Just got a 400 scrambler 4x4 and took it out for the first trail test and uh-oh!!! Went to shift into reverse and heard slight grinding sound. Now won't go into reverse (well, actually it still will once in a great while) and it acts like it is trying to kick out of forward gear sometimes. Any suggestions?

 

Sounds like your linkage may be a little out.Make sure before you shift ,that you let the motor rev down to an idle.Also if your idle is too high it will grind.You can also pull the hand brake to slow the motor down,not sure if this trick will work on the new models.Hope this helps.

 

Tried adjusting the linkage - didn't help any. Worked great around the yard, but first trail ride was ruined. Even if I slide a small prybar down and push the linkage with that it still won't engage in reverse.

 

Check the connection at the trans and make sure the connecting joints are tight.

 

They seem to be - all the little ball joints etc are good and tight - I'm afraid something has come loose inside the tranny? But don't know if it would still work occaisionally. I'm stumped and afraid I'm going to have to pull it but really don't want to do that if no one thinks it can be inside the tranny. Thanks for suggestions so far.

 

Have you tried unhooking the linkage and shifting it at the trans to make sure there isn't a problem with the shifter. If you do that and it still isn't right, I'd say something in the trans. is messed up.

 

No - I haven't tried that. Will try it as soon as I get home - before I start removing (gulp) the tranny. Thanks.

 

With the bike off Take off the linkage to the trans.Take it off at the top of the trany (the part that the ball joint sits on) IT takes a 1/2 wrench to get off the nut.
Once the nut is off get a 16 point box end 12mm wrench or socket.put that wrench on the linkage splines on the top of the trany. Once on see if you can turn it to drive and back to reverse. If you can't get it in Try rocking the bike back and Forward ontill it goes in gaer . If you still can't get it in There is a problem in the trans.
In the trany te shifter has little Studs that are on the gears and shift dog (3 or 4) these studs are angled so it will slide the gear into the dog. if these studs brake off You wouldn't stay in gear and you wouldn't engage in gear or it would slip out.
That is all I can tell you to do. but, if you end up taking out the trany I can tell you that there isn't that much to it . If you can get It out of the bike You WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TAKING IT APART AND TOGETHER AGAIN

 

Thanks - will try that - and I feel better abot tackling the tranny if I have to. Thanks again!!

 

Just finished pulling tranny and splitting it - problem all boils down to 1 small needle bearing on the input shaft that the reverse gear rides on. It had disintegrated and was allowing the gear to **** sometimes. that is why sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't. Hopefully I'll be able to get the bearing soon (probably not an "in stock" item) and get it back together. thanks to everyone who posted.