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Say Goodbye to Your Weak Tranny and Hello to the Industry’s First Aftermarket Complete Transmission

By Kavan Wright | Behind The Wheel on May 19, 2020
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Your OEM Polaris Transmission Has Problems

Your stock Polaris transmission is OK. It at least knows how to work hard and lets you go forward or backwards. It’s also a transaxle that lets your rear axles rotate at different speeds.

The best part about the stock Polaris transmission is that there are only three major issues that cause it to blow up if you don’t treat it right.

We’re going to take a closer look at those issues so you can understand why your transmission keeps breaking all the dang time.

1. Pinion and Snorkel Gear Issues

The pinion and snorkel gear on your stock tranny can cause major issues for reasons you may not expect. Basically, the housing around those gears allows the gear meshing to go bad under certain circumstances.

These gears are called spiral bevel gears which basically means that they’re in the shape of a cone with the top cut off, and the gear teeth spiral around it. This shape makes the meshing incredibly strong… if you’re moving forward. The spiral pattern is unbreakable moving in one direction, and extra fragile in the other direction.

What happens is that when you go into reverse, the spiral shape pushes the gears apart. If the housing and retaining ring have a little give, then the meshing gets bad, the teeth start contacting at just the edges, and then they break. When it breaks, it wrecks your housing and you’re looking at a huge bill.

The stock transmission case exacerbates this issue. The housing around the pinion and snorkel gears is too thin and it doesn’t dissipate heat quick enough. That extra heat allows the thin housing to give, and even a fraction of a millimeter of moment can result in failure.

It’s no good, and it’s a big weak spot on your stock transmission.

2. A Reverse Chain Strong Enough for Power Wheels

Why Polaris decided to put such a small reverse chain on all of their high-powered side-by-sides is one of the greatest mysteries of our time. The reverse chain is so small that you can’t throw your machine into reverse all willy nilly.

You’ve got to baby that reverse chain, only use it on flat ground, and use the lightest foot you can muster whenever you do need to go backwards.

Transmission Gear Shaft
The OEM reverse chain is too small to handle all the weight and power of a side-by-side. As a result, it’s easy to end up with a chain that looks like this when you’re trying to back up your RZR.
Photo by SuperATV

So, let’s say you go against your better judgment and do decide to go in reverse. What happens? When that chain breaks, it throws a big chunk of metal into your transmission which can gum up gears and cause even more damage. You can’t go in reverse, and you just ruined your transmission. Good work.

3. Turf Mode or Turd Mode?

Turf mode is a neat idea. It lets you run your side-by-side in one-wheel-drive. With just a single rear axle turning, you won’t rut up your yard. Great for golf course landscaping, not so great for anything else.

The turf mode gear set is weak. Even when you’re not using turf mode, those gears are a liability. If you push your UTV too hard, you can chip a tooth and then you won’t be doing any driving at all.

SuperATV’s Complete Polaris Transmission Enters The Ring

Want a transmission that has been designed and built piece-by-piece to ensure that each and every part is as strong as possible? That’s where the SuperATV Complete Transmission for Polaris side-by-sides comes in. We’ve been designing and manufacturing individual upgraded and high-quality transmission parts for years. Now we’ve put them all together into a complete transmission that’s better than anything else you can get.

Here’s why.

Upgraded Pinion and Snorkel Gear

The pinion and snorkel gear use upgraded 9310 alloy steel. This is the real deal for gear steel. It’s the same stuff used in NASCAR and gives these key gears unparalleled strength.

Sprial Bevel
Our upgraded pinion and snorkel gears take advantage of better materials, tighter tolerances, and a stronger case to ensure great meshing no matter how hard you push them. Altogether, it’s 2.5 times stronger than stock.
Photo by SuperATV

The design also makes reverse meshing stronger. With perfectly mated gears, a reinforced retaining ring, and a case that’s thicker and stronger, there’s no give and you get a much stronger gear pair.

Upgraded Reverse Chain

We also put our heavy-duty reverse chain into our complete transmission. Our single chain solution is twice as thick and 2 times stronger than stock. It’s built to run in reverse anywhere you need to. You can go backwards in mud, on hills, in sand, and over bumps all without breaking. It’s like it’s actually built to work off-road! Go figure!

