Hello...My first post and please don't beat me up. I have a 2000 Polaris Magnum 500 with a weak right front strut with a seal leaking.

I am going to sell it and explain the problem to the new owner of course. But I would like to ride it around the block and short distances until it sells.

My question is, how dependable do you think it would be if I took the hub apart and packed all bearings with a good hard grease, just like the cars we drive and our trailer hubs. I can even pack a little extra in the space between the bearings and close her up.

I dont want to sound cheap and would repair it if I was going to keep it. I just don't want to have 3-400 bucks more in a machine that I'm going to sell for around $2000 bucks.

As a matter of fact, I have always wondered why that style of hub wasn't packed that way to begin with. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Tradermike

 

Keep filled with fluid,NOT grease,better to explain to customer than try to hide it! Grease will not allow awd to operate! If he wants it bad enough HE will buy it with the existing problem!

 

Thanks

I'm not trying to hide the problem and will certainly explain it in detail when it sells.

I am not a dealer and the reason I want to grease it is that I don't want the oil to all leak out and do any more damage to the bearings. The thought of packing it with grease was that I know the grease will not all leak out. My grand son like to ride it around the property and I would feel better with the grease than the oil that I know will leak out.

Now having said that and from just a lubrication stand point, do you think the grease will protect from any further damage for a temporary time?

Thanjs again, Tradermike

 

If fluid not pouring out,just overfill a little to keep from running dry,have had customers do this untill able to repair! Grease could accidentally cause hillard to lock in,just not safe especially with children!

 

Ok...Thanks for advice. I'll give it more consideration and try to do the right thing.

I'm looking forward to reading the posts and seeking advice and informed information on my other 4 wheelers. We are becoming a family of atv enthusists.

Tradermike

 

did i misssomething? is it his strut or the hub that is leaking? 2 differnt parts totally. neither one which has grease,except for the wheel bearing. like polaris tech said you need the special hub oil to work the awd correctly. imo.

 

I don't really know 100% which it is. The fluid is leaking out of the rear of the hub, but I guess it could be coming from the seal on the strut side of the axil. The meat and potatoes of this story and question is that I would like to pack all the bearings on the right front axil with a good grease so the machine can be ridden around the property without messing up any metal parts. The awd is not an issue because it won't be needed anyway. I'm satisfied that the grease will not leak out and leave the metal dry like the fluid will.

Thanks, Traddermike

 

First you GOT to find out whats leaking! If it is the hub and your just going to sell why even bother chancing things, because if you pack the HUB with grease then the poor SOB who buys it is going to have to tear it down and clean up the pile of grease you put in it so he can fix it and add the PROPER fluid. Your just going to make the job messier and add more work to it then is necessary but if your that determined to ride it till then and are NOT going to use the awd system add 90-120 weight or the like and carry a Allen wrench and a couple of OZ's of extra oil so you can add it if it needs more on the trail, it takes 2 mins to add. Not worth it though IMO.

 

the OEM struts are NON rebuildable like the Fox and Works are.
Buy a used one. It will ride ok with blown one, i rode like that for awhile...

 

Thanks a lot from all who replied. I think I have enough information to do what is best. I took it out to the local riding area and chained it to the cooking grill and it probably will be gone gone this weekend at a savings to the buyer and a complete description of the easy to fix problem. It is a nice looking yellow magnum 500. I bought a new Honda Rubicon about 5 months ago and just don't need the Polaris any longer.

Thanks again for all replies, Tradermike