What's with the Polaris Rangers lack of engine braking?

MotorSeven · Jan 14, 2014

Ranger owners, don't get your hackles up, this is not a slam but an honest question. Two neighbors have Rangers, and I just got back from helping a realtor show a 500 ac tract of land in his brand new Ranger 4 seater(570cc I think). All of them are down right scary on steep declines since they don't seem to have any engine braking capability? I thought I read somewhere that Polaris had addressed this issue on the newer models, but apparently not, or is it operator error?

We have a lot of steep terrain here so in other parts of the country y'all may not have experienced this. On the new 4 seater I even told the owner to not let up on the gas pedal to see if it would engine brake...nope as soon as it's nose gets pointed down a hill you have to get on the brakes. This is fine if it's dry, but when it's wet it can be a little hairy.

pwright · Jan 14, 2014

I've never found it to be an issue and there's some steep terrain on our 340 acres but there is a simple solution. You keep the RPMs up enough to keep the clutch engaged and let it just idle on down the hill braking as needed with the left foot.

This has always worked fine on my Ranger 500 two-seater and my Ranger 800 crew.

The Browning Edition Rangers come with factory EBS.

MotorSeven · Jan 14, 2014

I'll have to drive my buddy's and try that. I would not have thought this, but my new Bulldog has pretty decent engine braking. Once you come to a complete stop on a decline you lose it though even if I leave it in gear.