I am sorry if this has already been talked about, but I have read posts until my eyes bled and didn't see it so here goes.
I have a wilderness 250 that I bought to help someone out that needed money. It was not taken care of at all. It is a 2007 if that matters. The problem is no first gear. For people my age it sounds like when you tried to learn standard in a VW bug. I can up shift to second. Do I need to rip the whole thing apart and how hard is it? Can I fix it without pulling the motor off the frame? Any suggestions and advice would be great. Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum PhireDawg !

When you shift into first what happens? grinding noises? does the reverse work? do 2nd 3rd and 4th work?

 

Thanks for helping. I can use second through 4th first and revers do not work. When I try to shift into first it grinds like it is not going in all the way

 

Your welcome...Is this a reverse down and all other gears up kind of pattern? Also have you drained the oil? any metal pieces or shavings come out?

 

No I have not drained the oil I will do that tomorrow. no the is a lever that you move to engage revers (so first is revers)

 

Ok drained the oil this morning and there were a few flecks of metal on the strainer however there was a bunch of fibers in it too. I don't think the oil has ever been changed before.

 

What is the shift pattern? down for first and up for 2nd thru 4th?

 

good that there is no metal pieces...bad if its the original oil..

 

Shift pattern is neutral down 1 thru 5 up

 

Id guess you have a bent shift fork, the one that engages 1st gear....That requires the cases to be split to replace....If you had a down for 1st pattern it could be the shift drum actuator...(on the end of the shift lever shaft inside the clutch cover)..

But since you can shift past 1st into 2nd the actuator must be ok...