This is just a personal opinion: I do not use AWD going down "extremely" steep hills. If the front tires aren't free-wheeling(EBS in 4x4) then chances of flipping over ( the seven hundred LB. machine on top of you) has been increased dramatically. I begin the downward journey and switch the SP into reverse in two wheel drive mode.(This is only my personal opinion.) Ride em hard Polcat

 

Thanks for the tips. Just tried it out, works great but a beast to turn while doing so. Really shows the difference between A true 4X4 ,and A 3X4 machine. I'll take the SP500 any day over the Honda 4X4, not to bash Honda, will most likely buy one for the family. Like I said, it was not a problem for me. My cousin owns a shop, Polaris & Honda, great deals!! Here's A thought, A Harley-Davidson Sports-hogg, 1340 V_TWIN, Apehangers, Drag Pipes, all the hip stuff. Man can I hear the trash talk now!

 

With all that, I can't see how you, or anyone else for that matter, would "hear" anything at all! LOL!

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

 

Polaris has the ability to be true 4WD. But I think to label it a "true 4x4" is a misnomer. If it were in fact a true 4x4 you would have 4 wheel engine braking going up or down hill in forward or reverse all the time. You wouldn't have to come up ways to trick it into driving all four wheels if it were in fact a "true 4x4". Its kind of a cool system, I wish mine would drive both front tires when I need it to. But a "true 4x4" will divide 100% of the power between all 4 wheels all the time.

 

Face it, if you want to get technical, the only stock true 4wd is the King Quad and the Quadrunner 4x4 250.

Basically, thats just for talk purposes. Then you have the Polaris's and the Bombardiers. While they can be classified as other, they are clearly superior to everything other than the two aforementioned quads. Whether you trick it in or what, its the results that matter. 650 Kawa doesn't count until March.

 

OK.. while I wish there was a way to get AWD when decending... I've HAD THE AWD SYSTEM APART MANY TIMES... unless youre about to run out of fluid and your rollers have huge flats on them, this ain't gonna work.!!!!!..
The rollers are forced against the outer hub by an internally splined six sided "cam".. (basically a huge not with splines inside rather than threads)
When you turn the awd on, the magnet captures the roller cage and hold it in place. When the wheels slip, the splined shaft turns and pushes the rollers up off the "nut" flats toward their peaks.. that jambs them against the outer hub. Hence, POWER TO THE WHEELS!!.. as soon as the wheels get the torque load removed (no spinning) the splined axle is turning at the same speed as the wheels and the retaining spring pulls it back to "neutral" Unlocking the front wheels.
Now, same thing in reverse, except instead of the rollers being toward the rear of the"nut", they have been shoved forward toward the other peak. (from going backwards) when you go to forward, the rollers are gonna unlock and go neutral.
Ya'll are holding the AWD button in forward... hhmmm.. next time, see if your override button is staying lit up.. maybe youre feeling the override rev limiter???????

 

Just went to the top of the mountain to try it out again,found a nice steep section and went down using normal mode. The rear wheels slid some and she picked up speed and bounced around a little. Had to use a little brakes for control. This is very steep loose sandy mountain soil, Christmas Tree Farm. Went back up to the same spot,put it in reverse,held in overide and hit the gas. While holding in the overide I shifted to 4-low and started down. Like a different machine. It held back with all 4 wheels, no sliding at all. This was about a 200 yd. hill that required me to get on the power for some nasty ruts, the front wheels stayed locked as long as I held the button in. At the bottom of the hill I released the overide but right hub stayed locked,had to go backward to get it unlocked. Back to normal no problem. It's nice to be able to do this from time to time,but most of the time I just use EBS and brakes. It's more fun going fast and bouncing. Thanks for the info. If you hit any rocks, don't hit them with your head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mudmachine I didn't really understand your post, but if you are trying to say the process that you trick the polaris into true 4 wheel drive going down a hill doesn't work you are dead wrong. I am not sure what it does, but it does work...it is 4 wheels holding back and like one of the other fellows said it is like rideing a truly different machine, for the guys who are not used to the bike fine, I used it some when I first got my Sportsman but I am familiar with my bike now enough that I don't rarely ever even use it.

 

Mudmachine, You're right about the front hubs and how they lock. However, your forgetting that the front axle spins slightly slower than the rear. Therefore, when you do the reverse lockup trick, the front hubs will stay locked when going forward. The hub rollers are already "jammed" on the frontside of the "ramp". However, if you go over large rock or turn real tight, one front tire might catch up with the speed of the axle and unlock.