so i think i might have a broken rear axle, i have a 1991 yamaha big bear 350, got stuck in the snow the other day and noticed that only one of my rear tires was spinning, leaned on that side and then the other side started to spin, no noise at all, noting popping or grinding or clacking, i am pretty sure these should have a full posi traction rear end, am i right? what do you all think? i am still waiting on my manual before i get into it, i can ride it and there is no problems at all, rides great still

 

Its a one piece straight axle, sounds like the female spline of the hub has worn out or the male spline on one end of the axle.
Usually its the hub since its made of softer alloy metal then the hard steel of the axle.

 

so if its the male end would that be on the axle? still waiting on this manual to come in, and would you by chance no of a place to get the parts from?

 

Here is a good place. Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse

The hub (Collar Wheel) is $68. Part #1 and #6
If its the axle spline, that axle is $379. #11

Like a said usually the softer white metal Hub spline wears out before the harder steel axle spline.
Take the wheel off and you will know soon enough.

 

thanks for the diagram and the link, i did what you said, took off the right side and it was fine, went to the left side and the hub was shot, axle spline seems ok, it still has nice teeth on it, found a hub on ebay for 30 bucks, seems like in the pictures the splines are fine, i am messaging the guy to find out for sure, appreciate the help

 

well i got the new hub, had to get a new castle nut because that was stripped witch might be why the hub splines stripped, but anyway got it on and its great, nice not getting stuck all the time now, plows through the snow like nothing

 

Grease those splines and they will wear a lot slower.
Your lucky it was the hub splines and not the axle splines.

 

ok i will grease them, and i was happy the axle splines were fine, but i am buying a replacement axle soon just in case something does happen

 

The previous owner of my Moto 4 stripped the hub splines, and instead of just getting a new hub he WELDED THE HUB TO THE AXLE.

It was the left side too, so if I ever have to disassemble the rear diff, I'm going to have to cut the hub off the axle in order to get the axle out of the diff. Dammit.

So don't do that.

 

im not going to lie i thought of it for a minute but then i thought the same thing, if i ever some reason needed it off i would have to cut it, and i dont want to rig t his thing up, i like t hings to work as the manufacturer intended it to