Starting RTV in gear

[avorancher]

One thing I still wish I could do is to start my RTV while it is in a range other than neutral. I can start my Kawasakai Prairie in gear and it makes a lot of sense for me. I would say that 99% of my shifting would be eliminated if I could start the RTV up in mid-range.

When stopping on steep hillsides I can either shift into neutral before shutting off the engine which leaves the RTV hanging onto the promise that the emergency brake will hold (and it has), or shut it off in gear and then struggle to get it into neutral before restarting it.

There are probably a dozen reasons why this modification would be unsafe, but for me it would seem safer than the current configuration.

 

[bczoom]

Are you asking how to do it?

It takes about 30 seconds to make this mod.

 

[FL_Cracker]

I'll ask ?

How do you do it ?

Thanks,

 

[avorancher]

Sure... and I guess I want to know the ramifications of doing so in case there is something I'm missing.

 

[bczoom]

OK,

First, instead of writing all the disclaimers, I'll just say I don't know of any ramifications (not to say there isn't any) other than potential safety issues.

The neutral safety switch is located on top of the transmission about 6-8" behind the engine. As I recall, it's the only 2 wires going to the top of the tranny. The switch is mounted horizontally with the wires coming in from the engine side. There's a quick connect electric plug about 4" from the switch itself. Disconnect this and stick a small jumper wire across the 2 terminals on the wiring harness side. Voila, done.

If you want to get a little more elaborate, you could incorporate a switch back to the dash where you could then control whether the "start in gear" option is active at any time (to avoid the potential where others may do it).

 

[FL_Cracker]

THANKS, THANKS, THANKS

Charles

 

[Archdean]

Just a side note, Personaly I would think twice before publishing work arounds! A better option for me at least is to do it privately to those that I know wont get there thingys in a crack!!

But Hey that's just me and what do I know?

 

[rtvman]

Something tells me this is just not the right thing to do./forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif If there was a clutch then I would say "yes" to this modification but I think in this case always starting in neutral is the smart thing to do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Brian, am I to assume that you have yours setup this way? Or you have at least tried it? Just curious.

Kevin

 

[bczoom]

Dean,

Well, I tried to disclaim that I don't know what the ramifications or effects may be but my intent was to say "do it at your own risk".

Kevin,

Yes. Leaving it as it came is the best thing to do. I only posted the "how to do it" since you asked.

No. I do not have mine setup this way. I know how to do it and tried this when my RTV wouldn't start when it was below freezing. In the troubleshooting process I needed to isolate where my problem was.
The symptoms led me to believe it was either this switch or the starter. Bypassing this switch isolated the problem so I replaced the starter which did fix the problem.

Brian

 

[avorancher]

I agree that it should be a "at your own risk" modification as all modifications should be. That said, my 2-year old Kawasaki ATV does not have a clutch and unlike my RTV, needs a little feathering of the gas pedal (lever) to get it started which means it can lunge forward a bit when starting. Despite this, I believe the new ones still have the ability to start in gear which happens to be a very useful feature for me on my terrain. I don't know how the Kawasaki mule works, but it has a similiar engine and drive train as my ATV.

If the RTV was easier to shift on steep slopes, I probably wouldn't have wished for this feature. I noticed yesterday that if you leave it in gear with engine off and release the brake on an incline, it begins to coast making an unpleasant clunking noise in the transmission area.

 

[whoodle]

My concern would be starting the engine under load when in gear, but further thought that the machine does not move when idling in gear leads me to believe that there is a psuedo nutral within the gears. Thus my vote would be to try the mod. But, I personally didn't understand a thing BZ said /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Gipper]

Just recently got mine and only have about 13 hours on it. I usually try to put in in neutral, with park brake set, when I stop. Unintentionally left it it gear the other day, got in it to move it and without thinking about the gears, turned the key and it started in gear. Thinking it was not supposed to do this, I intentionally tried it a few time throughout the rest of the day, and it did it every time. The range did not make any difference. However, I did not try to start it in reverse!

It did not do this first few days after I got it. While getting used to it, I tried, untentionally of course, to start it in gear and it would not do it. I kind of like the idea since it saves a lot of shifting, but doing something it is not designed to do makes me worry that something more serious is developing! (Such as the drive shaft rattle I think I'm hearing - relating to another thread on here. I will run it more and make sure before addressing that issue.)

 

[bczoom]

Gipper,

You're saying on one particular day it would start in gear but it only happened that one day?

If it will start in gear, don't worry, the problem and repair isn't a major thing. You probably just have a bad switch. It takes about 30 seconds to replace.

If you can duplicate it (starting in gear), leave it in gear and disconnect the switch and run an ohmmeter across the 2 terminals. If you get 0 across the 2 leads on the switch side, the problem is the switch. If that reads full open try the wiring harness side. If 0 on that side, it's a little worse in that the problem is probably in the harness.

Brian

 

[Gipper]

Brian,

Didn't mean to indicate that it was only that one day it would start in gear. Now that I have had time to check it again, it is starting in gear, but now only in the High range. In medium range, low range, and reverse it will not start in gear! I have tried it several times and it's now only in the high range will it start in gear. It's not really a problem at this time but I will mention it to the dealer when I take it back to have the winch installed.

Thanks for all your help!!

Gipper

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Brian,

Didn't mean to indicate that it was only that one day it would start in gear. Now that I have had time to check it again, it is starting in gear, but now only in the High range. In medium range, low range, and reverse it will not start in gear! )</font>

Gipper,

That sounds like linkage. Another easy fix but requires 2 people to adjust. Like you said, let the dealer take care of it.

Dealer installing winch??? What winch are you getting?

Brian