Hello bbrc. I am not nearly as knowledgeable about the 4wd system on the Polaris as many that frequent this site. However, one thing I think I would do would be to put a simple diode/led circuit inline with the 4wd coil so I could tell when current is going to through the 4wd coil. This would detect bad connections, bad coil or if the control unit is not telling the coil to energize. Although the 4wd light may be on, there is nothing that indicates that the coil is drawing current.
I hope this helps.
BryceGTX

 

Best response yet, thank you very much!

 

Someone on this forum must be able to explain how exactly the AWD system works. I mean electrically and mechanically. Would like to know myself if it is possible to install a switch or machanical device that would give me AWD EBS. Does anyone have an electrical schematic for the 700's or 800's?
Good luck with your problem.

 

The rims on your 800 look cool,If you figure out how to make the ebs awdr let me know im tired of sliding down hills.Low range is worthless going down hills, its high range all theway.

 

You cannot manually engage the polaris AWD system.
I am not very good at explaining things, but i will try a more basic explanation. There was i thread i was in awhile ago with a good detailed explanation, ill look for that next.
When you turn on the awd switch, you are not actually engaging the front wheels. You are really just giving them the ability to engage when needed.
The front axle turns 20% slower than the rear axle does while moving. So when you have traction, the front axle turns 20% slower than the front wheels.
When the back wheels lose traction, they begin to spin. THis causes the front axle to speed up as well. When the front axle "catches up" to the front wheels (which were turning faster until you started slipping and slowing down) the hubs engage and lock the wheel to the axle, giving 4wd. When traction is recovered, the pressure is taken off of the front wheels and they disengage. (Rarely they get stuck in, explaining the problem when the handlebars pull to one side sharply until you reverse, unjamming the hubs).

Give me a few minutes, i'll find a more technical explanation.

EDIT: Hmm not so much a technical explanation, but an answer to your EBS questions: Clicky

 

Thanks for that Tyler711.
Too bad you can't get AWD EBS out of this machine, I mean after all it's supposed to be a utility ATV. When you have a heavy load that you want to take down a steep hill you are basically screwed. As we all know brakes do not compare to engine braking in 4 wheel drive. The AWD works great when under power, forward or reverse, but EBS is terrible. I wish I knew this before buying mine, although I would have still probably gone with the 800.

Thanks again,

 

You can get the ebs by "jamming" the hubs, as that thread explained. But then you can't steer because there is no front differential, giving you true awd. Its a trade off.

 

HI, 500HORIDER HERE, ALL U HAVE TO DO WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL AND START SLIDING, JUST BLIP THE THROTTLE AND IT WILL RELEASE THE EBS,THEN IT WILL WORK AGAIN LIKE IT SUPPOSED TO, I TAKE MINE DOWN SOME PRETTY STEEP AND AGGRESSIVE HILLS WITH NO PROBLEMS, JUST HAVE TO GET USED TO IT, BLIPPING THE THROTTLE. I REALLY LIKE THE EBS, BUT WOULD LIKE IT TO WORK ALL 4 CORNERS. HOPE THIS HELPS, TOPSIDE ALWAYS UP!!!!!

 

<FONT size=2>
It is possible to lock all 4 wheels for going down a steep hill but there is a caution. Once all 4 wheels have locked in steering becomes very hard and worse if one wheel runs over a trench or washout it can unlock leaving you will 3 wheels locked. If you thought steering with 4 wheels locked try doing it with 3 going down a steep hill. It will turn in the direction of the locked wheel and it will take all your might to steer it.
With that word of caution out of the way here's how you do it.
Start your decent and once you have all 4 wheels on the downhill, stop. Engage the AWD button, put it in reverse gear, press the override button (if it isn't already bypassed). Hit the throttle enough to spin the rear wheels then stop. This locks in the front Halyard clutches and now you can start your decent with all 4 wheels locked in. The override button can be released once the fronts are locked in. When going down hill this way don't accelerate as this will unlock one or both Halyard clutches.</FONT>

 

have you looked into the hub fluid at all? maybe youve gotten water in the front diff and the magnets will not engage