I have a 2002 500 sportsman that just stuck in high/low gear. it shifts fine between high and low, but will not go into neutral or reverse. any ideas what the problem is?. all shift linkage is hooked up. it worked fine one minute then not the next

 

Possible hydro lock on the gear shift box that many have done over the years from wear. Loosen the 10 mm lock nuts on the rod ends,remove the linkages from the gear shift box. Pop the gear shift into neutral,use vice grips on gear case belcranks and rock the atv back and forth until you can get the gear case into neutral. Check how much free play the shift lever has when the linkages are removed. If you have a lot of slack,adjustment may or may not help or may not last long.Adjust the rod ends in or out until they drop straight into the shift box levers with NO resistance.Then tighten the rod end lock nuts. Hopefully this can help.Plus again any wear items may need to be replaced if you notice a lot a of free play back and forth on the shift lever while it's in neural. A good fluid change wouldn't hurt also. 0w40/5w40 oil to where it barely covers the gear box shift levers.Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Polaris, Suzuki & Kawasaki OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse