Rich or too deep will tell you how to fix it in a bit, in the meantime, you should be able to pull the brake lever and it will start in gear.

 

Is the gear indicator showing correctly (which gear it is in)?

 

Yes. It looks to show the gears as they are shifted. As I said above, even when shifted into first gear it will indicate as neutral on the dash console.
We bought this as a used machine. It is in excellent condition otherwise. We are quite pleased with it. We just need to fix this indicator gadget. Or bypass it.
Thanks for he help.

 

Rich or Too Deep around? I could use some advice on my Foreman sensor issue. Perhaps after the weekend?

 

Will it start when in 1st gear if the display says neutral? Will it start when in neutral if the display says neutral? If in first gear and the display says neutral what happens when you go to 2nd? Does the display say 1st?

 

The Freeman can start in actual first gear even though the dash board says its in neutral.
And it won't start in actual neutral unless the foot shifter is lifted up a small amount (the dash neutral light will light up.)

 

Sounds like the gear position switch is bad. The rear cover has to be removed to fix that.

 

Does this mean the whole engine has to be removed to change it out?

I suppose I ought to buy a service manual.

 

Nope. You'll have to take the back off of the engine though. Probably easiest to remove the swingarm and air box to give you access. You might be able to do it with the swingarm in place if you have little Japanese hands, but when I recently pulled the stator cover to replace the crank seal, I went ahead and pulled the swingarm and replaced the swingarm bearings while I was at it.

Oh, and while you have that rear cover off, go ahead and replace the crank seal and the reverse shifter thingy seal! They're cheap and easy to do if you already have the rear cover off!

 

Nope. You'll have to take the back off of the engine though. Probably easiest to remove the swingarm and air box to give you access. You might be able to do it with the swingarm in place if you have little Japanese hands, but when I recently pulled the stator cover to replace the crank seal, I went ahead and pulled the swingarm and replaced the swingarm bearings while I was at it.

Oh, and while you have that rear cover off, go ahead and replace the crank seal and the reverse shifter thingy seal! They're cheap and easy to do if you already have the rear cover off!

Swingarm has to be removed since the switch is mounted to the rear crankcase cover and not the alternator cover.

 

here is a manual ......
2005-2006 Foreman 500 Service Manual

 

Thank you.

 

Makes me wish Santa would bring me a machine lift like that. It looks easy to work on the Honda's.
Well, were in our ugly winter up here so the maintenance will have to wait, since I don't have a shop to do this in. I was hoping the repair would be easy. Thanks guys.

 

Makes me wish Santa would bring me a machine lift like that.

No kidding... Thats the cats a$$.. I could even fit another quad in my garage if i stored one on the lift and the other under...Hmmm. lol B)

 

If pulling the front brake doesn't let it start you could run a jumper wire to the light green/red stripe wire from the switch and ground it (will show neutral to the ECM). If doing that until spring I would hook a toggle switch into it so you could manually put it in "neutral" and shut it back off once started.