Well I hate to disappointe you but this is the second cracked tranny in twelve rides, since I bought it. As far as the sand hill goes, I got stuck at the top trying to roost, so I put it in 4wd and just climbed over the crest. I try to spend my time on the ground that's why I bought a 550lb 4wd polaris.

 

I have got pretty big air on my '99 500 4x4, and landed very hard, bottoming hard. And no cracked trannies, except when I threw a chain from over-tightening it.

If they replaced the tranny, and it cracked again, it's not really a lemon. It means that type of tranny is bad, or maybe the rider. I don't mean to be rude by that, but I am just saying it could possibly be somthing you are doing. Either way, I maintain mine well, but if it's ok the way I ride yours should be too.

 

Your not being rude. I wish I could blame rider error, at least I'd know it was my own stupid fault! But I maintain mine after every ride, I've owned off-road machines all my life. I gave my theory to Polaris today and they seemed to not agree, tell me what you people think. Both times the tranny cracked I was in deep mud(up to the top of tires) or soft sand(3/4 up the tire), I heard what seemed like the chain slip. That's when I noticed the cracks. I explained to polaris that I keep my chain to the proper tension before each ride(1/4") play on the top. I explained that I think the chain skips the sprocket and that plastic case guard in the front didn't give which in turn causes the front sprocket and chain to wedge between the guard and case, which causes the case to crack on the side where the shaft comes out of the case, due to the rearward force on the sprocket and shaft They don't agree and just ordered both sides of the cases hoping it's a miss alignment problem inside. I know my friends 00' scram 400 doesn't have this guard and he has slipped a chain in the mud and had no problems. I'm wondering if the 00' 500 is the only one with this case guard? Do the 99' have them?

 

Craig.

Keep on to your dealer and Polaris rep. I have had my 400 Scrambler since 96, and i don't think I could have given it a harder time. It gets big air, burried to the seat in mud, and raced on bumpy tracks, smooths tracks, hammered on the beach, and generally mis treated. I maintain it with out fail, and I have never had a problem that wasn't casued by me hitting something big and hard at high speed.

Check your mounts and swing arm bushes. Mine bushes were installed incorrectly from the factory and spat them selves in the first couple of rides.

Good luck

TheJoka
400 Scram

 

My 99 400 scram pop when the chain is loose when under a load but it has never craked a case and it does not have the plastic gaurd. Keep up with the rep and good luck

 

I feel your pain, i have barely gotten to ride my scrambler and it broke the chain and it put a good sized hole in the tranny case. And the plastic guard is a joke. The chain went thru it like nothing.
I've also had other problems, my brakes just suddenly went out, i thinked caused by bad orings in the rear brake rotor, and the battery keeps discharging, and for some reason whenever i put it in reverse it just sputters and dies.

I am getting pretty pissed off, and after i get it fixed, i'm selling it and maybe getting a 400ex.

 

I may buy a scrambler 400 or 500 at the end
of the year. I hope those problem will be solve
with the 2001 model.

Always the same question :

Fun and problems (Polaris) or
quality and boring QUAD (Honda) !!

I'm still in for the scrambler hoping it won't
be a lemon !!

Good luck Craig !!
It's a pain when you can't RIDE !!

 

Craig, I feel for you. I would hate to be going through what you are.
I think you got a true lemmon. Probably a machine that was built on the last hour of work on a friday or something.
I personally have not seen any problems with Polaris. Alost all my family and friends ride Polaris. 9 of them ranging from a 1992 350L to brand new Scrambler 500 and 400's. So far the only problems for any of us have been a bad hub on the 92 and a bad temp switch on one of the Scram 400's.

 

I have a 99 Scrambler 400 4x4 and it does have the plastic guard in front of the front sprocket. I broke a chain a few weeks ago and it didn't break the case (I guess I was lucky). This problem isn't isolated to Polaris. I had a Warrior that threw a chain and put a hole in the case (I have seen this on several Warriors.) I hope they het it fixed for you.

 

i'm no mechanic, but if you broke the first, and they replaced the half that broke, and then your new half broke again, i'm thinking there is something wrong with the other half. could it be slitely domed (curve outwards or inwards) where the 2 halves are bolted together? cuase then when the boltes were titened, it would put extra stress on it... just a thought