I've got a 2003 rancher 350 with esp. I've never had a speck of trouble with anything except for now. I started it up and pushed the up-shift button to go and nothing happened. No click, no nothing. It won't shift into reverse either. It just sits there in neutral. I pushed it back into the garage and had to turn it off. What could this be? Where should I look first for the problem?

 

Check the oil level.
Can it be shifted into gear, with the handle? Have you tried rocking it forwards and backwards while trying to shift?
Turn on the lights, and check to see if they dim, when you press the buttons. If so the battery isnt charged good enough.
Did water ( like from a pressure washer) get into the handlebar switches? Dirt or mud?
let us know what you find.

 

you blew a fuse near the battery. if one of the fuses blow, you wont be able to shift. remove the plastic piece behind the battery, 2 black screw things hold it in place. then after you remove that, there should be another small, black rectangle box. take the lid off that and check you fuses. there should be like 5 or 6 of them. if one of them is blown you need to replace it. fuses are only like 5 cents if ya didnt know. problem solved.

 

Amazingly the atv fixed itself. Now, 2 days later, the rancher shifts just fine. This is good and bad. Good in that I'm free to cruise at will. Bad in that it's bound to show up again, most likely when I least want it to. Thanks to you both for your suggestions. I'll keep them in mind next time I have the same problem.

 

It makes me think, that it has a loose connector , or one that lets water into it. Check underneath, and the aft side of the motor.

 

Really next time this happens rock back and forth before flipping out.

On My 2004 rancher (NOT THE ES) Sometimes it wont shift into first after I stop. I just rock a little bit and its all better. (must have something to do with the teeth are just at the right angle or something)

Anyway I took mine in for its first maintance too. I told them about this, and the Chatternoise. No problem said everything was fine. Chatternoise still thier and sometimes (mostly when your on a small incline or something) the gears wont shift. Go figure. I did check to see if they actually adjusted the valves or not. And they did take the plastic off. Only problem is that I have this wire hanging Right under the front Seat (just where the plastic starts after you take off the seat) (I SHOULD GET A PIC). Its nothing more then a wire with a o hook in it.

Guess I should take it back and tell them WTF. Fix this crap. But im afraid what else they might do to it.

 

This was not a "it's trying to shift but won't " problem. It wasn't even trying to do anything. The solenoid that shifts the gears didn't appear to be getting any signal. I've experienced the problem where rocking the bike helps it to shift. That's normally only a problem when I try to shift when the engine's not running. Sounds to me like you need to find a new dealer to work on your quad....

 

I know this post is a month old,but i got something for it. My rancher did the same thing, but it was when you go though alot of water or in the snow. Mine quit shifting but i took apart the shifting mechanism and it had alittle water in it.Where you in snow or water?