Reverse freezes?

[mx1500]

Happened a couple times last season and I didnt make a big deal out of it. So while I was changing my top tooth to a 19t I went thru the whole chaincase and everything looked fine. Yesterday it happened again. Rode all dsy and it sat for maybe 5 minutes and I CANNOT get the lever to budge. It was lots of fun pulling it off the trailer by hand... anyone else experience this?

 

[Matt85]

Yea I had the same problem a few days ago. Moisture is getting on the shaft below the handle. Pull it back and put a good marine type grease on it and work it back and forth a few times. That should fix the problem.

 

[canoehead]

Did you ensure you could get reverse after you had the chaincase open?

 

[porkchop]

Mine has been doing it the past couple of days but attributed it to riding in the powder and the cold/ freezing temps.
Lever does move but harder.

 

[old man winter]

Could be a moisture issue but I don't think that's a common problem with reverse on the nytro. If chain tension is too tight reverse will not engage. That would be my starting point. I allways check chain tension at the start of the season and recheck maybe half way through if I put lots of miles on. As far as applying any type of grease to an externally exposed part I would not do this to my sled as it only attracts unwanted particulate and accelerates wear.

 

[Snowman871]

Had it happen to me last weekend as well after packing the whole chain case side full of snow which turned to ice... I had to use a heat gun (aka wife's hair dryer) to thaw things out so it would work again. Looking into ways to keep snow out in the powder!

 

[Matt85]

No grease=frozen handle

Grease=not frozen handle

Do you really think greasing the shaft behind the handle is going to attract "particles" and wear it out? How often do you use reverse? You would literally have to cycle the handle thousands of times to wear it out. Grease will help keep moisture out and prevent the handle from freezing up. All the guys responding to this have had the same thing happen and most of the time it's after riding in powder. If it was a problem in the chain case the handle wouldn't free up once the sled thaws out

 

[old man winter]

No grease=frozen handle

Grease=not frozen handle

Do you really think greasing the shaft behind the handle is going to attract "particles" and wear it out? How often do you use reverse? You would literally have to cycle the handle thousands of times to wear it out. Grease will help keep moisture out and prevent the handle from freezing up. All the guys responding to this have had the same thing happen and most of the time it's after riding in powder. If it was a problem in the chain case the handle wouldn't free up once the sled thaws out

Sorry Matt85 if I offended you. You are right about the reverse would likely never wear out from wear and tear. I'm not sure where you ride as your location is not listed. I was speaking to Mx1500's specific issue as we are both from Saskatchewan central to northern prairies and I am familiar with snow conditions that he is riding if he is riding locally. Icy, low snow and powder is hard to find currently. Grease would likely hinder movement in some of the extreme temps we ride. As canoehead was suggesting he had recently been in his chaincase changing gearing and perhaps didn't check to see if he had reverse when he was done. I too have had a tough time getting my nytro in and out of reverse before but ice was not the issue.

 

[poor farmer/logger]

Conditions are good east of Prince Albert. No shortage of powder when you get in the bush. Some fields are hard but the fence lines are good.

As too the reverse leaver I've had mine freeze up usually once a week. Doesn't take much heat to thaw it out. Anything to displace the water helps but it usually will freeze again anyways.

 

[Dodge Ram]

Good grease and lots of WD40 on the pivot areas. I have minimal freezing issues after riding powder. A couple of thumps with the hand and we are good. That just knocks some of the ice loose.

 

[grumpysanta]

I had same problem and got worst , so you could not budge the rev. lever . and the sled sleeps in side , so it was not frozen it was rust were the shaft slides into the holder , just spayed alot with lube and cleaned out rust and dirt and it works fine now