Has anyone else had there 04 stick in gear in the morning when it is cold out? I had this problem when I bought it last year and ended up breaking the linkage. They fixed it under warrenty and it was fine. Now it is doing it again. Park it overnight in anythign below 30 deg and it will not shift out of whatever gear you left it in. The linkage is free, it appears to be inside the tranny or something. Warm it up for about 15 minutes and it is fine. Any ideas?

 

I have 2004 700 sportsman and it never did this last winter and now it does it all the time when cold. I called the dealer and he said the little black box where shifter is attache may have moisture in ti causing it to freeze. All I know for now my brother in law has same bike and it does it too

 

Yep,me too. (when deer hunting/camping 20 degrees)Started it up though a lil while later after it warmed up shifted no prob. dealer also said linkage (ends) has been know to freeze up with ceratin type of lubes.

 

mikecowan is right on the money. It gets moisture and water in there and freezes. There is even a problem with them getting mud in them and screwing things up. You can use some rubbing alcohol and pour it on the box to thaw it out then take some wd40 and spray it real good to keep it from freezing again. You can spray it before and perodicly every winter and you should have no problem. People are also just letting them warm up real good and then spraying them. The heat from the motor is more than enough to thaw it out.

 

just took mine apart and water came out I dried it all out sprayed the heck out of it with a spray grease and put a silicone seal instead of a gasket works great.