It started a couple of weeks ago with my 2005 350 Rancher, electric shift. It shows neutral but wouldn't start. I would hear a loud click from behind the battery. I shifted gears and went back to neutral and sometimes it would start. I used it like this for awhile then it wouldn't go. I put in a new battery and checked my connections. It started the first try then went back to it's old mode of making a loud click but no starter motor. Could it be the starter motor needs brushes or is B/O? I have used it almost daily for over three years. I figure it has about 5,000 starts on that starter motor. I'm not even sure where the starter is or I would pull it and take it to the auto parts store for a check.

 

You do know it has a backup recoil starter???

 

If that new battery is good (load tests ok), then id try to jump the positive wire directly to the starter and see if it spins then. If it doesnt, the starter is probably bad.
You can also try to bump the motor over with the rope, while holding the starter button. If that little assist, makes it spin over, the starter brushes are probably bad.

 

Many thanks,
The damn thing quit diong it. It started numerous times without a hitch yesterday. I found the rope starter under a piece of plastic and it works great. No I know I won't get stranded. I'm going to try the rope pull with starter button depressed next time it happens. I suspect it needs brushes.

 

Honda did a good job of hiding that recoil starter! So good, that most folks don't even know they have one....

Lots of folks don't realize you can push start either.