Went ice fishing yesterday in sub zero weather and wind chills about -20. When I stopped my Rancher ES I left it in 3rd gear. Fished throughout the day and tried to start it. Couldn't of course because it was in 3rd. Tried to down shift, but nothing happened. Manually shifted it into neutral to start then manually into 1st to get going. Still couldn't shift after that. What happened? Was it the cold? If so, I am not happy with that and am afraid to use it in cold weather. Any advise please??

 

I dont know much about the ES but it is deinatly not the cold.Thats for sure.The snow (if there was any)could be the problem.

 

Well the shaft belt could have gotten wet and then when it sat it could have frzen and either it got stuck or it got to slipery ti grip the teeth.I would have it looked at.

 

Once you got the Rancher running did you shut it off and then start it back up to re-set the shift computer. Once the manual shift lever is used the key must be shut off to re-set the computer.
It is also advised that you always shut the unit off in neutral especially in adverse conditions.
This is my second winter with my Foreman ES and have yet to experience any trouble with the ES system even in -40F temperatures. I don't have a snowmobile so my ES is used as one, all winter long.

 

I went riding over the weekend and had the exact same thing happen. Well first, when i went to start my ES, the back brakes were all froze up, so luckily i broke the ice and went on. After riding about 10 minutes, it quit shifting.So i had to leave it in 3rd gear all day. I took it home and thawed it out and it has worked ever since. I dont know what happend to it! That night i went night riding and my lights shut off. Im guessing they froze up. I took it home and thawed it, and they work now. haha. So i have had my share of difficulties with the ES, but i have always got it going.

 

It is because one the buttons froze spray some thin lucbricant into the crack as you push the buttons in and to get the water out and should not have any problems after that let me know how ti goes.