Shift gate for 2000 Conquest?

[AlbertaRider]

Just wondering if anyone out there has built their own shift gate and has a picture of it, specifically on how you got it mounted? My conquest keeps jumping out of low gear more so during backshifting. I tried to Dremel out some of the plastic to see if this would help, but it isn't rigid enough at this point and I hate to cut away any more if there is a better solution.

[rapidroy]

AR, my '01 conquest has a metal gate bolted on the trans with the grooves cut out for the shifter lever to sit in for each gear position. This is the first machine I have seen with this type of thing on it. I am presently at work and away from my machine till Saturday. I will take a pic and post it for you when I get off work if some body doesnt beat me to it.The gate has been handy for keeping the shift lever up and out of the way when removing/ installing the firewall panel. I'm sure I am not the only one to have put the cover on, only to discover the lever is not where it is supposed to be. I figured this thing was for letting you know that you are completely in the right gear position. I dont think it would keep it in gear, the lever just rests in the rounded groove. RR

[Dan67]

My 2000 Conquest does not have a metal gate bolted like Rapidroy. Mine just sits on the plastic firewall. I don't have a bracket to hold it in gear. If it pops out of gear while driving its because you are either putting too much strain on it while turning or something inside is worn out or broken. Mine popped out on me because i was trying to make a sharp turn with just the front and rear tires on the ground. ie.. straddling a ditch. Only happened once.

[AlaskaGrizzly]

You can buy the part that Rapidroy is talking about. Part # 610-81 - Shift Gate. Bots are 5/16-8x3/4 Gr5.

My 2003 conquest has one. I bought one and put it on my 2000 conquest which did not have one. You have to drill and tap the transmission housing to do it though. Hopefully don't have transmission problems occuring. I know they have a tendency to pop out of gear when they start going south on you.

Unfortunetly I'm not home right now for taking a photo either.

[Rock Doctor]

1998 Conquest, I just have the Firewall notched for this one. It's very important that the shifter is in the proper position when operating, if your's is jumping out of gear alot, it may already be too late. Devising something to "lock" the shifter in place is........ difficult, with how much the bodies of these machines can twist.


2004 The bracket is just a guide, it will not hold the shifter in place. It will make sure you have the shifter in place, but you have to remember to push down a little to feel it drop in place.
This is in the Reverse position


RD

[AlbertaRider]

Thanks guys (and for the pic RD). I completely went through my machine (bought it for $1200, put $2600 in bearings, chains, sprokets, seals, 8 tires, 8 axels etc) but one this i didn't do was open up the tranny to check it's condidtion as it works pretty hard for me. I have this uneasy feeling that I should have gone through it now. It only jumps out of LOW when I'm on backshift, usually with a decent load on (maybe 800 pounds total), it seems to stay in HIGH and REV all the time. Maybe after this next fishing trip (5 days starting today) I'll give the old girl a look over. Anything that I should be looking for or will it become painfully obvious when I open up the case?

[coosaridgerider]

5 day fishing trip sounds great.It sounds like you may have a bad low gear.It should be easy to find the problem once you get the case off the transmission.These are very simple transmission to work on but can be tuff to get the casing apart.As RD stated in another thread,You may need to heat the casing with a propane torch to help get it apart.Good luck with it.

[AlaskaGrizzly]

I'll also say that it sounds like your low gear is worn. Is the tranny loud in low? (I know this is relative.) If you've done all that other work on your machine the tranny won't be any problem for you. They are simple but as mentioned it can be tricky to get the case halves split. Trick is to get the cover off the main output shaft bearing. If you have access to a Argo service manual it details how to get them apart pretty well.

If you take it apart it would be a good time to add the shift gate to it.

PM with your email and I might be able to get you the good parts on the tranny teardown out of the manual.

[AlbertaRider]

Thanks AG, I have the manual and was taking a look at it with a good friend of mine who is a mechanic and he said " no problem!" but he tends to over simplify some things which kinda makes me twitchy.lol. He owns a Argo now as well, after he seen me toil through the work over...he bought a 1980 or 1981, worked it over very little and it ran like a top. He is heading to the city this weekend to pick up a brand new one now!haha. It is safe to say he's hooked as hard as me on these things now. But to answer your question, it is louder in LOW and as long as I dont let it downshift hard it stays in gear relatively well. After this trip I'll have a look inside. Just heading out the door now, with new "video glasses" so maybe I'll post a quick video of the trip in if I figure this thing out. Thanks again guys!

[eldy]

Alberta Rider could have gotten a new one to but his wife wouldn't let him. And i dont over simplify i belive if he wants to prolong his trany rebuild the shift gate should be adjustable in four parts ie r n l h so we can maintain proper gear mesh.

[AlbertaRider]

The shift gate will prolong the tranny, I went in to fish camp with a bungee cord holding the shifter in place for me and it kicked out of gear only twice in the 5 hours I was running it, both times under heavy backshift (my fault). I didn't get one second of video...left the damn video glasses in the glove box...sheesh! All in all the tracked up 2000 performed really well! I will be taking the tracks off for the summer to gain more "tire running" experience now that Eldy has a brand new one to come get me if I screw up.lol. I'm sure there is going to be several video opportunities to show how these unit perform because I know how he drives!!! I already know Elk/Moose camp is going to be awsome because of the new areas these things are going to allow us to go to. Can't wait to see the new unit Eldy, hurry up and get back to work!