ampdup

I shut my 1995 400 Foreman off in gear, and when I went to restart it, it won't shift down into neutral.

It feels like it will shift up into the higher gears, and down shift to maybe second or third, but no further. It's never given me any trouble before so I'm at a loss here. I have tried rocking it and trying to get it to shift.

I've tried a forum search for the answer, but couldn't seem to find anyone with the same problem

Travis Ricks

Just a thought, but, if it's equipped have you tried pulling the crank rope (recoil starter) and then try to shift it?

ampdup

Yeah, tried that several times. Tried pulling it a short distance with my truck as I tried to down shift as well.

toodeep

If it's not shifting at all I would guess the shift plate cracked and it's not rotating the shift drum anymore. The front engine cover has to be removed to fix that. Could possibly be the bolt backed out of the shift drum also.

ampdup

So I'm assuming that all the front plastic has to come off for this (UGH)

I read in this thread that the easiest way to do this is to stand it up on it's back rack. This is nothing I will attempt in one day. Will it hurt anything to leave it in this position for an extended period of time or should I drain the fluids?

Foreman 400 Gear shifter seized

Helmut

I believe you can get the front cover off without pulling the plastics off. It won't hurt anything to sit it up on it's back end, just turn your gas off.

Hondo

The plastic doesn't have to come off but I usually do when pulling the front cover. It's easier to get to everything and less dirt to fall into the case.
When sitting it on the tail end make sure the fuel cap vent is high enough not to laek. I've had one sitting that way for weeks awaiting time and parts.