Suzuki Vinson 500 4x4 Shifter Issues - Won't Go Into Park (Diagnosis, Teardown, and Test Ride)

In this video, I teardown the shifter mechanism on my 2003 Suzuki Vinson. This ATV is a 2003 500 4x4, but all Suzuki Vinsons from 2002-2007 should have this setup, even in the LTF and LTA models.
After installing the new differential, I began to notice the quad didn't want to shift into park, as if the mechanism was jammed when trying to move from left to right. I couldn't move the shifter from neutral to the left, to then go forward into park. I show how to disconnect your linkage at the differential, explain how to gain access to your shifter, and show how the mechanism works. I hope this video is helpful for you sorry souls that own these machines, as there are some pretty cheesy parts on this thing with which I'm not too impressed.
Best of luck in your endeavors. Make sure to check out the recent uploads which include a build of this thing from the day we picked it up with a stripped differential, to installing a new differential and axle bearings, installing new front wheel bearings, to the first ride on this machine. Stick around for a full transformation video encompassed into one, once the final parts show up soon!
Make sure to leave a comment and like if you enjoyed and subscribe for more content like this!

[@rumtum99]

If you had a cameraman you’d be the best. I appreciate your attention to detail and thank you for making this!!

[@backcountrybuilds]

I’ve definitely gotta work on the videography… thanks! Glad it helped.

[@bwanadave76]

Okay. After struggling with that plastic box for over a half hour I finally got it off by prying the box away from the screw mounting boss that extends thru the box on the back side. OOF! Now - the problem with mine is the black lug on the shifter handle that fits into the rearward slot of the lever stopper plate (5:18) had come out. So, thanks a lot for the good video. It really helped.

[@backcountrybuilds]

These things are garbage. I’m pretty sure my successful disassembly involved a bit of prying too. Glad the video helped

[@kevinroberts5140]

I had the same problem, watched half the video and started fixing mine, finished and put it in drive... click click click... oh no my dif is bad. Came back and watched the whole video... shit. It's good now lol

[@backcountrybuilds]

Hahaha glad you’re back in business

[@Tanktanium]

Thanks for uploading this! I just bought a busted up 02 Vinson 500 Auto and is missing the shifter assembly (among other things) and this is a great reference. Might have questions for you shortly since I can't find a lot of info specific to this ATV.

[@backcountrybuilds]

Awesome. Hope you got a good deal on it, too. The autos are pretty cool machines. I’d be happy to help and send pictures or whatever you might need

[@Tanktanium]

@@backcountrybuilds Turns out the one I got on ebay was for an F500F and not A500F, so back to searching for one I guess.

[@3lynyrd]

Bought my 2003 4 years ago for $1500 . Been a good machine . I have the same issue so I just start it in neutral 😂 I am mechanically challenged so I won’t be attempting this fix . I’m working up to changing the oil without screwing something up . Same exact machine as yours ! Actually sometime it still goes into Park 🤷‍♂️

[@backcountrybuilds]

Must be a garbage design. Super fun machine. Mine had soooooo many miles, I couldn’t believe it. Hell yeah, keep at it. The skills come with time. I learn something (a lot) with every project… KZbin always has your back too, if you search hard enough.

[@user-oy5td2dg4m]

Great video! I have the same atv except it’s a 2007. Unfortunately I have a large crack in my rear differential near the drain plug that is unrepairable. This is a shot in the dark but do you have the old diff that you removed???

[@backcountrybuilds]

Unfortunately, I don’t. Can you get replacement cases online? I know you can buy the whole assembly online off eBay like I did, but they’re not getting any cheaper. Best of luck

[@ProductPatrol]

my shifter won't go into any gear when running a bit, click , grinding noise, have to turn off restart and then shifts, anyone know what the problem could be?

