ARCTIC CAT Front Differential Lock and Can-am Visco-Lok

ARCTIC CAT manually 100% Front Differential Lock versus Can-am automatically Visco-Lok and Visco-Lok QE.

[@WoodsUnknown]

It's OK everyone's feelings gets hurt everytime a Cat makes it look easy and another company struggles, I love it Arctic Cat for life

[@j.r.576]

In December 2019 I picked up a 2008 Arctic Cat 650 H1 that has under 1k miles and was stored in a heated garage. Looks like it's brand new underneath and runs like it too. Had it out once so far, has 27" tires, I had to pull one of two other guys out of mud that I walked right through, I used the winch to pull a 10" tree off the trail climbing over knarly stuff to get the angle. All three of us were impressed with the machine, it's a tank and was faster than the others too. Love it!

[@Evandiego16]

This is a great test. Wish all other major manufacturers were in here too for diff lock comparisons.

[@bballplaya123678]

i havnt even watched it yet but thank you already!

[@WhiskyPankcake]

That music could make someone go insane

[@ScottMcLinden]

Arctic Cat is a beast!

[@aaronkilgore3701]

Who builds motor and transmission for them

[@ZynexPlays]

@@aaronkilgore3701 Suzuki Motor, not sure who makes their CVT

[@ehTV1000]

great represtentation of 4x4 systems

[@erchachanfles]

Nice video im definitely obsessed with buying an arctic cat atv

[@hydro_rebel7741]

I had an 06 arctic cat 650 v twin loved it

[@arnielisa]

2013 Commander has visco-Loc QE. Works great... I had a yamaha rhino with full lock for years..... It worked great, but turning was terrible.... I tried the commander on the same trails last weekend... No problem. 4X4 worked great, and turning was much better with Visco-Loc QE and power steering....

[@motojakers]

I CAN'T GET THIS MUSIC OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

[@JoseMorales-ij4cp]

the music kills the hole video

[@ATVZavyalovo18]

Great video... Cool...

[@ostacruiser]

I ride with Cat's every ride, they never use their diff lock, too worried about snapping axles or blowing diffs. The visco lock QE is far superior, locks in when it's needed every time automatically and very quickly unlike the previous versions of viscos. The Rengade X-XC got it done on every obstacle in this vid, thank you for posting

[@Islandstonr]

Yo Osta.. How do they compare in 2018?? I've been contemplating joining the can-am team but the visco lock worries me... I ride a 500 4x4 cat, its great for trails and rock climbing, ive never come across a situation it can't handle. How would an outlander hold up in these conditions?

[@poke8181]

Great video

[@Lyapko2]

Front Differential Lock, very good.

[@Cleveland1337]

beautiful scenery

[@itsme78932]

I like the QE visco on my Renegade, much better than the old version visco which took too long to engage. I like QE more so than the locking diff on my Grizzly 700. No need to stop and lock, just keep chugging along and keep up momentum.

[@MrWaddaman]

#1. Visco-Lok QE #2.manual lever #3.Visco-Lok. They forget to mention some things with the manual, your alot more likely break things because its a full lock, and also it takes a bit to engage, its not just pull and go. you have to come to a complete stop, hold the lever down for a few seconds then move slowly to engage without damaging things. If you forget to engage it in mud and try to in the middle of it its usually to late. The Visco-Lok QE does it automatically just as well or better.

[@dieseljackbailey]

Driving like that you can make any machine look good

[@daver18qc]

I drive a Yamaha Grizzly, you can choose 3wd or full lock, and 3wd can be engaged while driving, don't need to stop, and i love it :D

[@redneckadventures7390]

I like how some people says the can a.m. ain’t trying but it really is.

[@behrlock]

The earlier Visco Loks were slower to engage. Notice the the 2010 Renegade didn't have any troubles either. Polaris's AWD is a locker as well, however it true shift on the fly / just leave it on. There are some advantages and disadvantages with them. All depends on how and where you ride as to what's best.

[@formerice]

The Dif lock on my Arctic Cat Diesel says not to run faster than 10 mph in the locked position, still it works really well. Was thinking of buying an Outlander as a companion to the AC, but probably will just buy a 700 Cat, or maybe a 1000.

[@formerice]

I use the AC DIF/LOCK when plowing deep snow with my 700 Diesel, works great, just wish it had power steering. I have 30" tires, in diff/lock, feels wrestling a bull by the horns.

[@dubaidutchoffroadclub4652]

what is your rim size Formerice 12 or 14 inch?

