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.

3 years later your information is still helping people

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.

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.

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.

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

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 👍🏻

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!

Very cool. I believe that other Polaris models have a similar system but they are located independently in each front wheel hub rather than in the differential.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Very good explanation of an extremely complex system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great video explaining how it works. Good job😊

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good job on the video explaining the workings.

Nice thorough explaining 👍

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

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

Thank you for this explanation, very clear

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

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

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.

Great video man. Thanks for posting.

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.

Love this video! Thank you for explaining

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.

NICE! Love the explanation, thanks!

Good explanation. Useful information thank you

This video has aged well. Thanks for sharing.

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

Excellent explanation. Thank you.

Well well explained in my opinion.

super great video i understand how it works now

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.

That’s incredible engineering

Good job explaining that, thanks!

Awesome explanation! Thanks

Great explanation

Great explanation! Thanks

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 ?

This video save me a lot money

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.

Thanks mate, it made good sense.

Very well explained😜

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

I like that setup. I like polaris more now.

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

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.

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

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.

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?

Great Job, Thank you!!!!

great job!

My bike sounds like it's missing a gear in 2wd or it's lost bearing, but when I click the switch in to 4wheel drive system on its not as bad ....how do I find this problem its sounds like its the front but not sure ....help me plz!! Thank you in advance !!

good review !

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.

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

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

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

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) .

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

Good job, thanks.

Great Job

Nice thank you for that, appreciate 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 ?

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.

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.

Thanks Nathan.

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

Appreciate the explanation, but, I can't figure out whats wrong with my on damand AWD still yet. My 05 Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. has this 4WD style system, the dash pod lights up with the 4wd indicator, but, the rear tires will spin, sometimes up to 25/30 mph before the front tires will engage, and when it happens it's violent. I was stuck yesterday, pushed the "4wd" button, in forward Lo, and gradually gave it gas, front tires didn't pull. So I increased throttle and they finally came in and pulled. Not sure what to do to correct this? Any input is appreciated sir. Thanks

So, how could one make this so I get the same power to the front as I do in the back?

So if 1 tires spins but the other one don't is that a broken magnetic plate is the 2 of them plates one for each side

2015 XP 900 Ranger. I have power to hot side of plug from switch and also have ground. Ground completes circuit when switched to 4x4. Insulation is pulled back from side of case exposing copper braid at side case penetration from weeds wrapping around axle. 4X4 won't engage. Please advise!

Thank You Sir!