MY MACHINE HAS 500 MILES ON IT AND THE SHIFTING SEEMS TO BE ALOT LOSER THAN THE NEW ONES. HAS ANYONE HAD THIS PROBLEM? AND HOW DO YOU TIGHTEN UP THE LINKAGE?






98 XPLORER 400 ALL STOCK

 

Not sure on the 98 model,but I had the same problem on my 00 Xpolrer 400cc.

On my model,you remove the right side cover.With the shifter in neutral, slightly loosen both ends of the adjustment rod jamn nuts.Completely take off the bottom bolts that attach to the trans linkage end of the shifter rods.Turn the tie rod looking mechanisms at the end of the rods until they are centered in the middle of the trans linkage hole.Do this to both linkages.Once they are both centered,tighten them.
Now back off the linkage jamb nuts further.
Take and turn the linkage rods [one at a time] both ways[clockwise and counter clockwise] until slight resistance is felt,Once you have felt the resistance in both directions of turning the rod,adjust it to the halfway point of the resistance,tighten down the jamb nuts and do the same for the other rod.Good luck,
Bill