[@edwardabrahamiii3742]

Snow is harder to get through then rock just so you know

[@My17A]

I've had Outlander's with QE and now have a Grizzly. Both are very good rides, but for these situations you want all four wheels spinning the same. When that Visco Lok system suddenly grabs going up over a log or rockpile it can be dangerous.

[@jritch789]

Let me ask you this question, do you think the grizzly is this good In the mud as your can am? Just about every situation in mudding I have seen the Polaris or can am has always stomped anything with a diff lock. I'm kinda bummed because I bought a king quad thinking that my 4wd system would be just as good in the mud as the rest

[@My17A]

I don't do heavy mudding with my Grizzly and never did heavy mudding with any of my Outlanders. Lots of water crossings, moderate mud and rocks and logs like in the video. For the mud and water that I have gone through on both machines, they are probably about the same, but for the kind of stuff in this video, with the rocks, logs, etc, I prefer the full diff lok. In situations like this, I just don't like the jerky sudden engagement of the QE.

[@82f100swb]

I have had my Arctic Scrap stuck many many times, but, I have been in MANY situations where manually locking the diff saved my butt and I didn't spin a tire while the Canned Hams behind me ended up stuck due to the visco-lock. There are some situations and terrains where any break in traction is an instant stuck, and having to spin the tires to get the diff to lock is definitely not the perfect solution

[@forrest225]

@lamborghini478 The ground clearance really doesn't make a difference in this comparison. The can-am is slower because the front diff takes a long time to lock, and the artic cat's front diff was locked before he even got to the log.

[@howellrick]

I drive a 1988 Yamaha yfm 225 2wd and a 2012 Can-am 650 Outlander Max XTP, and I didn't see one scenario in this video that either of my quads couldn't do (Yes, even the log climb). Looked like a bunch of guys learning to drive. On the gas, off the gas...lol

[@matteoepis5043]

very good video

[@amtrobia]

Nice Video! More Diff Lock Videos!!

[@rjnixon1061]

I had a Can-Am with Visco-Lok, no issues but I prefer my Grizzly. And I'm no expert but I see a lot of comments on how bad the CA drivers are. It's my understanding the Visco-Lok works by building pressure and nothing to do with actual wheel spin. They can be operated without "rocketing". Build pressure slowly and they will engage until you let off the throttle

[@jothain]

No it actually needs some wheelspin for viscous stuff to engage.

[@airell47]

the guy on the can am didnt know how to drive it properly and the artic cats do lock up good but they also break when u catch something in a hole like a rock or grippy spot in the mud i ride with allot of articats and they seem to self destruct. the can ams are a bit more solid but it all really comes down to the rider. honestly i own a new can am and its epic but the best bike is still an old honda big red atc

[@mcham0846]

airell47 the visco lock causes tires to spin more when it feels one tire needs help..wasnt the rider. I know how to drive a can am..without a torq locker they get stuck just as easy. I have a arctic cat and it is still holding up good and I've been stuck bad

[@bballplaya123678]

which machine do you like better? say it was a thundercat 1000 vs outlander 800r xtp with the visco qe and power steering

[@GoproForDaysMate]

i have a 2014 arctic cat prowler hdx 700 and when in full diff lock nothing as been able to stop me i also have a 2014 can am outlander 500 with visco-lok qe and while i haven't takin it on some of the tracks that i have taking the prowler on but in saying that i have only had it for a month or so but i have takin it on some very soft sand and i have never been stuck over all they both have good 4x4 systems but I'm leaning towards the can am because you can go as fast as you want and not have to stop to put it in diff lock

[@lelavender]

With today’s tech, there are only really two things that change a machine’s performance.....tires and operators.

[@craigmoorer5927]

Just watch the video with the music on. Now I’m checking myself into the inpatient psychiatric ward…

[@shmodzilla]

How much did Linus charge to make the soundtrack? I've been waiting to see Snoopy dancing in the background the whole video.

[@Dale37]

🤣

[@lawntracterbobo]

nice vid i love that u show how shit works

[@TheBIFFNOR]

I think its all in the driver!!

[@Aint1S]

@beeqool your post had a contradiction... I own neither bike, but the rear diffs have always been locked up on 4x atvs. Not since the 80's, when they offered 3 wheelers with locking plates that had to be bolted to the carrier for a fully spooled rear diff... have they ever tried that one. The rear diffs are always spooled. This is about true locking front diffs and "so-called" locking front diffs. Don't worry about the rear. :-) Hope that helps ya out. (Do worry about axles and 32" tires though)

[@sethrikesmen]

when your going full throttle through the mud or anything you dont notice it although i think they should make a full locker

[@mjdubor]

I noticed the guy let's off the throttle to make it stay stuck am I the only one seeing this? maybe I'm wrong? I love both machines but biast video right?

