster than the front it locks both front wheels in via the roller clutch.......look at a diagram of the front diff and you can see the inner hub, the rollers, and the outer housing.

 

I've had a front tire up many times on rocky trails. I can tell you that the wheel in the air is spinning on a Polaris in addition to the other front tire pulling the quad forward. Whatever the system used by the various makers, I think having all 4 wheels pulling is the best way to go.

 

"when the rear wheels turn faster than the front it locks both front wheels in via the roller clutch......."

yes a sprague clutch if memory serves me well. You are correct. I have not said anything to the contrary.

so what you are saying is, when there is slippage, it engages the 4wd system.

this a limited slip system, as i said. it allows some slippage before engaging the front wheels. and as i stated, their system might be unique, but the final result is far from one of a kind.

a "limited slip system" allows some differences in speed in the front wheels, once that rotational speed difference is reached, in one fashion or another, whether roller clutch, or clutch pack, or any other method, it locks all 4 wheels up without intervention form the driver.

 

I am so not arguing about models and machines and what not.

i read once, someone said something to the affect that all ATVs made today kick butt, it comes down to how you treat it, and how well you get to know, and how you maintain it, but the end results, comes down to driver.

and its true, i am sure someone with a limited slip could out ride my full locker, and like wise i am sure me and my locker could out ride someone with a limited slip system. There are SO many factors that determine whether you get stuck or not.

I love my locker, i would not trade it for a limited slip, by choice, but if when i buy my next machine and i really want that cup holder, then the limited slip or locker will fall second. and i will learn to ride my new atv, with cup holder, so as not to spill my drink.

i personally think a large part of the end result, a machine gives is directly proportional to its driver.

 

The polaris bikes DO NOT USE A LIMITED SLIP FRONT DIFFERENTIAL.

The gears inside the front diff are set up like a spool. When the rear wheels slip the computer, or electronic Circuitry engage the electro mechanical gears in both hubs to lock them and stay locked while you stay on the gas. There is no slippage to engage, or while engaged. The only slippage in the whole system is simply a wheel speed measurement to tell the computer when to lock the hubs.


The HONDA bikes up to about 2001 use clutches that limit slipage to a cetain point then the differential unlocks. Why they were designed this way I'll never know, but thats how they work, as the unit wears out it unlocks earlier and eventually operates as an open diff all the time. In a turn there is strain put on the differential's inside tire (As its forced to turn slower to keep pace with the outside tire), as you make a turn, the strain increases and when the threashold is reached the unit unlocks to make steering easier. This strain is mimicked when you have one wheel on solid ground and one in the air, the strain increases to the point the differential unlocks and the tire in the air spins uselessly.

You can put whatever name you want on these 2 systems, this is how they work.

I'd call the Polaris system a LOCKER because once engaged all 4 wheels are locked, there is no slippage once engaged. With a Polaris bike IN THERORY you could replace the wheel speed monitor circuitry with an on/off switch and engage the front end at your own choice.

Honda calls their system Limited Slip. Right or wrong there are 100's of systems using that name in 100's of different vehicles, using many many different designs.

Honda (since about 2002 maybe earlier) now uses a system called TRAX LOCK, I am not familar with how it works, I only know that it does not use clutches that wear out like previous models so I wont comment further on that system. No sense discussing something I'm not 99% sure on!

 

Limited slip is WAY to generic name.

Some Limited Slip Systems Allow some slippage then LOCK TOGETHER.

Some Limited Slip Systems LOCK TOGETHER and then allow slippage by unlocking afterwards.

Some Limited Slip Systems Allow Slippage only as an electronic measurement to tell a computer or electronic circuit when to engage a 4wd system.

 

Got way sidetracked talking about brands.

i agree, for the 3rd time, polaris does not have a limited slip differential, but their system does work on the limited slip principals.

with polaris, since its a forward acting roller clutch, when you go in reverse it does not work. So they added electro - magnets to drag the rollers forward and engage the 4wd. So you definitaly could add a bypass making it a full bore locker.

there seems to me much more of a debate on the limited slip then the 4wd, it would seem the air is clear about that.

@action450s, as far as limited slip systems that start out locked, then opening:

for starters, since you own a locker, you know how undrivable they are, what you are implying is that on these particular models, that have this system, they would be completely undrivable. until you got past a certain speed. seems very unlikely.

On my locker, i actually broke it, where it comes to a certain amount of strain and the lock will relaese (dam thing). so you can say that my lock, starts out locked, then at a certain point is an open differential. but it is completely malfunctioning.

i dont question you have had that experience, i just question if you experienced a malfunctioning part.

limited slip is definitaly a broad term. but in the end, all its trying to say is, when the system sees slippage, it responds some how. the how can be a million ways. polaris engages a locked front end, honda, supposedly locks its front end, hell think about new cars with "traction control", yet another limited slip system. its insane the amount of terms they (marketers) magically create to sell you the exact same item the other brand has. if i ever own a machine with a limited slip system, i will call it "traction control helper" then i will trade mark it, and make a sticker. haha

our best option is to educate our selves from multiple sources, more then the manufacturer.