I've had my share of ES shifting problems with this machine since I bought it used in 2005, but more or less it runs OK now. I have to keep a battery tender on it non-stop all through the year, or it will leave me stranded somewhere when it quits shifting because the battery is low.

But my question is this. Why will the ES shift down every time without any trouble (from 2 to 1 to N to R). But if I am in R, I need to do the "Honda Shake" where I rock it back and forth before I can get the ES to shift it up to N, and then from N to 1. Not every time, but probably 75% of the time.

The main reason I notice this is when I am plowing snow, and going from R-N-1 and back all the time. It's annoying, but I can live with it. I'm just wondering why this happens.

 

Don't feel bad, even the new 500 es needs the Honda shake to get them into gear sometimes. Even with everything working right on, Honda has a annoying and slow reverse procedure(Red Button thing),especially when plowing.