I put the ATV in low range , if it is hard to turn the wheels then the AWD is working since in 2wd it will spin the rear wheels easily even on dry pavement. May not work with a Scrambler with no low range option.

 

I think the Polris AWD works great but....its difficult to steer/handle when engaged. Same as the Yammie and Zuk, and Kawie when using the diff lock. I also would prefer the "three wheel drive" for ease of steering/handling as opposed to all wheel drive or a locked front diff and as mentioned, the "non diff lock will get you thru most mud holes, bad spots....:. When I check a Polaris AWD for function, I simply put it on a short but very steep hill, spin, then go to AWD and if it works correctly, will engage and take you up. This is especially easy when in reverse, backing up a steep grade.

 

If everything is right in the hubs both wheels should engage quickly with no grabbing or pulling to one side.Magnetized armature plates or even dirty hub fluid can cause erratic engagement. Then the centalized awd systems came along and made engagement seamless but had the worse problem of cracking plastic roller cages until Polaris finally saw fit to use harder plastic roller cages or at least offer aluminum cages as an option. This was several years after aftermarket companies already had them.Sometimes it takes aftermarket companies products to show manufacturers how to make their products better or at least last a while longer rather than going the cheap route to save a few pennies on parts.

 

Try a fresh fluid change in both hubs. Not the type F short cut. Also the correct amount at 4 oclock.

 

I never had any problems steering in 4x4 and I went through more mud than you would believe. My big problem was stumps hiding in the grass.

 

I can imagine with power steering being so popular now, especially on Polaris quads, that heavy steering is a thing of the past. I had a Scrambler 500 4x4, actually more than one of them and steering in 4x4 wasn't unmanageable. You definitely felt it but nothing I couldnt handle. My biggest complaint about the Scrambler was the chain drive. They should have made it shaft drive like the Sportsman. I think it would have had minimal effect on performance and shaft drive is basically maintenance free as opposed to always having to tighten a chain that constantly wants to jump off.

 

They did finally get one with shaft drive.. It called a Scrambler 850..Or rather a Sportsman with different skin... Can't imagine trying to have a chain on one of these anyway. Don't even think I'd even trust a 630 super bike chain on this or the 1000.. Plus all the repairs if they did.. Bad enough with the drive shafts