[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] I ran into a guy who had a 700 with 500 kms on it at a lodge on a trail system in Northern Ontario. We got talkin' and he offered to let me take it for a ride. I'm not sure if there was something wrong with this particular quad, but it made a host of strange noises going into gear and when letting off and back on the throttle. Has anyone else noticed this, or (hopefully) is this an isolated incident?

 

I noticed that also on one that I was test driving at a dealership mainly when doing 5-20 mph do not know what it was from thought might have had something to do with the engine braking but is only a guess.

 

Polaris calls it normal. I would like to see them address the issue.

What it is, is gear mesh. In each two gears that drive one another their has to be a little bit of play. In the Sportsman, their are a few sets of these gears. With each one having a little bit of play. So, when you give it gas(or let off the gas), the gears first have to take the play out of them before it actually starts to drive the tires(or the engine). The slight clunking noise you are hearing is these gears constantly taking the play out of themselves when you either give it gas or let off the gas.

I know it sounds bad. It just doesn't seem like a good noise. Like I said though, Polaris says it is normal. Actually all the Sportsmans have it.(400,500,500HO,700) Some worse than others and few none at all. It is nothing new with the 700 SP.

 

Elroy,

Got a question for you........I know that Polaris uses a chaincase on most models, and there is actually a chain inside the chaincase........much like a transfer case. Although they can be reliable, I have heard that with plenty of miles, the chain stretches and needs replacement.

My question is.......with the new design of the sp700, do you know if there's a chain in the transmission? I mean, it looks to me like the rear end now is simply a ring and pinion gear, instead of the large "silent" chain design of the sp500. But, I was just wondering if the actual transmission still has a chain in it? Last time I looked, it looked as if a chain might drive the shaft going to the front wheels, but I was unsure about the rest.

Thanks,

Waylan

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] Well we have three Sportsmans in our riding group and none come close to making the noises this 700 did, if this is the way they all are they will not sell be selling me one!

 

This is the reply I got when I e-mailed someone at Polaris about the clicking on the 700.
Thanks for the feedback. All the EBS equipped machines have that bit of a
driveline lash, and it something we are aware of and know about. It has
become a little bit too accepted from the engineers, I think. It doesn't
present any mechanical flaws, but it is an annoyance.

 

walexa,

I'm not sure. I'll have to see if I can't dig up some info on that today when I get to work. I'll let you know tonight when I get home.



plunker,

I see you also have a yellow 01 SP. My dad has one of these exact same quads and his makes this same noise. It isn't that bad but still makes it. As for how bad the 700 noise is, our dealership actually called Polaris because our first one was making that bad of a noise too. We didn't let anyone even know we had it until we got the "OK" from Polaris. I agree though that this noise is bad sounding. I can see where some people would not consider the machine because of it.

Remember though, your SP is prone to make this exact same type noise. So, is your SP something that should not be considered because of it?

 

elroy I can assure you my 400 Sportsman doesn't make anywhere close to the noises that this 700 did, the only time I get some driveline noise out of the Sp 400 is coasting down a hill with sharp bumps, sounds kinda like the rear brake pads are rattling but I think it's in the driveline some where. Even this seems some what better now than when it was new. I am very satisfied with the 400, if it had the noises that 700 had it would have been gone by now!