my old 1994 400 [no name!] has always had trouble latching into forward gear - it rat a tats on the teeth as soon as I apply the gas and I have to keep pushing it to make it engage

what has become automatic to me is to pull it first into reverse and them jam it forward and that generally works first time, but its annoying to have to do this all the time

is this normal and any fixes/lubrication without trying to take it apart?

 

hello
I have had this on my sportsman several times
It has always been the linkages from your selector to your transfercase
when they loosen up you will have trouble becouse it will not through it all the way into gear
so snug up the little ball joint looking connectors and you should be ok

well since your on the other side and bottom off the world from me
do everything backwords and upside down from what I just said and you should be ok. ;-)

good luck
matt

 

LOL, It could also be your clutch engaging to the belt, this makes the transmission turn making it do the same thing. Being the age of it I would guess this is what it is, If the clutch is engaging have it rebuilt. Brian

 

Thanks for the tips, I'll check out the linkages first to see if there is any play in them

do you think it is because the whole bike is upside down - lol [and also it is right hand drive wheras we drive on the left and gear lever is always moved by left hand - just kiddin!!]