[anthonyowen]

I’ve searched extensively and can’t seem to find any bikes with my particular problem. Hopefully I can get some good insight here.

I have an 09 rancher at with only 300 miles on it. Last summer it started randomly stopping while I was riding it. The gear indicator just shows a line and it won’t start again. If I let it sit for a while, it will sometimes show the gear and let me shift to neutral and start it again. It’s not stuck in gear because I can roll it back and forth. The problem seems to be getting worse. It won’t even make it 500 feet without it shutting off. I’ve read a lot about the shift angle sensor, does it sound like this is the problem? Are they hard to get to? I’m by no means a mechanic, but I can work on things within reason.

If it helps, it’s never been mudding or ridden through deep water. It does, however, get stored outside in the rain so maybe moisture is getting somewhere it shouldn’t? I put a brand new battery in it last year so that’s not the issue.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[retro]

Stalling has nothing to do with the angle sensor or electric shift components. Your issue might be caused or aggravated by being out in the weather all the time, so search for simple things first. Loose/corroded battery terminals and frame & motor grounds, fuses, replace the spark plug with an NGK, replace old rotting fuel in the tank with fresh gas, etc. Then determine whether the motor is loosing ignition or fuel when it stalls out, so you'll know what to look at next.

You can find a copy of the service manual HERE.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[anthonyowen]

I appreciate the reply. it’s not stalling like it isn’t getting gas, there’s something electronic telling it, you won’t run anymore. now that you mention it, it does act like a loose ground. I tried to start it yesterday and as soon as I hit the starter button, everything went blank, no power. I have a winch wired directly to the battery and that worked just fine so I know power was available, the machine just wasn’t getting any.

 

[anthonyowen]

One more thing worth mentioning, the check engine light isn’t on and has never been on. No trouble codes. Maybe it’s a bad ground

 

[Carolynskii]

Check the ground wires on the battery and frame and the ground on engine is grounded on one the bolts that holds the starter on.

 

[misterclean59]

Classic symptoms of bad battery connections.

 

[anthonyowen]

thanks for the replies guys, it was a bad ground from the battery. everything is working fine now. thanks again for the help, you saved me time and money

 

[retro]

Thanks for letting us know its fixed!