I have a Bayou 2x4 and am seriously looking at getting the 2004 P650. Does the Prarie 650's Variable Front Differential Control feature make a real difference when you get stuck, or is it just for things like rock- climbing, etc.? What kind of difference does it make when you get stuck - when the 4x4 is already engaged will it give a little extra to get you out of the mud or are you still stuck? - thanks

 

When the diff. lock is not pulled then just one front wheel will spin, usually the one with the less traction. Pulling the lever locks both front wheels in and give you a huge boost in traction. So yes it can get you out of some sticky spots that regular 4wd cannot. Just another note though, since it gives you more traction it can also get you deeper into trouble too. If your stuck with the diff. lock engaged then your REALLY stuck. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] But hey, that's what they make winches for, right? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

yes it helps but only in extreme situations, at least for me. I have put about 500 miles on my bike since I bought it and I have used it less than 10 times, maybe 6 or 7. but a couple of those times it really saved my me from nasty situations.

Once I was riding with two honda 450's up a steep rocky creek we had had a hard rain and the creek and water rushing down it.

Both of those bikes could not get over this one part of the trail cause of their LSD's would spin the wrong wheel, and one guy almost flipped, because he was rocking his bike back and forth trying to get traction, and the rear wheels all of a sudden caught and the front stood straight up. I got stuck in the same place, but I backed up a little and pulled the yellow lever and had little trouble making it with the diff lever pulled.

So it does make a difference, but not needed 98% of the time.

I like the security of having it there for that other 2%. Its a lot like low range 4wd in my jeep cherokee, in terms of how often I need it.

 

My experence is the same as the other posts here ...... I rarely use it. But when I feel I need all four
tires pulling ..... just pull the yellow lever .... it does work.

Just a note .... I had a Polaris 500 HO before this quad .... it had locking unit on the front diff also. But
it was alway either in 2 wheel or all 4 wheel drive. It was very hard to steer while in 4 wheel drive.
The Kawi steers much easier in 4 wheel drive, because it is an open differental until you pull the lever.

 

it helps alot on snowy trails too, if you pull the lever it wont bounce around in the snow as much

 

The Polaris actually should steer better while it has 4x4 selected. This is because with the "On Demand" system, the front wheels are not engaged at all, until the sensors tells them to engage (due to rear wheel slippage).

 

That "on demand" part is to get it engaged. Once engaged, it does not release untill you take it out of
4x4. So you either fight the front end ... or put it back in 2 wheel.

 

Getting closer! If "On Demand" is selected and there is no rear wheel slippage, the Polaris will steer like a 2wd. Once the rear tires begin to slip, the ratchet (for lack of a better word) mechanism in the hubs lock in the front wheels. As there is no differential in the front end of the Polaris, it will steer hard when locked. BUT as soon as the front and rear wheel speeds are the same again, the front system is unlocked due to the nature of the ratchet mechanism. The only time you get extended periods of a locked up 4x4 system and the resulting difficult steering, are in the slimey mud, snow etc., anywhere with extremely low traction.

 

That is false. The awd does not stay engaged the entire time that the "On-Demand" switch is on. The switch merely arms the system, so to speak. Once the rear wheels spin the equivalent of 1/5th of a turn compared to the front wheels, the hubs will engage. Once the slippage stops, the hubs disengage. This is why Polaris calls it "On-Demand". The front hubs lock on demand, not full time with the switch.

Also, as said above, Polaris machine do not have a front differential. If you ever get the chance, take a look at a 4x4 Polaris, and you will see the front drive shaft and axles turning all the time the machine is moving. The awd engagement is in the hubs.

 

Guys .... you can tell me all the "1/5th" turn this and that you want too ...... but it doesn't change my experence.

I bought a new 2001 500 HO, rode it for nine months. On that quad, once the hubs were engaged, it was a BEAR to steer..... AND THAT DID NOT CHANGE until I put it back into two wheel drive.,,,,,,,,,,,,, and even then .... sometimes I had to stop, back up a bit, to get the hubs released.