Absolutely. My fear is that since it happens so irregularly that I won't know if it's fixed until next year, when I'm pushing snow again.

Thanks for your help

 

the good news is that if it is the sub transmission, it is independent of the hydro. it takes the power output from the hydro and supplies the power to the driveshafts in forward reverse and low (or not = neutral). It may be that your shifter is not adjusted correctly. I would take care of it immediately as it only takes a little damage to ruin the gears. The engagement surfaces are slightly undercut (I'm going from experience on other bikes/quads, I have not taken a Rubicon apart) and if you round them off it will slip until they are replaced. That type of damage probably wouldn't show up in a visual check of the oil.

I had to replace a couple gears on a Suzuki 400cc lc on my Arctic Cat as someone (I don't think it was me and everyone was riding it that weekend) did not latch the high/low range shifter. It popped out once or twice before I noticed why, but the damage was done. Less than $100 for parts and I did the labor. Could be something else, but if it is poppoing and you can feel it, the sub transmission is where I would be looking first. I have a feeling the Zuk was easier to get to as I only had to take the left side cover off.

Does it do it in forward and reverse, high and low, 2wd and 4wd?

 

none

 

thanks hondamechanic, maybe I won't freak out now if it happens to me. I guess getting to certain stuff is the bad thing about a transverse engine. Let's hope I don't need to get to it.

 

Honda mechanic has explained EXACTLY what it does. It seems like sometimes it doesn't go all the way into gear. I bought a service manual and I'm going to check the shift linkage adjustment. I'll let you know what I've found.

Thanks to everyone for replying.

 

sometimes I have to increace the idle speed just a tad to get it to go into gear, i normally just lightly bump the throttle and try again after the engine goes back down to idle, mine goes in with a nice click.