From anyone's experience will I be looking at big problems or something minor?

About 85% of the time now, my 450 won't shift from P or N into H or R and makes a mild grinding noise. Not like the transmission grinding I'm familiar with, but a very small motor rapid clicking, and will not hold the position or engage. The only work around I've found is going from N to L, no grinding and it will engage in L. I then have to shut down the motor in L, shift to N, restart, and about 25% of the time it will then let me go from N to H or R without problems. When engaged it drives like a champ and only once has it started the nasty flashing red R, but that hasn't returned.

I'm pretty new to the Grizzly and have minimal knowledge of it inner workings. I'm hoping its just an adjustment or a minor component that needs replacing.

Any thoughts?

 

You need to adjust the shifter linkage. To do so:
1. Remove the plastics enough to see the linkage.
2.Disconnect the linkage at the transmission. With the kill switch OFF, and the KEY ON, move the shift lever at transmission by hand until NEUTRAL shows on the display. Gently roll the quad forward and backward to confirm Neutral. Turn key OFF.
3. Move fender gearshift selector to Neutral.
4. Reconnect linkage, and adjust it to remove slack.
5. Clean and lube linkage.
6. Start quad and confirm solid engagement of each gear selection, tweaking linkage as necessary.
7. Replace plastics.
8. Ride,ride,ride!.

 

Thanks! I was getting a little worried.

 

I'm having trouble getting the linkage off at the transmission end. Should it pop off like a standard automotive linkage?

 

Look here,

2008 Yamaha YFM45FGX OEM Parts, 2008 Yamaha YFM45FGX OEM Motorcycle Parts - BikeBandit.com

Remove the shifter rod #17 from the transmission by removing bolt #15 and using a large flat blade screwdriver to gently pry off #10.
Once part #10 is off, reinstall bolt# 15, this is to keep threads from being damaged.
Use channel locks to shift trans to Neutral , per previous post.
Loosen lock bolts # 18 &19 using open end wrench and WD40 or similar if bolts are rusty.
Now, you should be able to turn the shifter rod freely, use WD40 on the '****' end of #10 until it does, do the same at the other end of the rod, next to the gear shift.

With both the gear shift and transmission in Neutral, reinstall shifter rod to transmission.
Adjust linkage by turning shifter rod, secure with lock nuts #18& 19.

Done.

 

Thanks again. Lots of good info there.

 

The diagram is under Transmission-Shift Shaft.

 

Shoot me an Email @ snowwmax@yahoo.com I have the manual for 03-06 Kodiak 450's and will cover everything on your Quad except for the rear wet brake as it was newly introduces on the 2008 model.

Also Hefty is right - adjust your shift linkage and you should be good! Also if your idle is too high it will grind each gear shift...

-CS-

 

Funny you mention that. The linkage was just fine. It was idling way too high and the carb needed a good cleaning. Cleaned the carb and adjusted the idle and we are good as new again.

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

If the idle is high, check your air intake plumbing, you could have air leaks, causing the increase in idle. Make sure the seals, gaskets,etc are good and tight.

Otherwise, you could have unfiltered air being fed to the engine, which will eat the piston rings out.