you can start it in gear just hold the rear brake

 

Guess we lost the safety switch on the handlebar issue???

My 01 Kodiak had that switch's use changed.

All that does is let you start it in gear by holding the lever in(the switch i am talking about is on the LEFT side, sitting on the quad. Eliminating it allows you to start it in any gear selection.

I cut my wires @ 2-3 inches from the switch. Just simply connect the ends of the 2 wires coming up from the steering stem together.

The reason I left a small amount of wires off the switch is to be able to use that switch for a brake light switch (Kodiak only had a running light out back---no brake light).
You can get fancy out back with some LED lights wired through that switch now that will come on when the lever is applied.

I'm tired of ripping this carb apart...gonna be pissed if it is something electrical just messing with me!

Mine was sputtering last time i tried to take it out...figured it was the carb again. Parked it....went out last night to work on it and tried it again and it ran PERFECT! WTF is going on? I know how carbs work...there is no way that it just "cleaned" itself out... When mine does it, its from idle...i can barely get it to creep back into the garage under its own power.