Stuck in low gear

[b1kkgh97]

I have a 1998 Polaris Xplorer 300. It is stuck in low gear. It has low, high, and reverse. If I rock it back and forth or jam a screwdriver in the linkage chain, I can switch them but not without difficulty. Anyone have any ideas on the problem, and maybe a somewhat easy way to fix it.

[The General]

OK, I shopped around for an answer and here is what I cam up with:

It may be that your idle is too high and if this is the case, your CVT belt may be too tight. I have also heard (please do not quote me...) that it is possible that the gearing (??) has become mixed up for some reason... I'm just trying to help.

One way to test the idle theory is when the engine is off, it is possible to shift gears easily.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[b1kkgh97]

I have checked out the idle problem, not that. I have tried to shift when it is off, not that. Would a linkage problem, maybe shift shaft or bent shift fork sound like an option to check out? If I really mess with it, rocking it I can change them but it is not easy. Thank you for your help so far General. It has been helpful. I will also let you know about the snowmobile issue tommorrow, that was a good thought.

[The General]

A bent shift fork could centainly be the cause. I know for a fact that, for a car, it can prevent movement of the shifter and obviously the selection of the desired gear.

[casperman32]

shifter linkage is seized.check where the shift lever connectes to engine.