Actually, it is centrifugal force. Centripetal force is the force needed to keep the rollers from flying into outer space. Centrifugal force is the force that throws the rollers into outer space. So I used the correct term. It will be centrifugal force that causes the rollers to be thrown against the ring gear. Cetripetal force is the force the ring gear applies to the rollers.

BTW.. the hillard will never engage unless there is a difference in speed. That is why the ring gear runs "20%" slower than the front tires (in the new Polaris quads).
Bryce

 

The physics teachers use the example of the child spinning a rock on the end of a long string. The force exerted by the rope on the rock is centripetal force. The force exerted on the string by the rock is centrifugal force. But you are right, it is a subtle difference and often people get confused by it.
Bryce

 

I know how the AWD is engeged, yes the sensor in the front works the speedo, but you need
speed sensors to let the system know when to engeage it into AWD, if the AWD kicks in when the system senses the rear wheels spinning more than the fronts then you need two sensors in the system one in the front and one in the rear so it knows when the rear wheels are spinning faster than front so it can egage it into AWD.

 

The Polaris system does not use multiple sensors to determine when to engage the front wheels. The front tires engage when the overruning clutch in the front axle tries to run faster than the front tires. You could remove every electronic sensor in the Polaris, then replace the electromagnet in the front axle with a magnet and the system would engage as I have described without any electric components whatever.
Bryce

 

the 4wd will still engage when not supposed to if the sping is weak or broke but more likely when going down the road and if you don't beleive take you hubs a part and install one with out the sping and see what happens. my brother went down to the car wash tonight and couldn't get his quad back in the truck because one front wheel was locking up and causing it to steer that way. When this happens going down a road wide open, you might actually live to tell the tale. so anyway i just finished installing a spare spring i had lying around cause it broke on and that was the problem. the new ones are different yes. but still have small clip type retainers that look less likely to cause grief for you or your family as it looks like it would engage both tires in the event of a problem rather than just one like the old type.

 

You are right about the old hubs. However, the quad in question was a 2004.5 500ho. This model has the new style front diff.
Bryce

 

When I bought my 05 sportsman the dealer I got it from told me not to spin the rears really fast in 2 wheel drive do to this said spin the rear fast an the front not moving much would cause the front to engage. Im guessing no other dearlers are informing people of this.

 

When the awd on mine engages while the switch is in the 2wd position , its usually while in reverse at low speed and not pressing the override button.

 

My 04 700 was doing this about 2 weeks ago then last week it started locking up at any given time with or without AWD ingaged. Took the front diff apart last week and three rollers were loose in the hillard clutch and the basket was toast on one end. Oddly not the end the armature plate attachs to. Replaced the basket (cha-ching $150.00 for a plastic part) and all is fine now.

Trooper

 

My 700 started doing this last winter, changed the fluid and havent had any problems since, I'm gonna change the fluid every other oil change to prevent the problem.It has 3000 miles on it.