[@beeqool]

why does it lock only front diff? wouldnt both be better?

[@smittyss4978]

Don't get me wrong Can-am makes some of the highest performing atvs in the world, but I have never been a fan of the visco-lock. It is too unpredictable, especially while climbing steep rocky hills at slow speeds. I might change my mind if someone would explain to me how spinning tires on the side of a steep hill to get your 4WD to engage is an advantage. Mud and trails=Awesome. Hill/Rock climbing= not so much.

[@DriftingDragon74]

Agreed Smitty. :-) Same thing with actual vehicles. True rock crawling uses 100% locked axles. Many auto lockers (ie G80 gov lock) in factory form and lsd's work but at the expense of initial wheel spin which on a steep rocky hill is bad. Open diffs can handle most of your trailing and then just lock up if you need to. If they are too damn lazy to push a button or pull a lever to lock up then they deserve the workout they'll get when trying to get out of the predicament their lsd got them into. LoL

[@tomwil77]

+Smitty SS I agree, although even in mud, one front wheel spinning doesn't do as much good as being locked beforehand.

[@xmonster741]

+Smitty SS. I couldn't agree more, im always saying this...nothing beats diff lock for climbing hills. My 700 Grizzly is proof of that

[@mcham0846]

Can am wasnt worried about diff lock in my opinion. They thought their power alone could get them through mud...but that again I'm thinking they purposely built them a certain way. Helping out the aftermarket dealers

[@jothain]

I have 2010 Outlander and there's one good side about Visco-Lok. It's pretty damn solid on icy very slippery roads when driving 4wd mode. But donwside is as shown in vid, that it indeed needs to be "floored" in some occasions to get lock enganing properly. When in tight spots I'd definitely would prefer hard locks. Would be cool if there was Visco-Lok and hard lock options. Actually I haven't been to ATV's for years, maybe there are options like that these days. 2010 is quite dated model.

[@Walker_328]

I realize this is old...Arctic Cat at one time stunk bad, but not so much since 07 and up. Can ams are very nice and put together well also. Bottom line is it comes down to the ability of the driver. Good ground clearance and al 4 tires digging can only be so good..

[@tomwil77]

+Bryan Miller RIder ability is important. But if the locker doesn't lock reliably and exactly when needed or wanted, it does no good. I'd rather lock the locker BEFORE it gets to where it spins, than to have to lose traction on 3 wheels before it locks.

[@shmodzilla]

@terminatorsinaloa No crap!! The whole time i was waiting to see Snoopy dancing on top of the 4 wheelers

[@killerbung]

Helps if you hold down the throttle and not let off everytime you start moving

[@thepickleton1741]

killerbung I mean he will just dig himself in and ur just butthurt

[@mcham0846]

He was applying the same pressure for both

[@gregparrott]

I own 800cc+ ATVs from Polaris and Can Am and a 650cc Arctic Cat. Arctic Cat is my least favorite, but for super low traction conditions, nothing beats Arctic Cat's locker. The Can Am Visco lock does allow wheel spin and power is lost to all wheels when this happens. I find fault with Arctic Cat for having the roughest ride, the harshest steering response to ruts and bumps, and by far, the worst customer service. Their customer service (both dealer and factory) makes it extremely unlikely I'll ever buy another Arctic Cat.

[@brtjones25]

Polaris and Can Am have the same 4 wheel system (AWD). And Can Am has made the Visco Lock better by making it engages quicker (QE) on 2013 and newer. Its funny that the video's like this are with 2012 and older can am's.

[@SlurpRooster]

+Brian Jones Polaris has a AWD systems. Canam is a 2wd/4wd system with an auto locking front diff. Video was made in March 2011, I wouldn't expect a 2012 or newer model in the video.

[@yo6488]

In my Polaris ranger diesel it's all wheel drive auto so I don't have to worry about about locking any diffs or anything

[@mageac]

i had a sportsman 700, it was the most unreliable pos i have ever owned, i now went back to the foreman, hopefully the new ones are as good as the old ones

[@slayerarrow]

I have a 2012 can am 1000 XT I would be on the throttle ripping the heck out of those wimpy piles of dirt. Slow crawl may make a difference. Give it some horse power and the visi lock tears it up

[@kingrider75]

If your running fast on fire roads it's the can-am. Slow technical off camber, v-notched trails...I'll take a manual locking diff quad.

[@drvnucrzy]

Why not compare same year models as well?