[@backcountrybuilds]

This is going to sound like a dumb question, but are you depressing the rear foot brake when you try to shift into gear while it’s running? atvconnection.com/forums/suzuki/68260-suzuki-vinson-shifter-problem.html

[@justinbock5782]

Dan, I just bought one of these and Cannot get it to go over 30mph...what is the H and L by the foot shifter represent ?? I have it in H because I thought maybe L was the reason it was stuck at 30 mph. Thanks

[@backcountrybuilds]

Dang. Top speed on the interwebs says 58mph. That’s pretty quick, if you ask me. I highly doubt it hahaha. My 400EX will do about 50… on a downhill… with a tailwind… with almost no gas… All joking aside, start with the easy stuff. Having it in high gear should be the way to go. Low gear is for pulling stumps. Start with the easy stuff - Give yourself a new spark plug. While you’ve got the plug out, give the old girl a compression test. If that doesn’t do anything, loosen the two screws that hold the carb on, tilt it sideways, pull the bowl off and give the carb a quick clean. If that doesn’t do anything, I’d remove the carb and give it a deep clean, pull the jets, etc. let me know how it goes.

[@justinbock5782]

@@backcountrybuilds Dan, replaced spark plugs and as cheap as they carbs are getting I just threw a new one on. Its very cold blooded. Have to have the choke on a little bit for quite sometime before you can actually run without the choke partially on. But it HAULS A$$. It goes close to 60 mph now ! Thanks for the help !

[@backcountrybuilds]

@@justinbock5782 that’s awesome. Might make sense to check the plug and see how it’s running. I’m no professional by any means, but I’ve been told that the spark plug is the telltale sign of how the engine is performing: You’re looking for the center electrode to be a crisp brown color. White means lean and you might take the chance of blowing the top end if the machine is overheating and you don’t know it. Doesn’t sound like it’s running rich (plug would be more black), it would be acting boggy. See what the plug says and go from there. I’ll take 60mph any day of the week, just don’t want your fun to be short lived. There’s a bunch of videos about inspecting condition of your engine from spark plug. Let me know if I can help, best of luck.

[@ralphwilliams9773]

Hi. My selector moves sideways but won't go upward into Park position. Any ideas? Good video. Thanks.

[@backcountrybuilds]

Stupid question… are you stepping on the foot brake while moving it?

[@ralphwilliams9773]

@@backcountrybuilds yep. And the hand brake. Even replaced the rear brake pads.

[@backcountrybuilds]

@@ralphwilliams9773 hmm. What year is your machine?

[@ralphwilliams9773]

@@backcountrybuilds 2003 I'm pretty sure.

[@vernonshaverjr5269]

so why did you change your differential if its shifting on the bench? Thank you

[@vernonshaverjr5269]

Does that clicking sound mean the differential is bad or does it just need adjusting?

[@backcountrybuilds]

I changed out the differential because the rear end axle splines were stripped. Separate issue. The clicking sound you hear is it shifting from drive, neutral, reverse, park.

[@tdj8686]

How many miles on your quad?

[@backcountrybuilds]

I think about 2700 at the time!

[@coryszeman8572]

Well now I feel like an idiot lol I for some reason thought it would just go up into park without the brakes being a manual parked on a flat surface never thought about hitting the brakes then shifting since it will go into reverse without the brakes lol

[@backcountrybuilds]

I thought the same… pretty sure I was jamming it into park early on before I realized that too… you’re not alone.

[@tdj8686]

So my shifter goes over and up into park and the “P” displays on the screen however it does not engage in park. It will just roll like its in neutral. Why is this??? BTW its an automatic..

[@backcountrybuilds]

atvconnection.com/forums/suzuki/171759-vinson-wont-park.html Try this link. Check out the comment by v581 on 09-09-04 (pretty old). Message me on Instagram and I’ll send you the link if it doesn’t allow you to copy it or hyperlink doesn’t populate. This may be your solution by rerouting the cable. Thanks

[@jaydonsours8888]

My park just don’t work

[@backcountrybuilds]

Mine was still iffy after this. Not Suzuki’s best design, for sure!

[@jaydonsours8888]

@@backcountrybuilds yea

[@jaydonsours8888]

@@backcountrybuilds im wanting to build it and all tho so I might make videos about it on my tiktok