Broken Drive shaft???

N

NorthMoose

New Member
Messages
8
Age
53
Location
Yellowknife
Country
Canada
Years Snowmobiling
20
Snowmobile
2016 Polaris Switchback 800 Pro-S
I have a 2016 Switchback 800 pro-s and on the last ride of the season I thought I snapped the drive chain as the machine stopped moving but both clutches and the brake caliper were spinning. I finally pulled the chain case cover last night and the chain and both sprockets are fine.

i started it up and gave some gas, when the clutches engage both sprockets are spinning but the track doesn't move, when i looked underneath everything looks fine and when i hit the gas you can see the track just barely starts to move and then stops even as the RPM's increase.

Anyone have any thoughts before I continue pulling it further apart?
 
NorthMoose said:
I have a 2016 Switchback 800 pro-s and on the last ride of the season I thought I snapped the drive chain as the machine stopped moving but both clutches and the brake caliper were spinning. I finally pulled the chain case cover last night and the chain and both sprockets are fine.

i started it up and gave some gas, when the clutches engage both sprockets are spinning but the track doesn't move, when i looked underneath everything looks fine and when i hit the gas you can see the track just barely starts to move and then stops even as the RPM's increase.

Anyone have any thoughts before I continue pulling it further apart?
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Sounds like the lower drive shaft is sheared.
 
So the cap that is welded into the housing on the gear side of the driveshaft had broken the welds and was spinning in the housing! drive 1.jpg drive 2.jpg drive 3.jpg
 
MrSled said:
Holy crap!! Thats crazy!! must have been some pretty shotty welds.
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I sent the pictures to Polaris to see if I can get some kind of replacement due to factory defect but I am not really expecting anything
 
NorthMoose said:
I sent the pictures to Polaris to see if I can get some kind of replacement due to factory defect but I am not really expecting anything
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I would think they would help. If you have a good dealer, they may help as well.
 
MrSled said:
I would think they would help. If you have a good dealer, they may help as well.
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unfortunately the dealership here closed it’s doors three months after I bought this sled, the next closest one is 500 miles away.

so far I haven’t gotten a lot of help from Polaris but hoping for something!
 
NorthMoose said:
unfortunately the dealership here closed it’s doors three months after I bought this sled, the next closest one is 500 miles away.

so far I haven’t gotten a lot of help from Polaris but hoping for something!
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Keep us posted and what happens.
 
Polaris thanked me for the photos and said they would forward to their engineering department and that the warranty on the snowmobile was over and that the part would not be covered
 
NorthMoose said:
Polaris thanked me for the photos and said they would forward to their engineering department and that the warranty on the snowmobile was over and that the part would not be covered
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Well that blows!!
 
First one I have heard of failing like that. My dealer would have found a way to get it replaced.
 
Chiefcheese said:
First one I have heard of failing like that. My dealer would have found a way to get it replaced.
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The dealer where I lived closed down three months after I bought the sled and the next closest dealer is 500 miles away so I didn't have an option of going to a dealer, just with Polaris
 
Just found this site. I have a 2013 800 Pro RMK that we have broken the shaft 3 times. Once it failed in the similar manner that your pictures show, and 2 times where the aluminum casting shaft spins inside the idler bearing and wears the shaft down like a pencil in a matter of 100 miles. I don't have pictures at this time. I will try to take some as we work to repair/replace the shaft for the 4th time.
 
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