has anyone tried changing the rear sprocket on their scrambler to get more top end?

 

I run 14/34 on my 400. I believe OE is 13/36, at least it was for '99.

 

If you have made modifications to the engine to warrant changing gearing, it's fine. If you haven't, you will sacrifice acceleration performance by just changing a sprocket. I have not found that it's a problem changing sprockets even for 4-wd. The Polaris system is very forgiving. Lots of mis-information about what works and what doesn't. I've found that most anythng will work without harming the system since it doesn't engage until wheel slip is sensed anyway. It all depends on how you want the 4-wd system to engage. A change in tire size effctively accomplishes the same thing, but is less efficient than a gearing change.

I've never been quite satisfied with sprocket changes. Always felt that I left behind too much low-end acceleration for very minimal top end gain. Most performance machines are running 20" tires which is in effect a "lower" gearing. To get it back to normal, a sprocket change would be in order. A lot of top end could be altered by clutching techniques which raise the engine operating rpm range, so long as engine changes have been made to accomlish this.