If I flip it into AWD when the engine is idling and it's creeping along it stops as though the front wheels are engaging (stops due to lower gear ratio of front I'm guessing). It stops as soon as the switch is in the awd postion, no spining or anything from the rear wheels. Is this normal? It seems like it's in AWD 100% of the time that the switch is in AWD. Also, should the AWD icon be displayed whenever the switch is in AWD or just when the front wheels would normally be engaged?

 

the awd should have no effect on stopping the bike when engaged. it doesn't reduce the gearing as you mentioned. the awd is on when the switch is turned on and is always engaged when it requires wheel spin. this is on the new ones anyways.

 

The front wheels are geared 20% lower than the rears and would be felt if the fronts were engaged on hardpack. Normally you don't feel it because the only time the fronts are engaged is when you are on a loose surface, they get pushed along a little faster than they are rotating but it's not noticable because it's a loose surface.
The problem I am having is when I let off the gas it wants to slow down in a hurry because the front wheels are engaged when they shouldn't be (i.e. on a hard surface). I'm also getting a groaning/creaking noise while this happens.

YouTube - Polaris AWD demonstration

"The test ATV is a 2007 Sportsman 800 Deluxe. I taped a piece of white paper onto a spoke of both front and rear wheels so the actual rotation of each wheel can be clearly observed.

This video shows how quickly the front wheels engage after the rear wheels slip, definitely within 1/5 of a turn as Polaris claims. But more importantly or interesting for that matter, is that the front wheel turns at a slower rate than the rear. This difference in gear ratio from front to rear is what allows the roller clutch in the front differential to engange and disengage. The video shows that for every 5 revolutions of the rear wheels, the front wheels turn only 4 times.

When the speed of the front and rear wheels is the same, the ATV operates in rear wheel drive even when the handlebar switch is in the AWD position. When the ATV encounters reduced surface traction and the rear wheels start to spin faster than the front, the front differential will lock and cause the front wheels to be driven with the same power that drives the rear wheels, and at the same time as the rear, but at the slower rate as shown. The ATV will operate in All Wheel Drive as long as there is 20% or more less traction at the rear tires than at the front. Once traction is regained, the front differential unlocks automatically and 100% of engine power is redirected to the rear wheels."

 

If its always in awd, the front cage is probably broken

 

It's in awd any time the switch is in the awd position which shouldn't be. It will creep along with the engine idiling in rwd but as soon as I switch it to awd it stops moving due to the drag created by the lower gear ratio of the front wheels. It will start to creep along again when I switch it back to 2wd without touching the gas if it's on a slight downward grade. This happens in both forward and reverse (without the override button depressed).

Will it hurt to ride it with the cage broken (if that is what it is)?

 

If it's moving at idle it is either too high an idle and it is near the engagement rpms or there is a problem with the clutch not disengaging. That's my barely educated guess.

 

It only moves at idle if pointing down a slight grade.

p.s. dig the sig

 

No, my roller cage is not broken and I feel like such a dufus.... my x2 does have ADC. I assumed it didn't because it doesn't have an 'ADC' switch on the throttle block or gauge pod like the newer ones. I'm hoping a simple fluid change is all that's needed. I have a Polaris dealership in the family (out of town) and when I was buying it (used) I checked with him and he said it had never been back to the dealer since it was purchased. Chances are the ADC fluid has never been changed, I changed everything else a couple weeks ago. It's off to the dealer in the morning for a fluid change, I'm going out of town for a week and I have a ride planned when I get back. Wish me luck.

 

Let us know how it works out.

 

Glad you figured out it was your adc and nothing broken. On the 07 models it doesn't say adc on your switch and it's automatically on when you flip the 4x4 switch. They changed it to 2x4, 4x4, 4x4ADC in 08. You'll know for sure if you have ADC if you look next to radiator cap, there should be a small reservoir for the fluid.