That was a pretty good explanation. You added the part where the front wheels could always turn faster just not slower than the rear as kind of an afterthought, when in reality that is really the most important part and is the entire reason the system works the way it does. Basically the rear differential is actually geared slightly higher than the front differential, so even when you have the button on for four wheel drive the fronts are still not engaging, because the front drive shaft is actually trying to turn the front tires slower than the speed the vehicle is moving. When the rear tires lose traction the vehicle slows down or the RPMs go up (which is the same thing as far as this system is concerned), at which point the front drive shaft is trying to turn the front wheels faster than the vehicle is moving which it's not allowed to do because of the rollers as you explained, so suddenly the fronts are being powered. The key takeaway is that the front tires are never allowed to spin slower than the speed the transmission is trying to move the vehicle, but they can always spin faster. It's a great system because even when it's engaged it's still allows the outside tire to go faster in a turn then the inside tire, because the tires are always allowed to go faster than the gears are trying to turn them just not slower. On the other hand it's not a great system because when going down a hill your engine braking is only braking the rear tires, because the fronts are always moving faster than the transmission is trying to spin them.

@yijianggu5203

2 жыл бұрын

agree with you,what can cause the front wheel to lock up?even this differential broke, it will not lock the front wheel, but drive the front wheel

@armedfarm3429

2 жыл бұрын

Also people get in trouble buying tires of different heights, then can't figure out why 4wd don't work right.

3 years later your information is still helping people

6 years later this is still the best video to explain how it works

Good explanation of how it works. The unit is not made by Polaris. It is made by Hilliard Corporation, Elmira NY. The little plate @5:45 that helps make the magic is called the "Armature plate".

I don't see you making a video, Whether his talking ability is not up to your standards or not, American SportWorks seems to think his video is very informative and recommends it to their costumers for repair advise. Great job Nathan, Thanks.

Nice job explaining how this works. I enjoy people who take the time to figure out how things work and then help others to understand.

Thank you for making the video to share with us. It's difficult at best to explain a complex set of functions in a short time. You have done a very nice job. We all benefit from it.

I’ve been trying for a long time to find out how this differential works and your explanation and how you are showing how it works really made it simple to understand,. Now I don’t have to think about that anymore 😊 Great job and thanks for the explanation 👍🏻

A little long but if paying attention, it comes to ya. Good job. You helped a lot of people understand it.

It’s basically like a sprag clutch system you find these in automatic transmissions as well... an example of that would be in a Chevy turbo 400 where the original sprag clutch was a weak point but once upgraded it was nearly bulletproof. Very nice explanation!

that's a really cool explanation! i thought it had sensors but now i know differently. thanks for raking the time to show us how that diff really works!

FREAKIN' EXCELLENT! Best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you!

Awesome demo, the best explanation I've found on how these Polaris AWD systems work, thanks.

Thanks! I just bought a used Sportsman 500, and this is some info I was definitely looking for. I wondered why the shaft going to the front spun, even when I had the switch on 2wd.

I think you did a good job of explaining the function of the Polaris Demand Drive and I already knew how it worked. It made sense to me. Thanks.

Great video man! Excellent explanation of how the front diff works!

Thank you thank you. Couldn’t find anyone including my mechanic friends who could explain this to me.

this is a great video... thank you for taking the time my man. I appreciate it.

Very good explanation of an extremely complex system.

One thing that you left out that is crucial to the operation is that the front gear is a different ratio than the rear. With the front locked in and all four spinning, the rear tires will turn 5 times and the fronts 4 times.

Great video. I dismantled our diff for new bearings and like you i wanted to know how it worked. I would never have worked that it in a month of Sundays.

Yup- good explanation. surprisingly simple system but obviously very effective- Thank You!!

Thanks a lot for the knowledge that you have provided. I was curious how on demand differential work. Now I know.

Great job. That cleared up some confusion on my part as to how that really works.

I have a lot better knowledge of how this works now. Hands on is the best way to explain how things work. Thanks

Very Good! I was wondering how my AWD was locked in with the switch off. Now I know where to start looking. Thank you.

Thank you so much. I greatly appreciate the info since I am a newbie to this polaris rzr world. Great job.

Wow. You made that make total sense. Thank you so much!

thanks. that puts to words and demonstration what i was thinking might be happening. good job

Great video! My spline had some play in it... Digging in this weekend

Wow. Good info. That’s a very ingenious system.

This video has aged well. Thanks for sharing.

nice vid, its a sprag that has an interesting way of being activated. pretty cool.

Good vid! Sounds like it works the same way as a one way starter clutch.

Great explanation! Thanks for showing us how this works!!

