Max 2 reverse troubles

[Karter searles]

my 1997 max 2 does not like to shift into reverse. it will creep back at an idle but with no power, it has a really hard time shifting into reverse then back into forward, and i have read the threads pertaining to the issue, but will someone please go in depth and explain it to me like they would a 6 year old? im and brand new to AATV's. thanks!

[hydromike]

.....but will someone please go in depth and explain it to me like they would a 6 year old?

Hey Karter,

We're going to need a bit more information. The shifter itself is a very simple mechanism, so binding shouldn't be a problem. Are you getting a grinding noise when you try to shift? If so, you need to make sure that your drive belt is loose enough so that the secondary clutch on the transmission either stops spinning (never happens for me...) or slows down enough to minimize or eliminate the grinding. If you're not getting any grinding noise and it just "won't go", you need to learn to do something called the "T-20 dance". While you're sitting in the machine, wiggle the whole machine back and forth while you're applying pressure to the shifter to shift it into reverse. The teeth on the shift collars in the transmission need to line up with the gears in order to actually shift. A little jostling and wiggling usually work.

As far as idling backwards without power, do your steering sticks (called "laterals", usually) have the springs installed on the bottom of them that hold them forward? If so, you usually have to pull back HARD to fully engage the transmission bands and get all the power in reverse. You can always remove the springs if you don't like them; it does no harm to take them off and it's actually the preferred setup for a lot of folks.

Let us know how you make out with the above approach.

[thebuggyman1]

will someone please explain it to me like they would a 6 year old?

That's supposed to be a 5 year old.......just too funny.

[jerseybigfoot]

One thing to try is removing the shift linkage form the trans shifting diamonds and seeing if both shifting diamonds shift on their own. I have a case now that the input shaft side diamond will only shift from forward to neutral. Tore the trans apart and found the bronze bushing that the shift collar rides on in the reverse drum seized to the shift collar and scored up bushing fit.

[Karter searles]

I do not have the springs on my laterals, and yes it does make the grinding noise, but i can get it to stop grinding and it will be in the revers gear and it wont go, so i will try the t20 dance and see how that goes, thanks!

[tattooman]

Is your battery to big. If this is the case, then you may be hitting the battery while trying to drive in reverse.

[Karter searles]

my battery is actually undersized, i need a new one,