I just purchased my first 4 wheeler two weeks ago, a Polaris 325 Sportsman. I was riding it in deep snow in Low range and spun out on a hill. I could NOT shift it out of low range. The lever was locked. I was reading post on this site about the linkage jamming. Last night I checked and adjusted the low range linkage a little. It seemed to help....but the shift lever is still tight when trying to shift out of low range...even sitting on a level driveway. Hi range and Reverse seem to work fine.

Here's my thoughts.... there is a little bit of pull from the engine....there is more torque in low range putting pressure on the gear causing it to be hard to shift.

Do you think once my belt wears a little that this will go away. I only have 20 miles on the machine.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

Check your idle RPM. It could be set too high.

 

The idle seems to be fine....It's really low.

Do you think I need to give it time to "break-in"?

 

When shifting, give the lever a smart 'snap' rather than a steady pull. That seems to help.

It is pretty much normal for new Polaris machines to shift notchy, it will loosen up after it breaks in.

Checking idle speed still might be worth trying. Try slowing it down just so the machine doesn't die (owners manual should say how) and see if it shifts easier now. If so, turn the idle back up a little at a time until it just gets hard to shift, then back it down a hair.

 

JUST CURIOUS,YOU SURE ITS NOT A 335 SPORTSMAN.I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A 325 SPORTSMAN BUT I KNOW THEY MAKE A EXPEDITION 325 4X4.HEY ANYWAY GOOD LUCK.

 

Just keep playing with both adjusting rods and do not tighten the lock nut until it shift the way you want. It just takes some fooling with to get right.Remember one end of the rods is right handed and the other is left handed thread.

 

Polecat.... It's a 325 Magnum...Sorry for the mix-up.

 

Tim1....EBS Engine Braking System?

Does my 325 Magnum has one?

 

Have you had this problem too? One time it wouldn't let me shift into reverse and it was hard to get it out of low. I played around with the rods and got figured out. Now I have the problem that to shift in any gear you have to tap the throttle. I'm going to play with those rods again this weekend to see if thats the problem again.

98 SP500 no EBS - soon w/ K&N filter

 

I can help you out here the problem you are having is not from the adjustment as much as it is the lack of lubrication where the linkage hooks to the top of the tranny.Take some WD40 and lube where the shift rod comes out of the tranny.It may take a couple of times for it to seep down past the seal.I had the very same problem with my 500 mag.The shifter works better now then when it was new.