motor and tranny problems

[278]

I just bought a banshee from the early 90's, i have stripped it completely down so i can do some body and chassis work. this banshee has been sitting for about 5 or 6 years. Before that it was having some trouble staying running. When i first got it i tried to start it and was un successful. It has spark and i changed all the fluid, but it didnt work. I think it may be a carb issue and not getting fuel. Another option is i noticed that the transmission wont shift i believe it just has to do with the lever but it wont go into gear. when you move the shifter it shifts but the transmission doesnt. I think this could be the problem too the switch to tell it not to start when not in neutral or with out holding the clutch is stuck. This is my first banshee and i wont to get an idea of what im dealing with before i tear the motor and tranny apart. can anyone help me?

[BenBB]

Definitely invest in a Clymer manual or download a copy. There's no neutral switch (although there's provision for it on the white plastic cap behind the front sprocket), and there's no switch on the clutch perch (there might be for the e-brake but it doesn't detect clutch in or out) so it doesn't care what gear you're in or if the clutch is pulled in or not to start. If you have spark it's either an issue of fuel like you suspect, or air (clogged filter/obstruction in intake tract), or compression; if you have all four of those it oughta run...get the jetting just right and it'll scream.

 

The no shifting issue...did it do that when it was running? Just sitting on the bench or in the quad without running, it usually won't shift gears without at least rotating the motor by hand. Try that first, use the kickstarter to slowly turn the motor over, you should be able to shift between all 6 gears. If that doesn't work, most likely it's just the internal shift pawl, but before you take off the RH clutch cover on the case make sure the little splines on the shift lever itself aren't stripped, if that's loose it'll act similarly. If that's tight you'll need to pull the clutch cover and have a look at the shift shaft/star and hopefully get it back on the dowel (find a picture it'll help ALOT) without having to take out the clutch pack. If that checks out ok it could be a bent shift shaft or forks...not a big deal just takes some work to get into, try to rule out the simple/accessible things first and go from there. Good luck.

[WildShee]

When I baught my first shee in April, it had low compression, only way to start it was to put your hand over the airbox opening. fresh fuel and a quick carb clean might help too.

[278]

Definitely invest in a Clymer manual or download a copy. There's no neutral switch (although there's provision for it on the white plastic cap behind the front sprocket), and there's no switch on the clutch perch (there might be for the e-brake but it doesn't detect clutch in or out) so it doesn't care what gear you're in or if the clutch is pulled in or not to start. If you have spark it's either an issue of fuel like you suspect, or air (clogged filter/obstruction in intake tract), or compression; if you have all four of those it oughta run...get the jetting just right and it'll scream.

 

The no shifting issue...did it do that when it was running? Just sitting on the bench or in the quad without running, it usually won't shift gears without at least rotating the motor by hand. Try that first, use the kickstarter to slowly turn the motor over, you should be able to shift between all 6 gears. If that doesn't work, most likely it's just the internal shift pawl, but before you take off the RH clutch cover on the case make sure the little splines on the shift lever itself aren't stripped, if that's loose it'll act similarly. If that's tight you'll need to pull the clutch cover and have a look at the shift shaft/star and hopefully get it back on the dowel (find a picture it'll help ALOT) without having to take out the clutch pack. If that checks out ok it could be a bent shift shaft or forks...not a big deal just takes some work to get into, try to rule out the simple/accessible things first and go from there. Good luck.

 

ok thanks. yeah i thinks its just a fuel problem or just low compression so ill try a few things once i get the motor put back in it

[278]

When I baught my first shee in April, it had low compression, only way to start it was to put your hand over the airbox opening. fresh fuel and a quick carb clean might help too.

 

This sounds like it could be the prblem with low compression so ill try this and if not it could be a fuel problem like BenBB said thanks for the help