The problem with turf mode is the small planetary gears. No matter which mode you ride it it will break, eventually. Are you on stock tires? If you have stock tires it might last a little longer but it’s a high probability it’ll still go out. Best bet is to remove it while you can to save your trans case.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The problem with turf mode is the small planetary gears. No matter which mode you ride it it will break, eventually. Are you on stock tires? If you have stock tires it might last a little longer but it’s a high probability it’ll still go out. Best bet is to remove it while you can to save your trans case.

(right foot) Still on stock belt.

 

I always run in turf mode, I only switch to 2 wheel or 4 wheel when I need the extra traction. When we vacationed in Colorado we used turf mode about 75% of the time. At home its easier on the grass and steering is much easier too.

 

I use turf mode a lot. I like it so much I added the SVI traction control system that allows 4WD with turf mode. This is really nice as I can be heavily loaded and make sharp turns without binding the rear up and still have the front pulling if needed.

To be fair I don’t do mudding and when running max traction I try to be very smooth.

My plan is to keep an eye on Greg’s new style differential thread to see how that works out. If it does than I want to upgrade to the new spider style and do a gear reduction.

 

The main stress on the little gears used for Turf Mode is when the rear axle is locked. Under that condition the gears are not rotating but those little teeth are transmitting the power to the rear wheels without rotating. This would be fine if the rear tires were exactly the same diameter and you never made any turns, however seldom are tires, even of the same manufacturer and marked size, exactly the same diameter, the roads we travel have bumps and dips which add travel distance to one wheel or another and of course we all must turn at some point

Turning differing tire diameters puts a lot of stress on those little gears as they try to keep both rear axles turning at the same speed because the larger tire diameter is trying to cover more ground than the smaller tire diameter. Something has to give and either one tire or the other, or both slip on the road surface minutely to remove the stress. The stress increases when you add high traction surfaces such as paved roads or hard pack that does not allow slippage of the tires where they meet the road. The condition worsens when larger tires with greater traction prevent slippage as the wheels try to move at different speeds.

When in Turf Mode, you are actually driving with an open differential which freely allows differences in wheel speed. Under these conditions the little gears simply rotate back and forth when you are going straight but the road isn't perfect or rotate in one direction or the other as you make turns. When in Turf Mode teh stress on those little gears is greatly reduced as opposed to a locked rear axle in either RWD or AWD.

99% of my travel is on paved roads and 99.9% is in Turf Mode. Like thestir (Scott) above, I recently installed the SVI Traction Control system which allows me to keep the open differential and still allow the front differential to engage when needed, and of course AWD is still available if I need to use it.

 

Waiting for my turf mode to explode. Red knuckles and all.

 

I ride in tuff mode 99% of the time too. I think folks deleting the tuff mode or worried about it breaking are abusing their rig or over worrying. Like the reverse gear , reverse chain breaking. I go easy in reverse knowing its a literal weak link.

 

Gotta disagree with Michael on this one. The majority, BY FAR, of Ranger Owners do not have any problems with turf mode as long as you stay at, or close, to the original design specs. Toss in huge tires, high lifts, or deep mud, the equation changes rapidly! For the riding you described (and proper and timely maintenance), I doubt you'll have any issues with your turf mode. We have many members that use turf mode nearly exclusively (me included) and have logged thousands of miles with no turf mode issues. Remember, your daily driver has "turf mode" also! Save your grass, use turf mode!

 

How dare you have a different opinion than me. Lol jk of course. The turf mode is surely a weak link and I’m really hoping the new diff in the 19s is stronger. I tend to forget people drive differently than me. Any one mudding or running bigger than stock tires should definitely look into changing those gears out for a spool. The turf discussion is a sore subject for me. Luckily Polaris covered mine and I want to say out of all the repairs I’ve made I honestly think that one wasn’t my fault. The other 30 repairs were for sure my fault lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

From what I am reading here, it might be better to use turf mode most of the time on hard packed surfaces and don't do lots of turning when in rear locked mode? I normally only use lock mode when I'm on dirt/muddy roads. Turf mode on the hard packed gravel and paved roads.

 

The real problem is that the little gears in the planetary system aren't strong enough to take anything thrown at them. They can break even in mud if conditions are right, i.e. large tires that won't slip or have so much traction even in mud that they apply more force to the turf gears than they are designed for. This is why Polaris has redesigned the carrier to make it more like an automotive differential. The new design appears to be stronger, we'll see over time. (See Toxic 21's posts about this if you unfamiliar with the subject)

Meanwhile, if you have stock sized tires, stock axles, use Turf Mode on soft/loose surfaces when maximum traction isn't really needed, keep lifts to a minimum and keep the alcohol out of your throttle foot the turf gears should last a long time. Polaris sells the Highlifter for people who want to do any or all of the above.

