I have a 2005 yamaha kodiak 400 4x4 and it's awesome. It's a year round utility machine for me and i definately take some time to play on it. I plow with it in the winter and it does a pretty sweet job at that too. I've been looking at new ones just for kicks and I started wondering about the 4WD. I understand diff lock, limited slip, transfer cases, etc.....but mainly with respect to pickups. So now I'm a little confused on the machine I have. Mine is either 2WD (all torque, power to the rear wheels evenly) or 4WD (engages the front drive shaft). I thought this puts 50% torque in the front? But the more I read it's more like 3WD. Some of the power that goes to the front just goes to the wheel that has traction? Is this right? Then on the newer ones you have the option in 4WD to lock the front and rear axels so everything is spinning at the same rate. I thought that was what my machine was doing in 4WD, but I guess not. Can someone explain how my 4WD really works when I engage the front drive shaft. Is this a limited slip in the front? just a hair confused.

 

You summed it up perfectly above. The front has the limited slip.

 

cool. thanks. the more i was thinking and typing, it was starting to make sence. you know, actually i see now why they offer the locking diff in 4wd now too. it's the next step up for an option ton increase your capability. of course, the new ones have it.

 

My 2008 grizzly 350 has the diff lock 4WD. It only got stuck once from bellying up in 3ft of snow. I did go through 2 ft no problem though.