I just bought a 01 Raptor a few weeks ago after selling my Polaris Trailboss(tired of being left behind). I took it to Silver Lake and put about 1 hour of ride time on it when I started to have problems. I did some searches and found alot about the 01 Trannys but I wanted to get some imput on how mine is acting.
It rode great for about a hour until I went to go up a steep incline and it was in second gear. It started to make a noise like it was catching with the gears. I pulled it off the hill and let it set for a few minutes and took back off and it rode fine for a few more minutes until it did the same thing going up a slight incline. I then headed for the parking lot and after a few minutes it wouldn't move at all. I let it sit for a few minutes and it would go again and I was able to get back to the lot (was slipping just a little).
Someone thought it might be the clutch and someone else said the shift fork. Also it was slipping in gears 1-3, just not 2nd. I checked out raptortranny.com but I don't have much mechanical skill.
Just some imput on what you think the problem is and if it is the fork and I want th 02 gears can you buy just some of the parts or should you buy a hole kit(some seem expensive).
One more thing I had 21x11-10 Sand Geckos on it, someone told me they were over sized.

Great web site, and sorry for the long message.

 

The transmissions go with either a ratcheting sound, lock up or no second gear at all (feels like neutral). In order to upgrade you need the whole set. Sounds like its on the way out if it was making noise.

Or

Since it was slipping in 1-3 also, was it making noise aswell? Check the front sprocket for teeth, I talked to a couple guys who called for transmissions and found the front countersprocket stripped of teeth. (can happen quick on these big motors once the sprocket is worn)

 

It made the same noise in all the gears, and it seemed to engage better if it cooled down for a few minutes. It also was worse when I was on any incline, if the ground was flat or going down hill it would engage instead of slipping.

 

sounds like the front sprocket then.

 

Thanks, is that hard to fix, also any opinon on the tires

 

nah, the sprocket is an easy fix, its what drives your chain, in the front up by the motor. You should be able to look at it and tell if the teeth are gone it needs replaced.

I dont know chit about sand tires, sorry

 

ive seen ppl put bigger tires on 400ex and not have a problem but i odnt know about sand tires they had big mud tires.

 

Your chain may be loose, or the sprockets are worn and making your chain slip. Happens to me sometimes when I really hammer it down and the chain is loose in soft sand.

 

I just checked the front spocket and it appears worn down. I'm not sure what a new one looks like as far as length. Is it similar to the rear because my front is not to a point but short and more of a rounded bump.
Also the tires got good traction but I was worried if they were to large would it put to much stress on the tranny.

 

You're tires are fine. Sounds like your sprocket is WAY past due for replacement. If your sprocket is that bad you want to seriously think about buying both front and rear sprockets and a new chain. When one goes they're usuall all worn out.
Sprockets and chains are very easy to change even if you don't have any experience. Good practice for working on your quad. You should feel fortunate, most people that report sounds like you did on a 01 are usually knee deep in expensive and broken trany parts.