Polaris AWD demonstration

The test ATV is a 2007 Sportsman 800 Deluxe. I taped a piece of white paper onto a spoke of both front and rear wheels so the actual rotation of each wheel can be clearly observed.

This video shows how quickly the front wheels engage after the rear wheels slip, definitely within 1/5 of a turn as Polaris claims. But more importantly or interesting for that matter, is that the front wheel turns at a slower rate than the rear. This difference in gear ratio from front to rear is what allows the roller clutch in the front differential to engange and disengage. The video shows that for every 5 revolutions of the rear wheels, the front wheels turn only 4 times.

When the speed of the front and rear wheels is the same, the ATV operates in rear wheel drive even when the handlebar switch is in the AWD position. When the ATV encounters reduced surface traction and the rear wheels start to spin faster than the front, the front differential will lock and cause the front wheels to be driven with the same power that drives the rear wheels, and at the same time as the rear, but at the slower rate as shown. The ATV will operate in All Wheel Drive as long as there is 20% or more less traction at the rear tires than at the front. Once traction is regained, the front differential unlocks automatically and 100% of engine power is redirected to the rear wheels.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Polaris
• Sportsman
• 800
• 4x4

[MadDogV2]

This is a bit of a peculiar question, but how could you identify an AWD quad vs. a 2WD one, purely off of visual inspection, sitting totally still (like it was parked or on display)? I'm asking because I'm looking at some quads in a PC game mod and double checking that they're the correct drive layout. All I have to go on is moving the camera around to try and peek at the drivetrain and suspension.

[sheepdogMSP8117]

@MadDogV2 Check the front, a 4WD or AWD quad will have a differential and drive axles.

[fordrulesf150]

those r some nice rims and tires what r they

[sheepdogMSP8117]

@fordrulesf150 ITP SS108 14" rims.  ITP Terracross tires, 8" front, 11" rear.

[beaver241980]

those don't look like stock tires or rims, maybe the ones that are on the machine are a little different than the stock and thats why they spin at different speeds?

[sheepdogMSP8117]

@beaver241980 They are in fact aftermarket rims. But the tires are the same diameter, 14".

[sheepdogMSP8117]

@MrDustinb228 LAME COMMENT! LOL

[DaShnipa]

Arctic cat and best quad u can get don't belong in the same sentence. I've gone down grades on my raptor that would have most people shitting their pants on a big bore 4x4. Its all rider skill, the quad is nothing more than a chunk of metal and plastic unless you know what the fuck your doing.

[Bob67755]

@DaShnipa you know its a suzuki engine...but whats wrong with the new ones...lol...and how are the 4WD drive systems a joke, when its locked its locked, thats actually one major thing i like about them, unlike polaris they look tits....

[DaShnipa]

@Bob67755 That would be one of the issues, belt slippage would be another, their tranny's are absolute JUNK, their 4WD systems are a damn joke, only thing they have going for em now is the motor, and thats made by Suzuki. But, from one rider to another, thats just my opinion.

[Bob67755]

@DaShnipa fuck off...whats wrong with Cats, don't give me that bullshit with snapped axles either...i never had problems with that

[bass7969]

@sheepdogMSP8117 that is cool i never knew about how the front wheel moves slower and i didnt know most of the stuff in the description so cool video bro keep makein more

[oscar17211]

@sheepdogMSP8117 Maybe the front do spin slower, but i know if you back it up a hill the rear wheels wont spin. Polaris still has the best awd system.