I have a 2000 4x4 Rancher I picked up with 850 miles. Well I noticed when I push it on a flat concrete surface It does not roll very far.

I hear the ranchers have a problem with brakes locking up.

So I jacked up the front and the wheels spun when turned by hand.. Now when the Rear was jacked up I tried to spin the rear tires and it would not spin. The ATV was in neutral when i did this.
Is it becuase of the differental or becuase its fulltime 4x4?

Thanks

 

It's has full-time 4wd. Unless you have a Warn 424 (highly recommended!), you should have all 4 wheels off the ground when spinning the tires to check that brake.

You may have been able to spin a front wheel by itself (with the back still on the ground) because of the bias of the front differential??? This diff is torque sensing, so it is designed to send most of the power to the wheel that isn't spinning. With both of the wheels on the ground though (and the back off the ground), that wouldn't happen so that part of the puzzle makes sense. Or, you may have some other front diff issues going on???

I would go out to the garage and try moving a front wheel with just the front off the ground for you, but I have an injured shoulder and can hardly lift my arm to type, much less lift a 535 pound quad.

 

I did lift the rear and with it running i had a freind give it gas the front wheels were able to move the quad.

Ill try to lift all 4 and see what happens.

 

It isnt easy to push most quads around, especially if youre turning the handlebars.The combination of soft underinflated tires, solid rear axle and no center diff, makes for lots of binding, and resistance.

Theres no differential in back, just a solid axle, and both back tires are solidly locked together..also theres no differential in the center...so one front tire is always gonna be paired up with the back two. If you jack up the front, its possible to spin one tire by itself. If you just jack up the rear, theres still gonna be one front tire linked to those two tires. If you jack up all 4 tires, off the ground, then spin the rear tires, youll find theres still gonna be alot of resistance, but it should be doable.
Have you been doing any deep water/mud hole riding? Its posible , if you have a bad seal on the brake drum, for dirt and mud to pack in the drum, and itll seem like the brakes are dragging.