[@mrmim0x173]

The can am viscolock look dangerous on rock lol

[@brandondiehr9636]

new tires on the artic cat and almost no tred on the canam

[@hussaaddd]

can someone tell me whats the difference between it being locked and unlocked? plz i need to know

[@cdawg4391]

I think the idea behind the visco lok is a good one - you don't have ot htink about the locker. Supposed you are on a non visco lok atv with a diff lok and you come up on a mud hole and don't lock up - and get stuck? You're screwed. Only thing I wonder about is this - as the Can am gets miles on it, does the viscous fluid lose its ability to actuate the coupler in the diff and how expensive is it to replace the fluid?

[@domme8332]

very nice song, how does it called?

[@Gordomata95]

Don't hate on polaris they are awesome and at the fraction of the cost

[@OGBB33]

That background piano music sounds like the Charlie Brown theme song. Lol, cool video but try different music next time. ;)

[@cbk982]

I dont have any of these ATV's and im a fan of neither, but I must say id rather have the cats manual lock. But with almost any other thing with ATV's, its an opinion thing. and anyways it would be fun at times to have an auto locker

[@grossepatatechaude]

Thanks this is exactly what I was looking for. I'm still buying Can Am though. How are those tires on your Arctic Cat?

[@xXihetsXx]

LOL. just b/c it has a good diff. lock doesn't mean it's not going to get stuck.. the chances are lesser with a locker, but always a possibility of getting stuck. i have a honda so i know how bad it is without a locker, but i've been in situations where even a locker wouldn't help..

[@plummcrazy58]

Anybody bitching about Can Ams visco loc doesn't now how to use it or understand how it works! Just like the guy in this video. Gotta maintain throttle to keep it engaged! That simple.......

[@tcv4]

polaris has almost no delay.

[@stormorange]

E ganz schöne Verglich........

[@jritch789]

I really don't know what to think. I thought when I bought my king quad that having a diff lock would be just as good in the mud as the visco lok or the Popo AWD system and I'm the first one to admit mine always has difficulty going through stuff the can am and Polaris go through. Literally if my king had same set up with tires and lift as the can am or Popo money bet I would get stuck before they would. Looking through hours of videos comparing the two showed me that it's not always the driver. Any thoughts on to why the suzuki, Yamaha or any other diff lock as to why they aren't as good in the mud?

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

I can't get past the terrible music. ..

[@edl246]

MrBAchompBAchomp Mostly all youtube videos have bad music, and its not needed

[@tomg6284]

Now that is how to burn your cvt belt.

[@xmonster741]

People can disagree with facts all they like but it don't change the fact that the Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Cat's true 4 by 4 system "Front diff Lock" is way better then the Can- Am Visco -Lok....Especially rock climbing. There's no argument about facts.

[@EastCoastATV]

+Jason Brook It depends on the situation you're in. If you're moving slow through very technical trails with rocks, logs etc. then front diff lock like Arctic Cat, Yamaha is better. If you're driving quickly down a trail and hit a mud hole or a steep hill covered in gravel the Visco Lok or even True AWD from Polaris is what you want. Those machines will give you front diff lock automatically and you're not limited to slow speeds like Arctic Cat, Yamaha etc. and you don't have to stop to engage them. Polaris' AWD system is pretty damn good in most situations except ice and snow in certain situations.

[@marcf420]

I'm a Cat fan and ill give you the fact on rock climbing, but on every other occasion Can Am outdo Cat all the time Especially on engine life. Sorry but Cat really needs to do their homework on ATV/UTV's...

[@justinlynch3]

If you want engine life, you want Honda. Honda isn't the fastest bikes, isn't the most powerful bikes, isn't the smoothest riding bike, nor do they have the best 4X4 system (last I checked which was long ago). But that said, you can't fucking kill a Honda. lol Those things are put together like tanks. You buy one it'll probably still be good 30 years later. Heck, still a decent few old Big Red's from the 80's running around, goes to show right there the longevity of Honda.

[@EastCoastATV]

No doubt that Honda is a well made machine. The problem with them is that they aren't any fun to drive. The Rincon's handling is awful, down right dangerous sometimes. No thanks.

[@xmonster741]

Big difference in how a big red is made compared to how their modern big bore 4by4's are made. we wont know if a Rubicon will last 30 years yet.. But either way honda is the last quad i would buy. Don' t like the cat or Polaris either.

[@DucLuke]

lol awesome video man! this is true guys. This is for technical shit..... when your mudding you don't notice the slight delay because you are just hammering the gas! So this is a nice demonstration.... Don't hate on the guy! If your gonna hate anything hate that music! lol my ears wont stop ringing!!!

