Hi all,

I own a 2002 Honda Rancher and just lost reverse in it this past weekend. The last time I rode it (a couple weekends ago), I noticed reverse was getting finicky...wouldn't always work when I pushed the button. Now, I'm getting nothing and can't shift it into reverse.

I've done some searching online and found some people have similar problems and it's been the reverse selector switch. In my troubleshooting this past weekend, I did disconnect it (it was connected...hadn't fallen off) and reconnected it. Didn't change anything. Is there a fuse somewhere maybe that blew? A way to fake the system into thinking this switch was triggered to tell whether the portion of the switch inside the engine/transmission housing is bad?

Also, how far does that 90-degree bracket on the back of the engine have to move when you activate the reverse via the left hand brake lever? I'd say mine only goes from, maybe, vertical to 5 o'clock. I haven't tried manually shifting it into reverse yet.

Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to fix it on my own, but with the 'wheeler at a remote cabin, access to online info and tools is limited, so I need to go prepared with as much stuff as I can.

Thanks for your time,
-Steve

 

Anybody have any ideas/tips?

 

Think I've narrowed it down to the internal switch for reverse...

If I disconnect the sensor at the back of the engine for the reverse switch and ground it against the engine, I can shift into reverse no problem. Seems like the switch is either dead or not activating.

Anyone have a service manual for this fourwheeler they can PM me?

Anyone replace this switch? I'm almost thinking about wiring up an external switch that serves the same purpose.

-Steve