[FrostD]

Hi All! I just purchased a used 2009 Ranger Crew 700 LE black cherry with 600 hours and 4500 miles for $6300. Due to COVID I can't hardly find a new 6-seater for less than 18k out the door so I found this on Craigslist. It starts, idles, runs great. New belt, a-frames, other nice to haves and solid maintenance record.

However, I do hear a clicking noise that sounds like it's coming from the front gear box. I've heard this type of noise in other side by sides where it was considered "normal" and plan to have a Polaris dealer do an inspection before I hit the trails with a family of 6 (4 kids less than 7 y/o) but before I believe everything the service department tells me I thought I should post here. I did see a post about a swishing noise here on the PRC forum but this noise is not a swish.

Any advice, hate/love, or jokes at my expense are welcome.

Bottom line: I want to hit the shanandoah valley once or twice a month with the family for some easy riding and not get stranded...

 

[Jungleman]

Welcome FrostD,
Clicking up front could be either a CV joint on it's way out or just a loose brake pad that needs a caliper adjustment. Outside chance it could be a hung up sprague cage in the front gear case but if it is not dragging in either forward or reverse, I would say that is not it. I would change ALL gear case fluids and check for quantity and quality . That will give you a baseline as "the new owner." Congrats on your NEW ride......

 

[pyromedic]

Might also be a U Joint.

 

[FrostD]

Wow guys! Thanks for the quick reply's! I had definitely planned to drain/fill all the fluids as an first step. Brakes have never been touched according the the previous owner, so i was going to pull the wheels and get a good look there too.

I hope it's not CVs up front, the boots look great, I don't get any noticeable vibrations when i accelerate in a straight line, and the clinking sound is always there instead of showing up when I turn.

The U joint also looks great and if I shift from reverse to high or low I don't hear anything that would make me worry.

I'll have some time to look at it over the weekend. Here's to hoping it's just a brake issue!

 

[Jungleman]

"and the clinking sound is always there "

Errrr Frosty, you said "click" before so is it a click ? or a clink ? Or is it possibly a cleeek ? Polaris maladies are sound specfic in a lot of case ........

 

[FrostD]

ah yes. throw in the spell checking auto correction too... it's a c-l-i-n-k-ing (at least the subject line is correct). It's continuous while in motion and while the cab/windshield might be playing tricks on me, I think it's coming from the front of the vehicle.

 

[Jungleman]

Does the 'clinking' change if you step on the brake ?

 

[FrostD]

The sound comes and goes while the quad is in motion.

 

[Jungleman]

Does the 'clinking' change if you step on the brake ? 2

A cracked heat shield on the exhaust can also make a 'clinking' sound..

Frost, you are going to have get all four wheels up on jack stands and run it in 2 & 4wd to know for sure where it ois coming from.

 

[FrostD]

Well that was stupid easy to find! There is a inspection access panel on the floor in the front. Took it off and there was the front drive shaft. Looks like something got stuck up against the drive shaft for a while and rubbed a section of it pretty good. The stress from that was probably added to the front end of the drive shaft and if I pulled on it there is a lot of play in the U-joint. So probably need to replace the full front drive shaft. Looked like about $300ish for the part with U-joint. Even if there is other problems, this looks like the place to start. Thanks for the comments! I tried to upload a .mp4 video of the noise but it said the format wasn't supported.

 

[Jungleman]

Frost, you can replace the u-joints in that front driveshaft for about 20 bucks ......NAPA 338's (2) of em.....

 

[FrostD]

You wouldn't do the whole drive shaft? It doesn't look bent but i

n the attached pic I circled where the metal is shiney and worn down.

 

[Jungleman]

Frost, I can't tell from here how deep that is but I am thinking just the u-joints deep.

 

[sand storm]

Hi All! I just purchased a used 2009 Ranger Crew 700 LE black cherry with 600 hours and 4500 miles for $6300. Due to COVID I can't hardly find a new 6-seater for less than 18k out the door so I found this on Craigslist. It starts, idles, runs great. New belt, a-frames, other nice to haves and solid maintenance record.

However, I do hear a clicking noise that sounds like it's coming from the front gear box. I've heard this type of noise in other side by sides where it was considered "normal" and plan to have a Polaris dealer do an inspection before I hit the trails with a family of 6 (4 kids less than 7 y/o) but before I believe everything the service department tells me I thought I should post here. I did see a post about a swishing noise here on the PRC forum but this noise is not a swish.

Any advice, hate/love, or jokes at my expense are welcome.

Bottom line: I want to hit the shanandoah valley once or twice a month with the family for some easy riding and not get stranded...

Put in AWD mode and drive it if the sound goes away or is less your good to go. The front diff will make funny sounds when going, clicking, light whine.etc. when in 2wd mode... hit the AWD mode and the internals lock up and then no noise. Do change your front fluid regularly. it only hold s a few ounces. I have a 16 model year and same scenario. I run it for long distances on the ranch and still going strong. Good luck!