When my tires are spinning and in 4x4 mode on the new 550 XP, it shakes back and forth like its constantly transferring grip from one side to the other in the front end. It does this when I'm in snow and gun it.

Is this a common thing with the Polaris AWD system? Or something to worry about?

Not familiar with the Polaris drivetrain so I thought I'd ask...

Thanks.

 

It's probably axle hop. It can happen on any vehicle with a "locked" rear end. I've had it happen in my pickup with 4wd. The best thing to do in slippery conditions is not gun it. What is happening is the tires are going between gripping and not gripping so you get a hopping motion. Back off the throttle and try starting a little slower in the slippery stuff. If you are trying to do donuts in a semi-slippery condition like snow it's best to leave it in 2wd. I've done lots of ice donuts on frozen ponds. Ice is slippery enough that it won't bind up the axles.

 

Trailblazer, I just aquired my 850 XP 2 days ago. We have 12+ of snow on the ground here in southern Michigan. I have noticed the same effect. Like moose said, I just back off the gas and start slower and it go's away. On another note I have a question. Is it hard on the machine to break it in while driving in deep snow? I have kept it in low while operating but the RPM's go up to 5 to 6 thousand at times, except when traveling my 300 ft drive in high gear which keeps the RPM's lower. I have put 3 miles on it so far at varying RPM's. Just do not want to hurt the motor.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: windrift
On another note I have a question. Is it hard on the machine to break it in while driving in deep snow? I have kept it in low while operating but the RPM's go up to 5 to 6 thousand at times, except when traveling my 300 ft drive in high gear which keeps the RPM's lower. I have put 3 miles on it so far at varying RPM's. Just do not want to hurt the motor.</end quote></div>

It is okay, even good, to push it a LITTLE while breaking it in. You just want to avoid putting any undue or consistant strain on the engine that will bind or wear parts abnormally while things have not yet seated properly based on tiny imperfections in manufacturing or slight differences in how the specific machine runs. For example, during break-in, you should not drive your bike up the side of a loooong even hill at a consistant speed, or down a loooong even road at a consistent speed, or in circles for a long time, or anything that will wear the engine in a specific way (I personally wouldn't keep it in low all the time either). Instead, you should do various things, like go up a hill, in a circle, down a straight-away, fast, slow, etc...

Nothing too harsh, like running it wide open, but also nothing too lite, like keeping it below 1000 rpms. Just use it normally, avoiding anything extreme, and you'll be fine.

 

yeah luckily the break in period is only 10 hrs!!!!!! all you have to do is just what Jesse said and you'll be fine...sory bout the topic change cc-rider...


i don't find any hop on mine in 4 wheel drive....

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cc-rider

When my tires are spinning and in 4x4 mode on the new 550 XP, it shakes back and forth like its constantly transferring grip from one side to the other in the front end. It does this when I'm in snow and gun it.



Is this a common thing with the Polaris AWD system? Or something to worry about?



Not familiar with the Polaris drivetrain so I thought I'd ask...



Thanks.</end quote></div>


what you are describing is torque steer. The handlebars whant to pull back and forth from one side to the other.