can -am 4wheel drive problems

[cheviot53]

Was talking to my quad dealer today as a can-am was my no 1 choice when I change in may , and he took a phone call about a bike with no 4 wd , he said this is the second time for this bike and he said it happened with all models . Showed me a small 12mm long pin that is pressed into a small block , this is the selector and the pin falls out , but he said to repair was a big job ,I think he said have to take out and dismantle the diff !. Anyone had this ?

 

[Lazy Eric]

If he's your can-am dealer I like his honesty!!!

 

[Hilly]

I have heard f it happening and have also heard its a little pin , however its never happend to me or anyone else i know who have can ams aand i know lots of people with them.

 

[JD-Kid]

intresting have a 650 here i think at times has no 4wd if towing down hill

 

[Downton_shep]

Not a problem here.
What other make of quad does he sale?

 

[cheviot53]

sells 2 other makes , but can-am are now his biggest seller

 

[Giles1]

On our fourth Can Am,never had this problem.Could be that someone was changing between 2 and 4 wheel drive on the move which has been and may still be a no-no on Can Ams.

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

Have had many can ams and never had this problem (yet )

 

[Old Tip]

I currently have this problem, not sure if it's electrical or mechanical but it's an arse when your stuck

 

[Downton_shep]

On our fourth Can Am,never had this problem.Could be that someone was changing between 2 and 4 wheel drive on the move which has been and may still be a no-no on Can Ams.

As long as your thumb is off the throttle you can flick the switch at at any speed. That's what I was told by my dealer anyway.

 

[Giles1]

As long as your thumb is off the throttle you can flick the switch at at any speed. That's what I was told by my dealer anyway.

You can and I have,but not often.Our dealer makes a point of telling us not to change on the move,which could mean he has had problems with this.

 

[neilo]

As long as your thumb is off the throttle you can flick the switch at at any speed. That's what I was told by my dealer anyway.

That's what I was told too (by the same dealer). I've not had a problem, but I usually just leave it in 4wd anyway.

 

[cheviot53]

More information , apparently you can engage the 4wd switch then you can here the actuator and the display will say 4wd is engaged but because this pin has dropped out you have no 4wd ?

 

[Nithsdale]

More information , apparently you can engage the 4wd switch then you can here the actuator and the display will say 4wd is engaged but because this pin has dropped out you have no 4wd ?

Sounds like when you use the 'on the fly' 4wd engagement, this pin isn't upto the job which is causing failure. Arctic Cat uses a splined shaft, it works faultlessly

Every bike has a 'weak link' - Honda it's the rear axle, Yamaha it's the half shafts (used to be the gearboxes)... I would reckon if your bike is in 4wd permanently, youl have no issue.

 

[Downton_shep]

I thought if the 4x4 played up it would stay in rather than out. Might only be on the Polaris.

 

[Nithsdale]

I thought if the 4x4 played up it would stay in rather than out. Might only be on the Polaris.

Sounds like this pin joins 2 parts on the drive shaft coming into the front diff from gear/transfer box...

The 4wd will still engage as it should, but drive is lost at the pin.


Most electronic 4wd engagements on ATVs are just a servo moving the lever you used to move by hand. They can quite easily cease in 2wd, or 4wd, if never used.

Polaris use a different system with true, on demand AWD which by default is 2wd. As you say, if it breaks it will always default to 2wd.