I can't remember the year but it's the first year of the HO in Camo, like mid to early 2000's. It has never shifted great from new, but now the shift lever is froze in reverse. It still starts and moves in reverse. The last few years I've noticed that sometimes is would miss-shift. The lever would be loose and not be in the position that the lights were telling me. I'd have to pull it back into position. Don't know what I should tear into first. Anybody have this happen???

 

This sounds like it could just be a shifter linkage problem. Have you checked that yet?

 

shifter linkage needs adjusting, bent shifting fork in tranny?

 

Loosen the 10 mm locknuts on the rod ends at the shift box,then remove linkage ends from shift box using two (2) 10 mm wrenches.Pop shift lever back to neutral and using vicegrips move trans lever back to neutral.Turn tie rod ends IN or OUT to where they drop straight in shift box arms with no tension on tie rods. If still have problems after this,then possible shift box internal wear. OPT

 

I'll check it out tomorrow. Thanks!

 

Same thing happened to my 04 Sportsman 400 the dealer said they had to adjust the linkage rod and two hours later I found myself seven miles deep in the woods and the damn thing was stuck in reverse!!!

 

If it keeps locking in gear,then check the shift box internals for wear! OPT

 

I no longer have that quad... but I was just upset that it worked fine and then I brought it in for the 20 hour oil change and they adjusted it cuz "others had a problem and were shifting hard" but mine was smooth and no issues untill they adjusted it!!! F-ING dealer sucked they also changed a belt under the lifetime belt deal... The wheeler started running funny (started jerking and I lost about ten MPH off the top end) so I loaded it up and took it to another dealer 60 miles from home just so I didnt have to deal with that shop anymore. Come to find out they never cleaned out the belt housing when they replaced my old belt!!! The tech showed me and there was a new belt on my machine and 3/4 of an old belt in about 300 pices all over the clutch and the clutch housing... I WAS PISSED