Opinions vary, but at some point the term "abuse" comes into the picture. Almost anything can be used beyond it's design limits. Some people take a 1/2" breaker bar or ratchet and add a 3 foot pipe to it for leverage and when it breaks blame the breaker bar or ratchet when it was clearly used beyond it's design intent and abused. Firemen, with a reputation for being hard on and breaking things, but also generous and thoughtful of others, brought a bowling ball into the Station thinking someone there might like to take up bowling and could use a ball. The bowling ball sat around the station for a few shifts with no takers then one day was found sitting in the day room broken in half. It seems that one of the firefighters decided to see what would happen if he dropped it to the parking lot from the top of a 50 foot ladder on an apparatus. Was it a poorly designed bowling ball, defective or abused?

 

2WD here. Rarely need it. Watch where you are going son and be respectful of the po's

 

I ride in turf mode most of the time. I switch to 2wd or 4wd when I think I need it, then right back to turf. 9000+ miles without a problem. Tires last longer in turf mode, too. Other than a Duraclutch and 27" DOT tires, I'm stock. Love turf mode.

 

Yowza guys... Thanks for the detailed replies. I feel better now.

One related question after the discussion.... if I go with a Marshal Motoart 2.5 lift and use the exact same OEM tire size. Is this too radical for Turf Mode?

Thanks again.

 

Nope. And since Tesh isn't here to say it, I will: "Turf Mode" is just a name Polaris put on a regular old open differential. (Sometimes calling something typical by a different term is known as a sales pitch). I'm turning true 29" when I'm not tracked, MMA lift, tuned, and I run in open differential 99% of the time. No issues.

 

I throw my 2 cents in. And it only be worth a penny. Don't worry about it unless you beat on your machine. I've run the mma lift on my last 3 machines​ without any ill effects. I only switch out of turf mode if I KNOW I'd get stuck without switching to a different mode. Ive run tunes on the last 2 machines...pull dead stop hole shots... drift long swooping corners... Have even went from gravel to pavement and rolled a little smoke from the back tires all in turf mode. Am I lucky? Maybe a little. What I won't do is cross a ditch at a diagonal where a tire can lose traction and then suddenly catch again. Or similar situation. That sudden shock to the gears is what's going to cause problems. And I'm talking under load not putt putting around the yard or neighborhood. Have people grenaded the turf gears out the back side of there transmissions? Yes! But Id be surprised if you could find 30 people on this site who have blown there trans. And half of them would tell you it was there own fault. I guess what I'm saying is don't worry too much... you'll miss out on all the fun.

 

I like reading that stuff you write! :fat:

 

I will say this, the same planetary gears were designed for a 46 hp unit and there still using the same gear on an 82 hp unit,
not to mention adding a tune.
IMO, way past there design parameters.

The Planetary Gears are a sintered gear, they are pressed powdered metal.
I have a box full of busted gears.

Polaris had few problems with these gears when introduced, but as HP increased through the years, so did the problems.

 

Does this effect all turf mode equipped rangers or specific models?

 

After 5k miles I had wear on my gears. Replaced them. All stock and don’t ride extreme. Seems I can’t upload pic from my ipad

 

got the pics.... View attachment 123541 View attachment 123543

 

I am running a tracked and tuned 18 Northstar with 1,500 lbs in the bed AND pulling 4,500 lbs at 6,000 rpms in mud in turf mode. No issues so far after 130 hrs of consistent abuse. Pretty amazed so far at the performance. I do try to roll on and off the throttle pretty carefully though.

 

I am not gentle witn my 2015 Ranger 900 XP but I don't necessarily abuse it either. I stay in turf mode 98% of the time. I shift into and out of 2 and 4 wheel drive when the terrain requires it. Sand 2 wheel drive loose rock on hills 4 wheel mode. Additionally, I use shift on the fly occasionally. No problems so far. Hope it stay that way.

 

I just finished 8 days up in the Flagstaff, Arizona area driving on level ground that had millions of rocks from peble size to wheel size and I had to use 4 wheel drive most of the time. Many times I had to shift into low to get over or around the rock obsticles. Turf mode was used sparingly.

 

Just went from a 16 2 seater to a 19 crew yesterday and during the final walk through the employee basically told me to always drive in turf mode unless more traction is needed. I drove my 16 in 2 wheel 90 percent of the time on stalk wheels and didnt have issues. I will probably drive the 19 on turf as suggested.

 

Yes, just like your regular car.