Long story short my father was given a 86 LT230. The frame sticker says it was made on 05/86 as model lt230EH. This is a chain driven no manual clutch quad with electric start and recoil pull start back up. I am trying to locate a gear shifter. I believe they are using the reverse shifter as the gear shifter because there is a splined shaft beneath the front sprocket that looks like a reverse shifter should go there. The shifter on the main shaft has a N-R ingraved on it. This quad has quadsport plastic and appear stock. I am stumped on which model I am actually working with. THe quad starts and runs fine but i would love to find more info. It also does not have a speedometer if that makes any difference to help find the model. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

The quad is actually an '87 model and shares pretty much all parts with the S model Quadsport, although it has the e start, recoil backup, and auto clutch that was part of the utility version of this motor. Much like cars, new atv models usually hit showrooms in the fall of the preceding year. A manufacture date of 5/86 would probably make that an early build shipped from Japan to hit the dealers August/September time frame. It certainly does sound as if the reverse lever is being used for the regular shifter. Normally the reverse lever would be manipulated with your heel once the machine was in neutral. It should be behind the foot peg if I am not mistaken. Good luck with your machine, they have really started to develop a little cult following. Tough little guys too, being 25+ years old!