[Hillbillydrummer]

Hello! I have a 2000 Honda Rancher 350 (Footshift) that I just starting having issues with. I can sometimes rock it back and forth and get it to go into neutral but it wouldn't go last night. I also noticed something new last night. At one point the neutral light was on while in gear and another time the neutral and reverse lights were both on. I can for sure fix the problem myself but wanted to see if someone the has experienced this could pin point the problem. Thank you in advance!

 

[Carolynskii]

Can’t pin point yet because there are too many possibilities. You’ll need to remove the front engine cover and inspect the linkage for anything worn or broken. If nothing found and wont shift with linkage removed then you’ll need to split the engine case to inspect the transmission and shift forks for wear or something broken.

 

[wheelsquad]

I would start out with most basic things...

What is your idle rpm at?

Is there anything wedged between the shifter and the frame/engine?

 

[Hillbillydrummer]

I actually did bump up the idle because it seemed a bit low. I'm not sure where it should be and sound like. As far as I could see I did not see anything caught in there. The wire coming from behind the shifter...is that the temp sensor?

 

[Hillbillydrummer]

I may have worded the title wrong to begin with. I THINK...I havnt messed with it since last night...but I think I can get it into neutral but the neutral light will not come on and like I said...the neutral light came on while in gear once last night as well.

 

[Carolynskii]

With your bike turned off, In neutral your bike will easily go back and forth. In gear it will only roll backward.
If you have trouble shifting between gears with the bike off then follow my earlier post but keep in mind it’s normal to rock it to complete the gear change while the bike is off.
It’s possible you have two separate problems. Nothing electrical keeps a manual shift bike from shifting so it would be a mechanical problem.
If the bike is running and idled too high then that would make it hard to shift.
The wires off the back of the engine are for the stator/generator and the smaller one is the gear switch indicator. The shift indicator could possibly be bad if it showing neutral and reverse lights at the same time but has nothing to with your bikes physical ability to shift. You can inspect it for a bare spot or grounding issue and unplug it and clean the connector and add dielectric grease to the plug. Confirm you aren’t having a mechanical shifting issue first before determining that something is wrong with the shift indicator.

 

[Hillbillydrummer]

I forgot to mention that it would also shift into reverse with out using the button and pulling in the brake lever...something is weird!

 

[retro]

The end of the shift drum has broken off. The Ist model runs of the Honda Rancher 350s (2000-2001) had weak shift drums that were replaced at Hondas expense if they failed early. Many of them did not break though... so many did not get replaced. Honda improved the shift drum after 2001 which solved the problem, but it sounds like yours will need a new one... at your expense. Gotta split the cases to install it.