There is a small electric control motor on the front of my 2000 ESP Rancher that works the electric shift. I believe it could be intermittent and would like to take it apart and inspect it, new brushes, etc. However in the Honda service manual for my ATV it doesn't discuss anything but just removing and replacing it as a unit. Does this mean I can't buy parts for it? Has anyone removed this control motor and disassembled it? Thanks.

 

Honda doesn't supply replacement parts for the shift control motor .. The motor well/do get lazy when the brushes are worn a little or/and the commutator bars get dirty .. Most automobile electric will have an assortment of aftermarket universal brushes that will fit ...


They are easier to re-assemble if you have another set of hands to hold the brushes back while you put the armature in ...

 

HondaMechanic, thanks for your reply. I, like many Rancher owners have an ESP problem. I changed the angle sensor and that didn't do it. My speedo works so I don't think it's the speed sensor. I have a new battery and the charging system works fine so it's not a voltage problem. I haven't had the ATV submerged and my electrical connections seem nice and dry. A friend tells me he has seen some control motors with worn brushes so I will pull the motor and examine it.

 

I have the same problem and the same year model. What is the milage on your quad so I can compare the life span of these control motors?

 

My 2000 ESP Rancher has 2800 miles and 530 hours on it. I use it all year around and plow snow also. My wife has a 2000 ESP Rancher also with 2800 miles and 530 hours on it ( we ride together a lot ) and her ATV never had any shift problems.

 

Well, today I took my control motor off and inspected it. The brushes looked good but the commutator was dirty and black. I thought for sure I had solved my ESP problem. I cleaned the commutator and put the control motor back on. NO CHANGE.....rats. My electric shift still freezes up in gear. I don't know what to try next. Maybe I'll take apart the handle bar push button switch housing. If thats not it the only thing left would be the electronic computer thing. I read here and was also told by a friend that there is a bolt that comes loose sometimes on the shift index ( or something like that ) but you have to pull the front case off the engine to get it.. Anybody have any suggestions on what to look for? This is driving me crazy. When I shift 90% of the time everything works fine, but then......I'm stuck in one gear and I have to turn off the key to reset, then it's OK for a while, then it locks up again.

 

When you pull the front cover off be sure to inspect the front shifter palte. The 2000 year model was known to have a faulty shift plate. Replaced mine for 38.00 and all is good. You can tell if it is bad if the shifting forks are spread or bent. Have to look hard to tell as it will be a very small amount of spread.

 

gambler_m_99 Thanks for the info. I dread pulling that front case cover but I guess I'll have to. I took apart my handlebar switch to check the contacts but they are sealed in rubber and I didn't want to destroy that waterproof housing. I could swap my electronic control unit with my wifes Rancher ( it's handy having two identical machines ). Wonder what the likelyhood of that being bad? By the way, how many miles and hours do you have on your 2000 Rancher? Thanks

 

I just swapped electronic control units from my wife's Rancher and I have the same problem. I guess I'll have to pull the front case cover.

 

I have around 2800 miles on mine. I will bet that it is the front shift plate {just like mine was}. It is not as hard as you might think it is to do. It was so common on the 2000 model, Honda had an update they performed on their nickel but it was only good thru 04. The part cost about 38.00, then thre is an oil change as you will loose all of the oil when you pull the cover, so around 50.00 you're good to go. If you want send me a phone number and I will walk you thru what to do.