Well I see this more and more now that guys are getting some hours on the Sportsmans. Biggest complaint is the POOR design of the front diff. My 03 600 has 2300 miles and on its 3rd front diff. A while back people seemed to blame the rider. I said poor design not rider error. I guess I was right now polaris really needs to do something about this diff problem. All you really need is a forum like this to really kill business and maybe even a web site specific to the Polaris problematic front diff. HMMM that just gave me a good idea! Sorry Polaris but you need to listen and do something.

 

My dads 97 SP 500 has 7000 miles on it ,when does his front diff go out?

P.S You for got to put you 06 SP 600 in your list of toys. How is your 03 SP600 front diff doing? More luck with that than your 06 SP600?

 

The diff in your dads 97 sp is totally different. And I meant to say 03 600. The diff is ok for now but I dont drive it anymore.

 

Leave it to Polaris ,they had a bullet proof front diff in 97 Sportsman but some where down the line they re engineered it to a front diff that will break down on there new models.

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How are the 2005 and 2006 models........anybody have bad luck with any of these? .........Not me yet!!!!...............Caper..........Very good quad so far(450 S.P.).

 

This is my openion and not a fact. I too blew a front diff on a sp 700. Ever since then I keep the switch in AWD. NO PROBLEMS. Its when the switch is in 2x4 that we have problems. When the tires are spining at 40 mph in the mud or on ice and the diff mysteriously engages and the front tires try to go from stoped to 40 mph in a fraction of a second. To much rotational mass so the weakest link has to give (the plastic roller cage in the front diff).

 

OMFG thats reassuring to know!

 

1300 miles on my SP 600... probably average use on all terrains... nothing broke but.... I would agree there seems to be a mysterious 2WD-AWD thing going on. Even on a dry dirt trail there are times when I get that heavy AWD steering feeling... and then it goes away. I have had the wiring plugs apart to clean them but to no avail. I wonder?

 

something i justed looked up for the heck of it, the part numbers are differnt of the roller cage in the front end on my 06' 800 vs. the 05' 800 wonder if its a differnt design or stronger maybe?? differnt on the 700's i wonder as well.

 

My 06 SP 800 will misteriously lock the front wheels in 2x4 when the back wheels are spining. I have changed the front diff lube. That didnt help. Mine still has 2 year warrenty left. Considering asking the dealer to repair or replace. I treat the bike like a baby, but I want to be able to play on it too.