I have a 2003 rancher 4x4 es. I noticed when I had the front end lifted off the ground, I can spin the front tires even with it in gear. I can see the front drive shaft spining . Is this normal ?

 

im pretty sure hondas have auto lockers, from what i've seen it always takes a sec for the 4x4 to kick in usually meaning they lock automacticcally.

 

Thanks, right after i posted the question, i loaded it up and took it out to see if i could get it stuck. there is definately nothing wrong with it.

 

Were you in 2wd when you tried that?
Theres no 'locker" from, the factory on any honda. The newer hondas use a torque sensing diff, in front, that is just like the land rover design, and it does work well.

 

That is a full time 4x4 unit unless he has the Warn 4-2-4.

 

it's full time 4wd. i cannot put it in 2wd

 

umm, i dont think that's right. with JUST the front end off the ground, machine turned off, the front tires should not both spin the same way. if you spin one forward and the other one goes backwards, that's ok (normal differential action) BUT if you can make the front drive shaft spin with the rear tires on the ground, there's something broken. it doesnt sound right to me.

 

when i had the front off the ground and spun the one tire, i did not notiice the other tire spinning in the opposite direction. i will unload the machine and try it again. i do know that when the rear is off the ground, i cannot spin them at all.

 

with the rear tires OFF the ground you can't spin the front tires??? I hope you typed that wrong, or that you mean all 4 tires turn, because that's what should happen.. basically, with full-time 4wd, the rear drive shaft is mechanically linked to the front shaft. the rear tires both spin the same direction because they have a solid rear axle. So, by spinning the rear tires forward, at least ONE tire on the front should spin forward, possibly 2 if the limited slip is working. with the rear tires on the ground (cannot be turned) the front drive shaft should not move, because the shafts are linked together (rear shaft wont spin, so front shaft wont spin.) BUT, as stated before, if you spin one front tire forward, the other will move backwards without the front drive shaft turning, that would be normal

another note, there are actually 3 different front drive shafts, the one i'm talking about is the one from the engine to the front differential, the other 2 are the cv shafts from the front diff to each wheel. the cv shafs are directly linked to the wheels