[fab73]

Hi all,

Just bought a used 2005 trx350 FM, fourtrax ( rancher, i believe its called )

So i am having problems with it as the 4x4 doesn't seem to engage.

I got stuck 2 times the other day in the wood.

Once against a wood log, that it didn't want to climb as the front wheels weren't spinning only the back ones.

And once in a mud hole for the same reasons.

So i am asking you what can it be ?

what can i check ?

( i did check quickly the drive shaft between the engine and the front axle, when on neutral and turning that shaft by hand , ATV is moving back & forward as i'm turning it. )

I want to make sure to pin point the problem before changing any parts.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

FAB

P.S.: also read about "warn 424 lock out kit" , can i install it no matter whats the problem ?

 

[shadetree]

welcome to the forums odds are, your pinion shaft maybe stripped out in the front differential. fix the front drive before you worry about a switch out for the front.

 

[fab73]

welcome to the forums odds are, your pinion shaft maybe stripped out in the front differential. fix the front drive before you worry about a switch out for the front.

thanks for the input ,

quick question, how does the 4x4 work exactly ?

is it always permanently on ? both front wheels ?

Or is it working with some type of clutch ? like when forcing then it goes on

Also how can i check if the pinion is stripped like you said but without deassembling every thing ? like is there some test i can do ?

thanks again in advance

 

[shadetree]

welcome to the forums odds are, your pinion shaft maybe stripped out in the front differential. fix the front drive before you worry about a switch out for the front.

thanks for the input ,

quick question, how does the 4x4 work exactly ?

is it always permanently on ? both front wheels ?

Or is it working with some type of clutch ? like when forcing then it goes on

Also how can i check if the pinion is stripped like you said but without deassembling every thing ? like is there some test i can do ?

thanks again in advance

the 4x4 system on your model, as well as most Honda's ( not all of them ), work off the motor for a constant drive system. in other words, its full time 4x4 for your model. Honda does have models that operate from a switch to engage thee front differential, but yours is not one of them. other than a switch out ? ( warn does not sell these anymore ), a brand that bought them out is called '' wide open ''', they sell the same part that works like the warn 424, just a different name. but you need to focus on why your front differential is not working before you think about adding a switch out. no, there is no way of testing the front differential, other than it either works ?, or it does not ?. this means you have to take it apart, and see what the problem is, sorry..but no other way around this i'm afraid. now..there is one quick , simple test you can try !!, jack the atv up off the ground, all 4 wheels must be in the air !. turn the front wheels or rear wheels by hand, does the front wheels and rear wheels all turn at the same time ?, if not ?, then yep, your front differential needs to be looked at. if all 4 wheels do spin when this is done ?, then i have no idea ?!..because I know for a fact..that model has a constant 4wheel drive system at all times !. somewhere in the front drive shaft from the front of your motor to the front differential is your problem !.

 

[fab73]

welcome to the forums odds are, your pinion shaft maybe stripped out in the front differential. fix the front drive before you worry about a switch out for the front.

thanks for the input ,

quick question, how does the 4x4 work exactly ?

is it always permanently on ? both front wheels ?

Or is it working with some type of clutch ? like when forcing then it goes on

Also how can i check if the pinion is stripped like you said but without deassembling every thing ? like is there some test i can do ?

thanks again in advance

the 4x4 system on your model, as well as most Honda's ( not all of them ), work off the motor for a constant drive system. in other words, its full time 4x4 for your model. Honda does have models that operate from a switch to engage thee front differential, but yours is not one of them. other than a switch out ? ( warn does not sell these anymore ), a brand that bought them out is called '' wide open ''', they sell the same part that works like the warn 424, just a different name. but you need to focus on why your front differential is not working before you think about adding a switch out. no, there is no way of testing the front differential, other than it either works ?, or it does not ?. this means you have to take it apart, and see what the problem is, sorry..but no other way around this i'm afraid. now..there is one quick , simple test you can try !!, jack the atv up off the ground, all 4 wheels must be in the air !. turn the front wheels or rear wheels by hand, does the front wheels and rear wheels all turn at the same time ?, if not ?, then yep, your front differential needs to be looked at. if all 4 wheels do spin when this is done ?, then i have no idea ?!..because I know for a fact..that model has a constant 4wheel drive system at all times !. somewhere in the front drive shaft from the front of your motor to the front differential is your problem !.

