I have a '04 Vinson 500. Last week i was riding on the power lines and had to pull my buddy out of a hole. Nothing seemed to happen at first but i was driving down a trail shortly after and it seemed as if my rear end locked up. It made a deep grinding noise. I could smell some gear oil but nothing was spitting out. I think its either one of 3 things. The gears, my rear end or my transmission. Has anyone ran into this problem or have any thoughts on what it could be.

 

were you in 4wd when this happened? ive read a few posts where people were having problems with the front diff locking up and breaking the casing. seems the problem is the ring gear bolts come lose and lock the diff up causing it to break the housing.

 

When it locks up, does it happen when its in 4 wheel drive or can it lock up in two wheel drive.

I'd sure hate for it to lock up while flying down a dirt road.

 

Mine busted and it was in 2wd. Have 600 miles on new diff. and all is o.k. May have been a bad batch of front differentials put together on Friday afternoon by a rockhead!!!!

 

I was in 4 low when it happened, pulling in reverse. But when it started locking up on me i was in 2wd riding about 20mph down a trail.

 

pull your front skid plate off and you'll most likely see a hole in the bottom of your front gear case. if you smell the grease its leaking from somewhere. i smelled grease on mine and went to looking for it and thats where mine was. i had a hole about the size of a pencil in the bottom of my gear case. i took it to the dealer and he says a bolt had fell out of the ring gear causing it to bust the gear case. its still at the dealer. they've had it 3 weeks now. oh how i miss my ride.

 

i ahve had my vinson for 2 years and i haven't had that happen to me and i am one heavy mudder.
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03 vinson 5spd 4x4 26" swampwitches front/ 26" mudhogs back. (big pimpin ride)