new to me Big Bear 350 issues

[black250ex]

Hey guys,

I was just given a yamaha big bear 350 by my neighbor, and I need some guidance. This quad has definitely lived a hard life but I would like to breathe a little life back into it. It starts up and idles great, and shifts into first fine, but its having a really tough time getting into any gear higher than 1st. When I am able to shift it into a higher gear the shifter gets hung up until i push it back down with my foot. My plan as of now is just to change all the fluids, and adjust the clutch according to the manual and see if that helps at all. Any other ideas are very much appreciated.

Also, I cant find a VIN# anywhere on the thing, but I think its a 1997. Its an "SE" 4x4 with the h/l/r selector right next to the engine.

[gangle04]

Try this...from neutral pull the shifter up and hold it there and try to move...DON'T DROP IT DOWN WHILE REVVED...if the bike still feels like it's in neutral there and drives good in first your clutch is adjusted fine where it is and can be tedious getting it back.....after that u could try changing your oil if it looks that bad but I'd get a new clutch cover gasket and take the cover off its the big one on right hand side there's about 12 8 mm bolts. An oIL line and your reverse switch......when pulling the cover off there's a few pieces that can fall out a plate with 3 ball bearings in it (fixed) they can't fall out.. a spring and a couple pie shaped gears....all part of your secondary clutch....n just go from there make sure shaft from shifter to cam isn't bent n binding...something in there is probably binding unless it's right inside the crank case.....if it is I have a crank case/transmission I could sell.....I have 1 with the high/lo version off a 99 Kodiak. ..in 2000 they changed the name of the Kodiak to big bear and gave the Kodiak a CVT. ....and I have one off a 350 wolverine without the hi/lo option ..

[black250ex]

Thanks for the response, gangle.

I tried what you said, but when I shift into first and keep the lever up it pulls forward like its in gear. However, I took it for a quick spin and it seemed to shift fine through all the gears. I wasnt able to ride it very long due to some carb issues, but it seemed ok. I changed the oil with Rotella T6 5w40 and also changed the fluid in both diffs, after I get my carb kit I should be able to take it out for a ride and post an update.

[gangle04]

How it's running is not ok ....your clutch is out of adjustment. Way out. My guess is the clutch started slipping and the past guy backed the adj. Screw all the way out thinking it would be tighter but it's not...your secondary clutch (clutch pack) is not doing its job at all..it's job is to take the quad out of gear when u push up or down on shift lever just like a standard clutch...that's why your having trouble shifting....what u have to do is turn adj. Screw in 1/8th of a turn. Pull lever up/down. Hold and hit gas. If the quad is trying to move repeat until it doesn't. And once u get that set up so it's not trying to move go for a rip and make sure it doesn't slip....it shouldn't. .. if it does just back it out 1/8th of a turn .....the way it is now is hard on transmission gears...also if clutch is slipping...I won't get tout into it but make sure your running a jaso-MA certified oil...and definitely no synthetics that's aren't jaso-MA approved..they will swell your clutche's cause premature wear and slip

[gangle04]

Nvm about oil didn't finish reading your post...I run the same oil it's jaso-MA approved by shell not certified but a proved I run the same stuff in my 400

[black250ex]

I tried adjusting the clutch like you suggested, and no matter how I adjusted it the quad wouldn't go into neutral while holding the shift lever up. Im assuming my clutch is toast?

[gangle04]

Nope if clutch was toast it'd be slipping there's something wrong inside that clutch cover ..something with the whole secondary shift mechanism. U try turning it both ways? If I remember right they are backwards threads. It might not be worth the hassle with a free bike...it's an easy fix ...without a picture or diagram it's hard to describe how it works n I can't find one...it shouldn't hurt anything if u completely let gas go when shifting...the primary (centrifugal) clutch actually has a one way bearing so if the wheels are spilling the clutch bell (outer part) faster then the cent. clutch is spinning there is no pressure on any gears when shifting.. it's a personal thing is u wanna year it apart n possibly spend a few bucKS giver if not dont