I am writing in the polaris forum for a honda because they are slow in the honda forum so im sorry but can you help me? I got a 97 honda foreman 400 4x4. Recently the rear axle gears have stripped off and i know thats the problem in the back because if i take the oil fill plug i can see the ring gear turn but the axle shaft dont. But at the same time the front wheels do not go at all. If you hold the front drive shaft where it goes into the motor with pliers the wheels spin but the shaft does not spin. What can my problem be? If you need any more info ask me Thanks , Polaris Man With Issues

 

Just guessing,the ring gear is turned by the pinon which could be stripped. If you replace one,the other (ring gear) needs to be replaced as a set. Not really understanding all you are saying?? OPT

 

ok opt ill try to make it easier for ya. If i hold the front driveshaft with pliers i can turn both front wheels and the drive shaft im holding does not move. I dont think this is normal. If i have the atv running and the 4x4 is always locked in the front driveshaft should always turn right? The back axle i know is striped because i have already replaced it with a old one that was half worn because it wasnt in the budget to get a new

 

Do the front wheels spin in oposite directions?

 

if i'm right, that is a full time 4x4 right? i don't think what your describing about the front end is normal. guessing,but i would have thought the front wheels would still be pulling even when the back wasn't as long as the transfercase was all right. imo

 

If what I'm understanding,you are holding the driveshaft(prop shaft) going into the front gear case and you can turn the front wheels and driveshaft (prop shaft) isn't turning,and if you have a trx300 or trx400,then its possible because there are 2 clutch packs in the front gearcase which lock the front axles under load,in other words the front tires will free wheel. If this isn't what you mean,the drive shaft could have a stripped coupler,pinon gear same as rear gearcase does?? This is where the Honda actually has a 3 wheel drive ,NOT both wheels locking at same time as Polaris atvs. I might be barking up the wrong tree,hard to visualize?? OPT

 

Yep OPT that is exactly what i was explaining. On the honda prop shaft or front drive shaft there is some kind of couplings on each end. I just remembered i have had a honda that did this before and i bought one and that was the problem...There is a spline or friction coupling or some kind of coupling. I am more knowledgable on Polaris Not Honda. Actually my polaris never breaks so i dont have to fix it much. so there is a small "stubby" shaft that somes out of the motor to go to the front i think and the prop shaft coupling is stripped on that end and the end that goes into the driveshaft so do you know what im saying? lol

 

YEP,I replaced a lot of POLARIS propshaft couplers at the transmission(all model Polaris atvs) because of people not greasing the fitting!! Also Magnums have a coupler thats hard to grease,just has a cut out in the rear swing arm to access fitting! Rangers were the worst though(farmers and ranchers) Ran em until they broke,that was the only time they came in the shop,when they ran em to death! OPT