Is it safe to do while in motion? Or should you come to a complete stop and change from low to high or high to low when slow enough.

'09 Sportsman 500 HO

Thanks!

 

I stop mine to shift, I don't know good question!

 

STOP FIRST

 

Stop or will be prematurly replacing/repairing a transmission. That grinding is not a good thing.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: lagwagon

Is it safe to do while in motion? Or should you come to a complete stop and change from low to high or high to low when slow enough.



'09 Sportsman 500 HO



Thanks!</end quote></div>

The owners manual says "Brake to a complete stop. When the engine is idling, move the lever to the desired gear." It also says that shifting while the engine speed is above idle or while the machine is moving could cause transmission damage!

I know it's a PITA sometimes but I always stop first!

 

Dittos. Stop and change gears. Transmissions are very expensive whether it's a quad or a truck.

 

Not only do you have to stop you also have to wait for the motor to idle down before shifting grears. If they ever made a ATV that could shift from High range to low range while on the fly, I would be first in line for one.

 

If you are familiar with 4x4 trucks..the trans is alot like a transfer case.
Just like shifting the transfer case on a truck..you have to stop. The gear sets are non-synchronized and are turning at vastly different speeds.


TLC- I'd say that it is possible,but would be costly.
A CVT that allowed switching on the fly between high and low would need to incorporate some sort of clutch and syncros. So it would basically be a very wide ratio 2 speed with an internal conventional clutch. Also so as to not be unsafe it would have to have sensors,solenoid shifter lock and a controller to only allow downshifting at low speed..imagine downshifting to low at even say 20 mph..you'd likely end up tasting the pod.
And it would likely be hell on belts,lol

 

I thought so, but when I first got the quad I didn't know (my own fault) and slowed down to a crawl and then did it... twice. I will never do it again, but I hope I didn't cause any permanent damage.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: lagwagon

I thought so, but when I first got the quad I didn't know (my own fault) and slowed down to a crawl and then did it... twice. I will never do it again, but I hope I didn't cause any permanent damage.



Thanks for all the replies.</end quote></div>

As long as you didn't force it into gear you are fine..I do the same thing honestly..there is a point at a very slow roll where the input and out shaft speeds match and it will drop into gear just as easy as if stopped. But if you have to push hard on the shifter,or are pushing hard on it until it does fall into gear you aren't doing it any good...so the best practice is to just stop.