I am posting this thread for a friend. i recently got stuck and i had to pull him out (w/ a Raptor), while i was pulling, i noticed that his front wheels weren't pulling, but the drive shafts were turning. can the wheels be unlocked? what does that mean?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

the 350 honda is a great bike but the brakes are crap, and the four wheel drive is actually a three wheel drive. the wheel that is on solid ground will stop and the wheel without the traction will spin. usually by turning the handlebars back and forth will create traction enough to look like both are spinning. i believe the newer models are a better system. still it is a great bike.

 

I think your wrong about the 4 wheel drive on the rancher. it is not 3 wheel drive. it works similar to posi traction on a car i believe. it is not a locked axle but when it is needed it works. my rancher has taken me where my 650 prairie broke trying. and yes, the brakes do kinda suck.

 

Ok, so wut's the deal with the front drive turnin, but the wheels not?

 

What year rancher?It makes a difference, because the differentials changed over the years.
When you say both shafts were spinning....which shafts, both half shafts ,right and left in front? or driveshafts front and back? Im assuming its the front and back driveshafts.
The older ranchers have a clutch type limited slip differential. It could be low on fluid, contaminated with water, or clutch disks are fried, or the fluid additives are depleted. Id start by changing out the old stuff and adding new.

 

No, i don't think it's the clutch. the axle is turnin, so the differential must be ok. both front axles are turnin, but the wheels aren't. idk[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Sounds like you have it figured out.. if the axle shafts turn but the wheels dont, it has to be the outboard joints. I would think they would make alot of racket if they went out, and its kind of rare for both to fail at the same time.