I was out riding last night. My wife was on my 400 and I was following her on her Trailblazer. I noticed that my axle seemed to be bent. The tires had a funny roll to to them. I have jumped the 400 several times but, not what i would call big jumps. It doesn't ride any different and I won't have known if I wasn't following. Do these axles tend to bend easy? If so, does anybody know if Polaris will cover this since the bike is only a few months old?

 

Hey Now,

I can almost guarantee that you did not bend an axle.
I can however guarantee that you probably bent the rim.
Easiest way to check is to use a dial indicator mounted to a base on the floor and then jack up the back end and run it in gear at idle to see if the axle is true.
Check your rims for bends at the outer lip areas inside and outside.
I bent my left rear by catching the edge of a large rock on the inside.
I doubt either can or should be covered under a warranty.
You must remember that the factory warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship.
If your bike came with a bent rim or axle then go after them, if not then it is not their (Polaris's) problem.
I Do not mean to sound negative on this but I do work in an industry that performs warranty work and the customer is always quick to claim something should be covered under warranty when it is something they did to damage it.
I always explain it to them with a simple question, If you were to Buy a brand new Ford Mustang and get drunk and drive it into a river would you take it back to your Ford dealer and claim it as warranty?

Take it light.

 

Thanks for the advice I'll check out the rim. I have hit a tree or 2 in the last few weeks. I really didn't think a warranty would be my answer. To be honest with you, I'm surprized they are warrantied at all. People put this machines through hell. It is hard to warranty that.

 

NCATVer,

You also might want to check the hubs (the things that the wheel attaches to). Sometimes they can be put on improperly. Just remove the cotter pin and take the nut off to remove them. Then check for any imperfections on the hub or axle and re-assemble it.

 

I have snapped the axle in half on my bike. The axle can and will bend. I have seen it happen on other quads when you hit a tree or any other immoveable object.

 

I hope its not your axle but if you did bend the axel make sure you but a heaver one back on it. I bent mine, on my 2000 Trail Blazer and they put a heaver one on it, and I have had one trouble.