2001 rancher 350 manual shift problem
 

Shift from Neutral to Reverse green light goes off. Shift back to neutral and green light does not com on. Shift to 1 st and the light turns green. Can shift back to neutral and the green light and the transmission go into neutral. The light and the shift sequence seems to be intermittent as to how it fails. Sometimes moving the foot shift lever slightly causes the green light and the actual transmission position to change.

Don't know what to suspect - any help? In Montana, very cold and still plowing snow - ugh. Sometimes the unit is hard to shift when the weather is so cold.

Did transmission shift good before snow and cold wether?

Forget the light, are you saying that the gearchange sometimes doesn't work, i.e, it stays in reverse when you have tried to change back up to neutral? If so, the selector mechanism is probably broken, quite a common fault on 350s. Adjust the clutch, to ensure that isn't at fault, but it would seem like the selector mechanism broken, or star wheel loose.

It shifts fine, the indicator light doesn't follow the shifting sequence, The cold doesn't seem to have an effect. The light issue only started this winter.

I apologize for misleading on the first post. I'll try again to describe the issue.
With the neutral light on and the transmission in neutral the machine starts, shifts into reverse or first normally.
Next shift to Reverse, light goes off and transmission is in reverse.
Next shift to neutral, light does not come on but the transmission is in neutral ( I can rev the engine and IT IS in neutral).
Next if the key is turned off, engine stops.
Turn key on/ attempt to start - green light off, engine will not start.
Next play/wiggle foot shifter to get the green light on - engine starts.

IF, after shifting out of reverse and going to neutral and the green light is NOT on, I can shift to 1st and back to neutral, and the green light does come back on.
There must be a pawl, lever, gear or something loose somewhere, that tells the engine to start and green light to function correctly.
The engine will not start if it thinks the transmission is not in neutral.

Right, there is a rotary switch in the alternator case, seems like it is faulty. It is such a pain to get at that I personally wouldn't bother, but you can fix it without taking the engine out.

It is just possible it is a loose star wheel, in which case the bike will soon start refusing to change gear.