gambler_m_99, thanks for the help offer. I do have the factory service manual but it's nice to know there is someone with first hand experience if I need a walk through. Is this shifter plate recall from Honda the fix for my Rancher? I just checked my records and I found out that my dealer DID do the shift plate recall back in 2001 at the same time they did the A-frame support thing recall ( you remember that one? ). Who knows, maybe they just signed it off. Anyway, I don't think they pulled the engine front case, I don't know for sure, was there some other shift mod that they could have done that was easier? Thanks for your time.

 

Glad to be of help. To replace the shift plate you HAVE to pull the front off the engine. You can sometimes tell by looking at the motor if the front has ever been removed, there will be a little telltail sign of silicone or some other sealant. I am 99% sure that is your problem. Keep me posted on how it goes.

 

gambler_m_99, It took me a while to get at my Rancher. I have some arthritis and decided it was easier to have a local ATV shop pull my front case cover to inspect the shift parts. They are a good shop and I trust them. They found nothing worn or out of shape in there. They have fixed other Ranchers with that type of problem so they are familiar with it. Well.....same thing, it's not fixed. They tested it quite a bit but when I brought it home after I rode it for 15 minutes the ESP locked up again. I'm looking for that post that tells how to change my Rancher into a manual shift. Any ideas??

 

I know it is a real pain to convert over to foot shift. You may want to try to get in touch with Gimpster and ask for his phone number, I am sure he knows what the problem is.
On the shift plate it can be such a small spread it is hard to see but enough to keep it from shifting. I would still replace the shift plate as I feel for sure that is the problem. A friend I ride with works at the local Honda shop. He told me they sometimes have to use a magnifying glass to see the spread. He told me they always replace the shift plate on the early 2000-2004 just to be safe.

 

Update on my ESP problem. I finally fixed the problem. It was my speed sensor. $80.00, 15 minutes to install. My clue was everytime the shift acted up I finally noticed my speedometer wasn't reading. If I had noticed that sooner I would have changed the speed sensor first before I wasted money on the angle sensor. Oh well, live and learn.