[QUOTE=doccod7 hi opt up here in WIS. tryin to get my 98 sportsman front wheels to engage,push the switch and once in a blue moon light on switch comes on, 4wd will work for a little bit and then seems to disengage

 

Try this on the hub activated awd system. Several people have restored awd because of erratic or faulty grounding because of the long length these thin wires have to travel. On the later models(2000 and up) the awd ground path goes through the speedo (bad idea) and some have jumped the brown white(awd ground) to the brown(common ground) in the speedo harness. This bypasses the speedo entirely and can restore awd in many cases.

 

Indicater light sometimes comes on seems like only one side will engage at least only one wheel spins . Then it will just quit working .lately light dont come on . Sometimes if i turn 4wd on no light on but it will pull hard to one side,stop and shut off switch and will quit pullingto one side . I thought both wheels spun before .dont know where to start diagnosing.could sure use some help

 

This type awd is an electro/mechanical system.. You may have to go into the hubs and do any repairs that may be needed such as replace the armature plates if magnetized,check coil resistance(should show 25 ohms resistance on the strut coil) plus a hub oil change can help in many cases on erratic operation. Pulling to one side is usually a mechanical problem. The intermittent awd operation could still be a ground fault problem that the better grounding method in the video can take care of. Plus here's another video on what's involved mechanical wise in the hubs. Go easy on the grease,not lather bearings up like this guy did or better yet just use hub fluid to lube the bearings up on reassembly.

 

Hi opt i checked out my grounds and they are all getting contact. Took my shifter apart and found that the little plastic pieces for the shifting wire switches are broke .would that be why the awd dont work and can i wire around the shifter ?

 

Yes the gear box switch can cause problems also. Your 1998 model was the last year model of having them in the gear box. Later models gear position switches were on the gear case where they should have been in the first place. The switch has been updated about 3 times and even your last year model the switch is updated again.Item #15.Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Polaris, Suzuki & Kawasaki OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse Even if you replace this switch and you have constant power to the awd, if the machine pulls to one side the hubs and components may need to be checked out for wear. Some have bypassed this switch by going straight to the terminal board with the wiring,but this is not a good idea as it puts voltage constantly on the coils and causes armature plates to magnetize even quicker. It would be the same as leaving the awd switch engaged at all times which I tried to tell people not to do. Best to engage awd when you need it and all other times to leave it in two wheel drive to save wear and tear on hub components.

 

hey I have a 1999 500 complete motor for 800 bucks i ordered it and never even opened the shipping box it was something totally different than what Polaris dealer said was wrong anyway my cell 830-613-9561 give me a call

 

Hope the old retired trooper can get back some of the money he spent. Good luck.