Thank you very much,

it makes it very clear now for me.

i will do that quick test of putting the 4 wheels up in the air
but my little finger tells me that you'll be right about the pinion shaft

i'll post after checking it out

thanks again

 

[shadetree]

thanks for the input ,

quick question, how does the 4x4 work exactly ?

is it always permanently on ? both front wheels ?

Or is it working with some type of clutch ? like when forcing then it goes on

Also how can i check if the pinion is stripped like you said but without deassembling every thing ? like is there some test i can do ?

thanks again in advance

the 4x4 system on your model, as well as most Honda's ( not all of them ), work off the motor for a constant drive system. in other words, its full time 4x4 for your model. Honda does have models that operate from a switch to engage thee front differential, but yours is not one of them. other than a switch out ? ( warn does not sell these anymore ), a brand that bought them out is called '' wide open ''', they sell the same part that works like the warn 424, just a different name. but you need to focus on why your front differential is not working before you think about adding a switch out. no, there is no way of testing the front differential, other than it either works ?, or it does not ?. this means you have to take it apart, and see what the problem is, sorry..but no other way around this i'm afraid. now..there is one quick , simple test you can try !!, jack the atv up off the ground, all 4 wheels must be in the air !. turn the front wheels or rear wheels by hand, does the front wheels and rear wheels all turn at the same time ?, if not ?, then yep, your front differential needs to be looked at. if all 4 wheels do spin when this is done ?, then i have no idea ?!..because I know for a fact..that model has a constant 4wheel drive system at all times !. somewhere in the front drive shaft from the front of your motor to the front differential is your problem !.

Thank you very much,

it makes it very clear now for me.

i will do that quick test of putting the 4 wheels up in the air
but my little finger tells me that you'll be right about the pinion shaft

i'll post after checking it out

thanks again

your very welcome . please keep your post and us updated on what ya find ! .

 

[fab73]

Problem found

After running the quick test, and de-assembling the front end,
it is like "shadetree" said , a stripped shaft, BUT ,
it is towards the engine side

It is the shaft between the front differential and the engine of course , and basically the spline on it, engine side, is stripped. And also the propeller shaft joint is stripped.

So just ordered that assembly on line and should be re-assembling all that soon.

Cheers

FAB

 

[shadetree]

Problem found

After running the quick test, and de-assembling the front end,
it is like "shadetree" said , a stripped shaft, BUT ,
it is towards the engine side

It is the shaft between the front differential and the engine of course , and basically the spline on it, engine side, is stripped. And also the propeller shaft joint is stripped.

So just ordered that assembly on line and should be re-assembling all that soon.

Cheers

FAB

glad ya found it , thanks for the update !.

 

[RadRacer513]

If you really want a DSSO, now would be the time to install one it sounds like. I'm pretty sure it replaces the front drive shaft, so you could put that in, instead of a new OEM shaft.

 

[shadetree]

If you really want a DSSO, now would be the time to install one it sounds like. I'm pretty sure it replaces the front drive shaft, so you could put that in, instead of a new OEM shaft.

if I am understanding his problem ?, his final shaft ( inside motor ), that supplies power/drive to the front differential, the output splines to the front drive shaft is bad, this requires tearing the motor apart, and replacing the shaft inside that connects both the front and rear differentials, a disconnect won't do him any good until this shaft is replaced .

 

[Jeepwm69]

Wide open disconnect is $369. Warn 424 is no longer made but the Wide Open kit is the exact same design. Parts interchange and everything.

