polaris atv axle removal

Professor · #1 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 11:29 AM

I have an 2007 Sportsman 500 4x4 EFI. I have some clicking in my right rear cv joints. Not sure which one is bad but I was going to take the axle off and inspect both joints...and just buy a new one from CV restore. I followed the repair manual and watched the videos which say to "Pull outward sharply to remove from the transmission". When I pull out the outer cv housing stays in the transmission and the cv joint pulls out of the housing...what a mess! Does anyone know how to get the housing out of the transmission? I know it's a compression ring that holds it in but it's not coming out. Thanks.

jac42779 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 04:05 PM

I had the same problem with my rear axles not coming out. They really get seized up over time. If you can get one side to come out, you can then drive the other side out with a big hammer and a punch.

I had one that I knew I was going to replace so after pulling on it so hard it came apart like yours did. The way that I ended up getting it off was by drilling a hole in the hub that was stuck in the gearbox and tapping with a 1/2 inch tap. I then screwed some 1/2 inch all-thread (purchased from lowes) into the tapped hole and used a slide hammer to remove the stuck hub.

In about 3 slides of the hammer it broke free.

If and when you do get the axles out, be sure and put antizeeze on the splines of the new/old axles before installing and hopefully they will be alot easier next time to remove.

jac42779 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 04:11 PM

Meant to tell you that I bought a Rhino brand axle that gets more votes from riders from what I have read on forums. They are around $200 each but may be worth it. I just installed mine last week, so no hours to tell how it's gonna hold up.

Russ C · #4 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 04:23 PM

spray around where it goes in with penetrating oil real well then they pull out, I sometimes have to use a slide hammer, I have a small chain that goes around axle housing by diff, get it tight and a few wacks with the slide hammer usually does it, they can be a bitch

POLARIS13 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 04:52 PM

i have taken off prolly 80-90 axles and i have either had them geased and they pull right out or i use a crow bar basically....its meant for tires. but it looks like a rod with a bent 2 inch section or so at the end...just get that inbetween the shaft and diff and usualy a couple times and the compression ring gives.