Great video explaining how it works. Good job😊

Very helpful! Thank you!! About to rebuild one!

Thank you for this explanation, very clear

Good job brother!!!!!!! You explained it perfectly

It’s like an actuated one way bearing, kind of. Very helpful video, thanks.

Wow great video thanks for the explanation I have the same machine so I'm learning a lot you are very smart and I appreciate the delivery of this video you explained it very well you are a great help thank you

There is definitely power to the front in 4wd, my 2006 scrambler had a bad chain so I was replacing it but had to wait a few days and I was able to ride it in 4wd using only the fronts to pull me along. So it definitely does get power to the front on its own, I did however notice in sloppy conditions the front tires can actually spin a bit faster on occasion than the back tires. I've been looking into this 4x4 setup as I'm trying to learn how I can make a 4x4 race quad, using some Polaris parts.

Good job on the video explaining the workings.

Very nice! Similar to a fishing reel with an anti reverse. I also have a few ratchets that work on the same principle. Seriously, thanks for sharing this. Without it, I wouldn't have known how it worked.

Nice! I like this AWD system. It looks strong.

YOU are a superstar. If you’re passing Oxfordshire, UK: I owe you a drink. 👍🏻

Nice thorough explaining 👍

That makes more sense as to why it locks up sometimes when you push the button to take it out. And why you need to reverse a little sometimes after. Good explanation.

That was great information i was always wondering how that engaged.. thanks

super great video i understand how it works now

this video was really helpful and and very well explained thanks!

WOW EXCELLENT VIDEO, NOW I KNOW HOW IT WORK,, THANK'S

Love this video! Thank you for explaining

Well well explained in my opinion.

Good explanation. Useful information thank you

Great video man. Thanks for posting.

NICE! Love the explanation, thanks!

Hey man excellent job and I appreciate you takin out of your own time to make that video keep up the good work dude. Oh BTW I rarely ever (EVER) leave a comment But dont"t stop shining bro Light It up out there.

Good job explaining that, thanks!

Excellent explanation. Thank you.

Great explanation! Thanks

Awesome explanation! Thanks

This video save me a lot money

I like that setup. I like polaris more now.

Thanks mate, it made good sense.

That’s incredible engineering

Your mind works like mine. I got it. Wonder explanation, thanks.

My 2000 polaris scrambler 500 is slightly different. Still functions similarly but not exactly the same. It has a front differential "gear box" that is centered between the front wheels. That has a shaft out each side that connects to the CV axel, which connects to the "Hillard clutch" that is located inside the wheel hub assembly. There is some sort of "slip differential" to the system when you are in 2WD. When you are in 2WD and stuck in mud, the front wheel(s) will engage automatically. When you move the selector to "AWD" it will in fact give power to the front and rear wheels at all time. I believe that just one of the front wheels engage at a time but I'm not sure...it my be both. Another way I have seen this work is when the chain popped off the sprocket on the rear wheels. When it did this, the quad was still driving by using the front wheels only, and this was when it's in 2WD. There is nothing broken with it, this is how it work. I saw others comment on seeing just 1 front wheel spin in a video and were concerned there were issues...that's not the case. The person in the video just had it in 2WD and the rear wheels were spinning. The AWD selector locks the front and rear together whether you are spinning or not. I love the system. There really is never any need to set it to AWD, as the quad automatically sends power to the front when needed.

Well done, sir. Thank you. Couldn't find this information anywhere else. I'm assuming they carried a similar system into the new RZRs.

I need to change axle splines. In side differential. Any thing special I need to do to be able to pull them out of roller cage other than split case open ?

Great explanation. I love how ppl have smart A$$ comments but apparently do not understand how the system works, Hence they are watching your video.

Great explanation

Great Job, Thank you!!!!

Video helped out a bunch also I can't find how tight supposed to adjust the screw for the plate that goes up against the diff gear any idea on that?

Well hot damn , joe dirt... very informative ty.

Very well explained😜

Just asking there is a clip kind of c shaped. Trying to figure out where this little piece goes. It has a slight curve to it like it snaps in somewhere. I looks like the piece you have on the table its flat and curves down on the ends. I dont know where it goes. I have all my parts and ready to put it back together but want to make sure everything goes where it suppose to. Any help would be great.

Are both front tires suppose to engage when I turn on the AWD switch automatically or is it by weight distribution? I am asking because I feel that my front left tire is not engaging as much as my front right tire.

