Hi guys new here. My neighbor was tossing out his 07 Honda 250ex quad the other day so I picked it up to see if I could fix it. He said the he believed the trans was locked. When I grabbed it the quad only went backwards without holding the clutch in. Got the bike home and about an hour after playing around got it into neurtral. From there I tried to start it but noticed I wasn’t receiving the neutral green light. My first assumption is that either the neutral switch/gear switch sense (I don’t know the exact name seeing difference things online) I do believe that the sense is bad, but I tried pushing the bike and putting it into first gear, but it only clicks. It clicks down no issue and up no issue but does not engage any gears. Anyone have any recommendations for where to go from here? Any and everything is appreciated thank you in advance.

 

When in a forward gear you should be able to roll the bike backwards but shoving it forwards should engage the drive so make it difficult to shove. Opposite applies when you put it into reverse. If that doesn't happen, you have a transmission problem. If it does work properly, put the bike in neutral, ign on and short across the solenoid to start the engine. Try the bike to make sure it engages all gears cleanly.

Not sure about the EX, early 250 Recons had switches sticking out of the back of the engine for reverse and neutral, these short to earth when in those gears. Later Recons had a multiple pole switch inside the rear engine case like other Hondas, 350, 420, etc. This is a lot more awkward to change. Shorting the neutral wire to earth fixes the starting problem but means the neutral light is on all the time.

 

Currently the bikes in neutral but when I power up the bike I don’t get any lights no red or green hence why I believe that it would be a gear switch sense. To my knowledge I shouldn’t be having any issues putting it into a gear with the bike powered off correct? Or would the bike need power and be running to properly switch into a gear.But you are recommending trying to bypass the start by jumping the solenoid? Additionally if I’m having issues with getting into a gear I’ve already adjusted the clutch cable and all the basic stuff any recommendation on where to go or look from there.
Thank you

 

Is rear diff ok?

 

There’s like no play in the cable anymore that was the first thing I did when I got it back to mine was play and adjust it. That shouldn’t be my issue in theory.

 

What do you mean exactly by being ok? Like there’s little to no play in the cables back there?

 

I'm not familiar with the EX, as the engine looks the same as the Recon I assumed a gearshift operated clutch. If it has a handlebar clutch, the bike will not roll in either direction when in gear, sorry for confusing things. Something has to be moving to change gear cleanly, either engine running or bike moving. I suggested shorting the solenoid to start it, you can just use the pull start if it has one.

 

Ok I will jump the solenoid if I can get it into a gear then it’s not the clutch cable or the trans it would be for sure the switch correct, if I can not get it into a gear on then I have a different problem along with potentially a bad gear switch sensor correct?

 

Yes, that is about right. If everything works OK except the neutral and reverse lights, it is either a switch or wiring problem. On Hondas neutral switch wire is usually either pale green or pale green/red. If you short that wire to earth at the wiring plug, where it connects to the switch and with ign on, and the green light comes on, then it is the switch or an internal gearbox fault. If it doesn't, you have a wiring problem.

 

I remember the early model recon shift drum end breaking off causing shifting issue but I have not had any issues since mid 2000s do like merryman said short switch wire out to help out things