Turf Mode Delete

If you love your turf mode, you can keep it, but we also have a transmission option that removes that compromised turf mode gear set. That way, you get increased durability and strength for your transmission and just lose your one-wheel drive.

A Better Housing

Our transmission housing is built with rigidity and heat dissipation in mind. We put 68% more material around the pinion tube and the axle output areas. There are also stiffening ribs in those areas that increase strength even further and assist in cooling. A cooler case is a more rigid case, and a more rigid case keeps every gear running smoothly and meshing well.

Choose Your Own Gear Reduction

How’s this for a bonus feature? You can choose your own gear reduction to boost your torque. Choose a 12% or 25% gear reduction to get one of the most popular transmission accessories right out of the box. If you’re starting your big build, that extra torque is practically a requirement.

Upgrade or Replace

This beefed up transmission is a perfect upgrade or replacement. Upgrade your stock transmission to ensure years of smooth operation and hard riding. Upgrading now avoids unexpected breakdowns and unwanted downtime. But if you’ve already pushed your stock transmission too far and now your looking for a replacement, look no further. Whatever you did to blow your transmission in the first place is easily avoided with our stronger components.

Inside view of Transmission gears and chain
Put this transmission in that RZR and your machine will have strength to get pushed harder and ride farther. With a stronger housing, reverse chain, and gear set, you can ride with confidence knowing that the heart of your side-by-side has been majorly upgraded.
Photo by SuperATV

The best part? This isn’t some ultra-luxury purchase reserved for the guys that have a $50,000 side-by-side budget. Our transmission costs just $3,099—a bargain for all the strength we’ve packed in. Considering the package you get, there’s no better value.

So forget about the shortcomings of your OEM transmission—upgrade to the only aftermarket complete transmission you can get, and ride with confidence.

RELATED CONTENT: new products26 transmissions10
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32 Comments

  1. Avatar for John Lindsey John Lindsey says:
    May 19, 2020 at 10:29 am

    Will these fit 2013 900 xp ranger

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Hey John, Unfortunately we only have these available for RZR 1000 models right now. Thank you for the support!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Kevin Kevin says:
        May 20, 2020 at 5:13 pm

        Would be nice for the 900s. While your building, why not put a reverse gear instead of a chain?!?

        Reply
        • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
          May 21, 2020 at 10:59 am

          Hey Kevin, thanks for reading! To answer your question, we have had great success with our super single chain. Due to fitment issues, we chose to stick with it. We also had parts like our case already developed for OE replacement. We appreciate the support and thank you for your interest!

          Reply
  2. Avatar for Mark Mark says:
    May 19, 2020 at 10:40 am

    Good idea, what is the typical cost for installation

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Hey Mark, we don’t actually do outside labor so we don’t have an answer for you on that. It will probably depend on location, but I’m sure you can find out from the nearest authorized dealership. Thanks for the support!

      Reply
    • Avatar for John Flanagan John Flanagan says:
      May 20, 2020 at 7:20 am

      Do they come with a warranty of any kind? I’m excited!!!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        May 20, 2020 at 10:01 am

        Thanks for reading, John! We’re glad you’re excited! Yes, we are currently offering a 30-day warranty to the original purchaser. Thanks for checking in!

        Reply
    • Avatar for kenneth j glass kenneth j glass says:
      May 28, 2020 at 5:49 am

      will it fit 2019 general 4 1000 eps ?

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        May 29, 2020 at 10:39 am

        Hey Kenneth, we do not currently have any application outside of RZR XP 1000. We appreciate the support!

        Reply
  3. Avatar for Jesse Jesse says:
    May 19, 2020 at 11:00 am

    Will the new transmission be available for older Polaris models like 2010 800’s?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:47 pm

      Hey Jesse, thank you for your interest! As of right now, we are only offering this for the RZR 1000 models. It’s hard to say what the future brings, but we do not currently have an ETA for other models. Thanks for checking with us!