[@sheddski]

the music is benny hill style but the 4wheelers are awsome car looks sharp but i can,t decide i,m new to atv just learning the different models ??

[@daniellivingstone4328]

hay guys i have a 1k cc arctic cat and my brother owns a can-am 1k cc we do everything together when we are on trayles he is always faster then me but when it comes to mud running and hill claiming rock claiming and water boging i am always and i say always faster then him in my opinion and his the diff lock on the cat is way better then the visco-lock and day (my opinion)

[@tomwil77]

+daniel Livingstone I fully agree. I'd rather have a slower machine, with a locker that I can depend on.

[@daniellivingstone4328]

100%

[@ryanr1945]

daniel Livingstone it's one drawback of the vosco-lok is the rpm engage and the right side drive

[@chevyman6033]

if you dont get stuck on the atv you drive, you must be going through ankel deep puddles while watching the real mudders go through chest deep mud pits.

[@edwardabrahamiii3742]

I do like my arctic cat alterra 400 tho i think cat has a new die hard for there atvs tho

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

kawi arctic or yhamaa or honda suzi

[@HotShot1000100]

Well,artic cat has the most specialty training with mudding

[@Oliver9008]

I have a 2010 700 Grizzly with full diff lock and and 2013 outty xt and for what i ride i dont even notice the QE where as on the grizz i would have to stop and push a button. on the outty i dont even have time to think about it, it just "locks" and im out. Over all i say there is nothing wrong with the new QE LOCK at all. just my 2c

[@alexanderluba246]

If the course and driver was the same it would be fair

[@christinaullmann9408]

Polar artic cat and Yamaha have the best diff lock

[@jagurzimmerman9148]

They let of the gas every time the can ams lock and the Arctic cat can barely get up the hill and they show harder hills for the can ams

[@WayneLabrecque]

Jagur Zimmerman I agree...learning to drive the can am will help..when the licker kicks in keep it slow and steady and it will stay locked until it's not needed any longer, instead of feathering the throttle intentionally opening the diff back up. Also, you don't have to stop and lock up the diff in the middle of a climb. Good video guys, but try not to be so biased when comparing

[@tomwil77]

+Jagur Zimmerman It's because when it finally locks, the other wheels are spinning pretty good. So the engine is revved enough to cause it to rocket the machine forward too fast when it locks. The QE version is better, because it locks sooner, and with less wheel RPM difference needed. But it's still not as good as a selectable locker. That's why being able to manually lock the front differential BEFORE the machine loses traction and spins is better. It makes the machine easier to finesse.

[@thepickleton1741]

Jagur Zimmerman No your Just But hurt

[@mcham0846]

Can an visco lock is only 3 wheel drive..the same amount of gas is applied in these tests

[@GreenVVolF]

almost gave it a thumbs down for the crap music that I had to mute. But I love the Cat so I gave it a thumbs up.

[@VetteRacin]

now compare it to the awd system in the polaris xp's

[@Brian1996akatree]

yea but the locker fails alot

[@brandondiehr9636]

they show the artic cat half way up the hill because they had to take a running shart

[@looseballs1966]

I have been into off roading for alot of years now, and all I can say is, I tend not to want an off-road vehicle of any kind, that decides things like when to use lockers or 4 wheel drive for that matter, ( as the case with auto's with that senseatrack crap ), after all, the serious jeepin, of road competing guy's, spend major bucks to have full selectable lockers at both ends, and to even chose which end or both that get powerd, for that matter, the right to chose dammit lol.

[@bootgoddess7365]

buddy is just turning with his diff locked...what a tool

[@jetebug]

Can are best

[@terminatorsinaloa]

@Bob67755 compare it with the 2012 that ill do the trick

[@Kebbstar]

Anyone claming that some 4wd-system is superior to 100% mechanical-lock, is just plain stupid !

[@lifeguard184]

Paid for by Artic Cat

[@MrFrieghttrain]

Ain't nothin on a grizzly

[@RobDevero]

Try it with the same brand of tires next time. Big Horns are better then the Carlisle`s

[@poorfatman5317]

Arctic cat 1

[@elknrut]

the look on the can am drivers face says it all..........help

[@ruffypoo]

Really now. Its good but not near as good as a full locker.... I have both a 1012 800XMR and a Thundercat. A full locker is the best any 4x4 person will tell you the same for off road.

[@Velislide]

I'll stick with my automatic ViscoLok, which works for 99% of Can-Am owners.