Also from watching another video. It disengages because the rear wheels spin slightly faster then the front wheels. So that's how it disengages ones you get unstuck. There is a bid of one strapped and on ice. The wheels have a white rah tide to a spoke on each wheel. When he makes the wheels spins ever so slow you can clearly see that that rear wheel spins slightly faster then the front. So once stuck the front hub grabs because the wheels aren't moving and when the back can propel on its own it pushes the front unlocked.

@thenathans96

6 жыл бұрын

Jerome Ponder well said 👍

great job!

Nice thank you for that, appreciate it.

good review !

Hello, good video explanation, question if in dash ligths on the 4wd it means working? Or it can be ider not working

I think the sensors you hear about are in the active descent control system, and the speed sensor deactivate system. In any case, this system has a lot of faults. The biggest two are that you can't lock the wheels in permanently, and engine braking can't be sent to the front tires unless a separate system (adc) is added. Also, if you want all four tires to pull you up a steep hill that has good traction (like a sandstone obstacle in Moab), this awd system will never engage because the rear tires won't spin faster than the fronts. So you are essentially forced to just have the rear 2 tires pushing only. If you really want 4wd, you have to get a Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Arctic Cat, or newer Honda.

@armedfarm3429

2 жыл бұрын

I can tell you that if you're going up a hill and your back wheels are not spinning you don't need 4WD- The second the back tires spin even a tiny bit; the fronts will be engaged. You won't feel it engage but look out the front of the door they are engaged & grabbing. If you have enough traction to make it up the hill without spinning no. BUT if then you floor it so the back spins the fronts will immediately start digging! Leave it in 4WD in sand and you will have it. If you want to fart around and just spin shitties just leave the switch off.

@nicolec7290

Жыл бұрын

Suzuki king quad 750. Good wheeler. I’ve had a few Polaris & they worked well but there are to many times that the diff lock is needed

Thanks Nathan.

I don’t have any comments but I do have a question. My question is this. What do you think of the AWD system? Basically how strong is that magnet? Does it slip when under load

Great Job

ok I get it spins with the back wheels. Just messing with you good explanation. Is the General the same way?

Thank You Sir!

It's called a Hilliard Drive. They're a company in New York State that makes these magnetic locking hubs and differentials for ATV's and other machines. They've been around for over 100 years, check out their website. I can't remember if Polaris buys the whole units from them or just licenses the design to build them.

what is the set screw that has a magnet on it for and how do you adjust it

Fantastic explanation. The wires that come out of my front diff are MISSING, almost like someone ripped them out. The model # is 1341344. Can't find the part anywhere ! Anybody have suggestions ?

Does anyone knows how much meter of wire is going into the magnet of the asm cover plate. Because mine AWD line has been broken inside in the side cover plate and the only way was to open the magnet . After then I have done that the line in the magnet ( selenoid has been broken) .

Nice how much would u or a mechanic charge for something like this I think my Polaris needs a differential just had one mechanic look at it he said something like mind is not building enough pressure to engage the front

Good job. Bro, how about polaris ranger 800. Its totally different. It senses a slip and puts power to the front tires regardless if in 1wd 2wd or 4wd

Thank you for the explanation. Someone told me that the rzr s900 does not have a rear wheel diferenchal. Only a front one. This looks to me like its the opposite. In a 4x4 truck. They have both. Can you go into more detail for me please?

@thenathans96

4 жыл бұрын

I can't speak to the operation of the RZR, but as someone else has pointed out in the comments, this unit is not really a differential. A differential is a gearbox that allows a driveshaft to drive both wheels, but at different speeds independently of each other. When it's engaged, this gearbox locks the front two wheels together, so there is no "differential" action. I would imagine the drive train is similar on the RZR, but I don't have enough experience to tell you for sure how that one works.

It makes sense. I am considering buying my first Polaris side by side and salesmen keep telling me when the back wheel spins the distance between two wheel lugs it engages the front wheel. One salesman said he has sold over 1200 machines and I,m the first guy who is asking such questions that I,m asking. I told him how can I buy a machine and not be able to picture how it works. However your video makes more sense in 14 minutes then hours trying to talk to different salesmen. So are there any wheel sensors on the 570 Ranger ? Great job on video. Glenn from Newfoundland Canada.

@rwat1106

5 жыл бұрын

I, too, am dumbfounded by salespeople with insufficient product knowledge.

Good Job Thank You

Hell yah thank you sir..

Liked your video, learned alot. Watched it several times. I have a 2004 polaris 500, it stays in four wheel drive all the tim, any sugestions?

@thenathans96

5 жыл бұрын

With the on-demand 4-wheel drive system, it should not engage the front wheels until the back wheels begin spinning. It may need the front differential fluid (Polaris-specific fluid) flushed or maybe the whole diff needs cleaned out.