I have a Rancher 4X4 ES and I like almost everything about it. I have ridden alot of other quads and am still happy that I bought a Rancher. I disagree with those who say that it is harder to find reverse. I can get it into reverse faster than most.
But, I'm tired of "rocking it" to find neutral so I can start it. Usually its not that big of a deal. But, lately I've been using it round the yard with a trailer attached and "rocking" all that weight is getting old. Not to mention when I ride with friends, they are often gone by the time I get mine started.
Can the Rancher be wired to start in gear? If I do rewire it, does it lead to other problems?

 

Galt,
I always shut my Rancher in neutral and NEVER have a problem. The owners manual recommends this.
Try it, you'll like it. (and never rock again)

lablover
2000 Rancher ES 4x4

 

I have the same annoying thing happen, like the guy says just park it in neutral. Problem solved.

To answer your post no I don't know of a way to start the Rancher in gear.

 

At first I had the same problem when other people rode my 4x4ES they just turned the key off in any gear when done riding. It only took me a couple of times riding and the neutral thing became habit.

 

Actually you can start it in gear. There is a wire that yo have to run to ground as I understand it. This info was posted in a Foreman thread.

Personally I just make sure that I shut off the bike in neutral.

 

I put a start in gear switch on my 450ES. Here's my 450ES instructins, don't know if the rancher is different. Underneath the seat there is a starter solonoid. There is a green wire with a red tracer that I tapped into and ran that wire to a doorbell switch that I installed in my left top plastic fender. Then grounded the circuit. So when the doorbell switch is pressed in your neutral light will come on in your speedometer display even though it's not really in neutral. This tricks the starter into thinking it's in neutral so it can start.

Sometimes when I do this I experience funny behavior with the shifting. If that happens as soon as I get out out of the situation where I needed the start in gear I'll shift back down to nuetral shut it off and start it normally.

Check your owner's manual for the wiring diagram to make sure you tap into the correct wire.