 

[RadRacer513]

If you really want a DSSO, now would be the time to install one it sounds like. I'm pretty sure it replaces the front drive shaft, so you could put that in, instead of a new OEM shaft.

if I am understanding his problem ?, his final shaft ( inside motor ), that supplies power/drive to the front differential, the output splines to the front drive shaft is bad, this requires tearing the motor apart, and replacing the shaft inside that connects both the front and rear differentials, a disconnect won't do him any good until this shaft is replaced .

Hmmm, that would make sense too. I don't know what the difference is between this model and my '03 350, but he said shaft between the engine and the front differential, which made me think it was the drive shaft the DSSO replaces.

 

[fab73]

If you really want a DSSO, now would be the time to install one it sounds like. I'm pretty sure it replaces the front drive shaft, so you could put that in, instead of a new OEM shaft.

if I am understanding his problem ?, his final shaft ( inside motor ), that supplies power/drive to the front differential, the output splines to the front drive shaft is bad, this requires tearing the motor apart, and replacing the shaft inside that connects both the front and rear differentials, a disconnect won't do him any good until this shaft is replaced .

Hmmm, that would make sense too. I don't know what the difference is between this model and my '03 350, but he said shaft between the engine and the front differential, which made me think it was the drive shaft the DSSO replaces.

No it is the shaft between the front differential and the engine,

What i meant is thats the spine on that shaft is stripped on that shaft near the engine.

The shaft it self coming out of the engine is good.


As to install a DSSO right away , i am aware that it would be the right time and thought of it.

But its a big price difference , and the way i understand it , it is made to remove the 4x4 at will.

So you can use the atv to drift a bit on strait line , or else.

I live in the mountains so i dont really need 2x4

thanks

 

[shadetree]

if I am understanding his problem ?, his final shaft ( inside motor ), that supplies power/drive to the front differential, the output splines to the front drive shaft is bad, this requires tearing the motor apart, and replacing the shaft inside that connects both the front and rear differentials, a disconnect won't do him any good until this shaft is replaced .

Hmmm, that would make sense too. I don't know what the difference is between this model and my '03 350, but he said shaft between the engine and the front differential, which made me think it was the drive shaft the DSSO replaces.

No it is the shaft between the front differential and the engine,

What i meant is thats the spine on that shaft is stripped on that shaft near the engine.

The shaft it self coming out of the engine is good.


As to install a DSSO right away , i am aware that it would be the right time and thought of it.

But its a big price difference , and the way i understand it , it is made to remove the 4x4 at will.

So you can use the atv to drift a bit on strait line , or else.

I live in the mountains so i dont really need 2x4

thanks

ok, got-cha. your front drive shaft is bad, I understand now .

 

[JaxQuad]

the 4x4 system on your model, as well as most Honda's ( not all of them ), work off the motor for a constant drive system. in other words, its full time 4x4 for your model. Honda does have models that operate from a switch to engage thee front differential, but yours is not one of them. other than a switch out ? ( warn does not sell these anymore ), a brand that bought them out is called '' wide open ''', they sell the same part that works like the warn 424, just a different name. but you need to focus on why your front differential is not working before you think about adding a switch out. no, there is no way of testing the front differential, other than it either works ?, or it does not ?. this means you have to take it apart, and see what the problem is, sorry..but no other way around this i'm afraid. now..there is one quick , simple test you can try !!, jack the atv up off the ground, all 4 wheels must be in the air !. turn the front wheels or rear wheels by hand, does the front wheels and rear wheels all turn at the same time ?, if not ?, then yep, your front differential needs to be looked at. if all 4 wheels do spin when this is done ?, then i have no idea ?!..because I know for a fact..that model has a constant 4wheel drive system at all times !. somewhere in the front drive shaft from the front of your motor to the front differential is your problem !.

Will this test still work if your 4x4 is switch activated?