      Reply
  4. Avatar for Scott Stryker Christensen Scott Stryker Christensen says:
    May 19, 2020 at 11:45 am

    I have plenty to speak about with digesting your write up. I will call for that conversation. Starting year for fitment?
    WIll this fit up to a N/A 2015 motor?
    We would want to desert race this unit. BITD, SCORE, SNORE, NORRA. Do you support this product to a point for racing?
    Thanks for your time.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:48 pm

      Hey Scott, we appreciate the interest! Depending on what RZR 1000 you have, our fitment starts as early as 2014. Feel free to give us a call at 855-743-3240 for all of the details. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  5. Avatar for Jerry Dryer Jerry Dryer says:
    May 19, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Like it a lot. Going to start saving for it now. Do see a lot of room for cooling fins that would help keep the oil temperatures down. Is there an oil cooler that can be put on. Riding around Tombstone in the summer is hot.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      Hey Jerry, I’d say it depends on the machine, but unfortunately that’s not something that we currently dabble in. Thanks for checking with us. Feel free to give our customer service team a call with other questions at 855-743-3240. As always, we appreciate the support!

      Reply
  6. Avatar for Robert Cruickshank Robert Cruickshank says:
    May 19, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Any plans on doing a Can-Am Defender transmission. Hearing a lot of people are breaking these too, for all the same reasons.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 19, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      Hey Robert! We appreciate your interest! We are currently only offering this for the RZR 1000 models. It’s hard to say what the future brings, but we do not currently have an ETA for other models. I have passed this along to our new product development team. Thanks for reading and thanks for checking with us!

      Reply
  7. Avatar for Charlie Gibbs Charlie Gibbs says:
    May 19, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    Hey guys just read all your info on your new transwhy are you and polaris using 1970 I do not know about the chain why not use gears to get rid of the chain every body knows that any chain will stretch so that is were the trouble starts but I hope that it works out for you guys because I have a polaris ranger 1000 xp high lifter

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 20, 2020 at 11:46 am

      Thanks for reading, Charlie! To answer your question, we have had great success with our super single chain. Due to fitment issues, we chose to stick with it. We also already had parts like our case already developed for OE replacement. We appreciate the support and thank you for your interest!

      Reply
  8. Avatar for Freddie. Chapman Freddie. Chapman says:
    May 20, 2020 at 3:03 pm

    Why didn’t you put gear reverse instead chain that problem with transmission that chain reverse

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 21, 2020 at 10:56 am

      Hey Freddie, I think what you’re asking is why we used a chain instead of a reverse gear. The answer is that we’ve had great success with our super single chain and due to fitment issues, we chose to stick with it. We also already had parts like our case developed for OE replacement. We appreciate the support and thanks for reading!

      Reply
  9. Avatar for Faron Larsen Faron Larsen says:
    May 27, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    Is this transmission compatible with the General?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 29, 2020 at 10:36 am

      Thanks for reading! As of right now, we are only offering this for the RZR XP 1000 models.

      Reply
  10. Avatar for Richard W Milstead Richard W Milstead says:
    May 9, 2021 at 11:05 pm

    Reverse chain for 2011 Polaris ranger 800 and price

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 10, 2021 at 11:23 am

      Hey Richard! Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a reverse chain for this model. We appreciate you checking in with us!

      Reply
  11. Avatar for Scott Kogelmann Scott Kogelmann says:
    June 6, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    Do you know who else sells built transmissions for a 2017 General? I thought the rzr 1000 was the same as general 1000
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      June 7, 2021 at 11:50 am

      Hey Scott, unfortunately we do not have a complete transmission that would be directly compatible with the Polaris General at this time. Thanks for checking in!

      Reply
  12. Avatar for jeff jeff says:
    July 29, 2021 at 12:14 am

    should it be the same as the 2020 general xp,they share the same clutches also.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 30, 2021 at 9:49 am

      The 900 and General transmissions are different from the 1000 transmissions. However, we just might have these coming for these models soon. Stay tuned!

      Reply
  13. Avatar for Thomas Swift Thomas Swift says:
    October 21, 2022 at 8:09 pm

    I have 2 Polaris units with bad Trans/diff’s.
    #1 2008 Polaris ranger 800 efi crew. Part #1332977 ser#12248
    #2 2018 Polaris ranger 1000XP. Part #1333666 ser#10743
    Do you have these in the super tranny you advertise? If not can you lead me to the right supplier?
    Please contact me.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      October 24, 2022 at 10:17 am

      Hey Thomas, unfortunately, we don’t have a complete transmission for either of those machines. If you’re looking for new OEM transmissions, your best bet is to check out something like the Polaris Parts House. There aren’t any other aftermarket transmissions that I know of. Hopefully that gets you going in the right direction. Thanks for reading!

      Reply

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