[fenceline4wheeler]

I have an acquired FourTrax 250 that I was letting a neighbor kid mess around on. He "accidentally" hit a 4X4 wooden fence post and now the I can't get the thing to start. No electric and I can't get it back in neutral. Checked the battery and it's fully charged. No leaks and no hanging cables. Any ideas?

 

[Helmut]

Welcome to the forums. Will it actually not go into neutral or do you mean that the neutral light just doesn't come on?

 

[fenceline4wheeler]

Thanks! I was able to rock it back into neutral, but no lights.

 

[Helmut]

The electric start won't work until the neutral light, lights up. Try checking your fuses. Also, make sure the neutral wire didn't come off the neutral switch. The neutral switch should be located on the right side of the engine, down low, somewhere around the foot peg. It will have a cover over it. There should be three plugs under the cover, the neutral switch, the reverse switch, and the oil temp sensor. If the wire is still plugged into the neutral switch, unplug it and ground the end of it to the engine, with the key on. That should make the neutral light, light up if it's getting power to the bulb. If it doesn't light up, you will have to trace the small red wire from one of the posts on the solenoid to the bulb.

 

[shadetree]

if he hit the front of that atv..check under the front cap area..there are two fuses there..i bet they got busted.

 

[fenceline4wheeler]

OK - so I found the two fuses intact. however, I can't find any wiring anywhere on the right side. Most of the wiring seems to lead from the front (like the oil temp wire) and down the left side. I'm not sure what the plugs are supposed to look like, but I was able to find two large plugs near the battery. What exactly does the neutral switch look like? Thanks again!

 

[Helmut]

OK - so I found the two fuses intact. however, I can't find any wiring anywhere on the right side. Most of the wiring seems to lead from the front (like the oil temp wire) and down the left side. I'm not sure what the plugs are supposed to look like, but I was able to find two large plugs near the battery. What exactly does the neutral switch look like? Thanks again!

What year is the Fourtrax 250? Is this a '85-'87 Fourtrax 250 utility or one of the newer Recons? Is it a utility or a sport quad?

 

[fenceline4wheeler]

It's an '85 and I'm guessing with the rack on the front and back, it's a utility - not trying to sound illiterate, but I acquired it and was given simple maintenance instructions.

 

[Helmut]

I know it's not new and I'm guessing with the rack on the front and back, it's a utility - not trying to sound illiterate, but I acquired it and was given simple maintenance instructions.

Does the ATV look like this one? The yellow arrow points to the area where the neutral switch is located. It will have a cover over it.

 

[Helmut]

If it looks like the ATV in the picture above, the neutral switch will be under the black cover, right above the right side foot peg. The pictures below, will show where it's located. The pictures below are of an ATC250 3-wheeler, but the engines are the same.

 

[fenceline4wheeler]

Success! Located the wire and was able to ground it to the engine - the neutral light comes on. I tried to start it though and the neutral light immediately goes out, like the electrical being drained. Could something be jammed and causing the electric to drain to nothing?

 

[Helmut]

Success! Located the wire and was able to ground it to the engine - the neutral light comes on. I tried to start it though and the neutral light immediately goes out, like the electrical being drained. Could something be jammed and causing the electric to drain to nothing?

Have you checked all the connections to the battery, solenoid, and starter to make sure they're tight? Also, make sure your battery is charged.