I noticed my 2000 SP500 only had 3 wheel drive last week on the way back to my truck. I got it home and didn't get a chance to look at it till yesterday. Thinking I would have to fix the wire going to the hub for the 4wd sensor or maybe even the sensor I took the tire off and had a look. I couldn't find the wire at all. So I searched around the back of the shock etc. Still couldn't find it. Then I noticed something strange. Where is that pesky half shaft that goes from the front diff to the wheel hub. How about sheared off, as in gone. NO knuckle no nothing! Anyone hear of this happening before???

Glenn (Three Wheel Drive Polaris SP500, still outmuds a Honda!)

 

Sounds totally strange. Are you sure you didn't order a special model? Na, just picking. A 3wd Sportsman should still out-do a Honda, though.
BushHog
'99 Sportsman 335

 

I have seen this happen to a 98 SP-500. While climbing over a large rock bank the rider gas it a little to much gas slamming the right wheel into the bank. It was about three miles down the trail before we noticed the shaft hanging down.
This took a lot of force and jerked the handlebars away. We hade to drive the pin out of the u-joint yoke to remove the shaft.

Good luck with the repairs.

 

Ive seen this happen a couple of times the main reason was the sensor on the wheel. Where yoiu running through mud or the woods? alot times the wire snag and get ripped out atleast on the old models.

 

Glenn,

I have heard of this happening only to a few people, and only on Honda 4x4's, and Polaris 4x4's. And only when they had big aftermarket mud tires. Usually it only happens when turning the handle bars at full lock, and the aggressive tires grab hard on somthing when you apply a lot of throttle.

Just to fuel the fire... In the ATV Magazine mud tire test, they said at one time they had no front wheel drive on their Honda Foreman 450ES. The shaft had popped out of the differential, and since it was limited slip, it had no front tires turning! They also said the ES buttons wouldn't work well because mud clogged them. Bullet proof....

 

Maybe that's the reason manufacturers put crappy tires on stock!?

 

I had three wheel drive too many times on my 97 Sportsman500, I busted the u-joint/yoke 7 times in less than a year, crappy parts and even worst the dealer who installed them. My new dealership and I think used parts kept being installed incorrectly or the new parts were crap and not installed right. It was too much to put up with and I never got to ride so I got a 99 scrambler 500.

[This message has been edited by myscrambler (edited 11-16-1999).]

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Polaris is very apologetic and are anxious to fix my quad ASAP. I tgoes to the dealer tonite. Hopefully it won't be gone too long!

Tatty-Matty: you may want to read the whole post before replying......