So i recently purchased a 2002 magnum 500 RMK with the Visco lok front diff, my local dealer and several others that i have called have no idea what to run in the front diff for gear oil. Apparently this was only installed in the 2002 RMK so there aren't many around. Anybody know what i should run for oil? Im thinking a good synthetic 80wt should be fine...Thanks for any information.

 

Manual calls for 8/90 fluid as it uses two fluids. The visco-loc unit itself is sealed and uses it's own high viscosity fluid and isn't serviceable.It's a high viscosity silicone based fluid for the visco-loc unit.

 

Perfect, thank you for clarifying that for me.

 

It's a mechanical cage that locks the fronts. Visco-Lok is the system that Can-Am uses. Just an FYI. I've had both Polaris machines and now, Can-Ams. I actually liked the Polaris system a little better but the newer Visco-Lok system on the Can-Ams is pretty seamless in operation now.

 

Its a 2002 500 it should just use normal gear oil in the front diff since the Demand drive fluids go in the two front hubs.
Visco-lok is a Can Am system.

The 2002 700 was the first Polaris with the locking front diff but that to uses On Demand AWD Fluid.

Polaris use to have two types of Demand Fluids for locking hubs and locking Diff but now sell a single fluid that is used in both hub and centralized.

 

The 2002 Magnum 500 RMK, Dirt Cheap Yamaha & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse along with one or two other Magnum 500s and the 2002 Sportsman 700s were the first ones to use the centralized systems whether visco-lock or roller cage. Even some 2002 325 Magnums used the visco-loc with plain hubs. Dirt Cheap Yamaha & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse while some still had the conventional awd in the hubs. This was a screwy first year.Plus Magnums had the visco loc in some 2003 and 2004 models. The 2002 Sportsman 500s still had the hub system and didn't go to centralized system until the 2005 models. This is what seemed screwy to us at the shop.

 

Drained out the old fluid today out of the Visco lok and it does look like gear oil, so i filled her up with BG synthetic 80-90, should be good to go for the winter. Thanks again for your help Tech.
I didnt even think about it, but my Can Am Maverick has the Visco lok and it also requires 80-90 synthetic. should have just gone off that. But the online manual for the RMK says Visco Lok uses a different fluid it just didnt say what it was.
Thanks Again

 

The 2003-2006 Magnum manual I have shows that it's not serviceable.Filled with a silicone fluid. You just change the 80/90 main fluid. Never got the chance to tear one apart.

 

I thought the RMK was one year only and no others used Visco-Lok. I always learn something here.