start in reverse on 400ex

[05trx400exridr]

this mod is for 400ex's that have reverse. my 400ex has reverse and sometimes it can be a pain when the motor is cold and you need to back up because the motor dies easy when trying to take off in reverse (more so if you dont like to choke it, which also gets annoying). the annoying part is that after the motor dies; you have to shift to first, pull in the clutch, start it and give it gas (so it wont die again) as you turn the reverse nob and downshift to reverse. Then try backing up again lol. this mod will allow you to start the motor just by pulling in the clutch while you are still in reverse. this mod will also eliminate the reverse speed limiter, so you will be able to go much faster backwards (be carefull at first, it can get pretty squirrely in reverse at high speed). with this mod the red reverse light will still turn on when you are in reverse.


first turn on the key, but dont start it. now shift to reverse so the red light is on.

if you look down by the shifter there will be 2 wires going into the transmission, one labled N for neutral and one labeled R for reverse. follow the wires upwards until they are just below the plastic side pannel.

cut off some of the black tape coving all the wires. you should see 2 identical gray wires and a thick cord with black tape around it separate from the gray wires.(ignore the thick cord, it is just the green neutral wire encased in a thick coating of cilicon) if you only see one gray wire, you didnt remove the black tape high enough on the cord. re-tape it and cut the cord higher up.

now for the exciting part lol.... use a pair of scissors or a knife to cut just one gray wire. as you cut the wire watch the red reverse light on the handle bars(remember the key is still on and it is in reverse)

if you cut the wrong gray wire, the reverse light will shut off. reconect the wire and cut the other one.

once you have cut the correct gray wire, cut off about a half an inch piece from the wire. (so the ends of the wire dont rub and make a connection)

now just tape it up really good and your done.

(lol sorry the directions were so long to do something so simple.... if you read it all and still managed to screw this up you should not own an atv...lol)

[bansheexcracer2]

Could be dangerous, sounds cool

[plkmonster2]

You may lose your rev limiter in reverse though right? I've plugged a switch into my yammie's harness that allows it to start in gear with the brake on. It loses the rev limiter when it is held on.

[05trx400exridr]

yea you loose the rev limiter if you cut the wire. the only difference between cutting the wire and un-plugging it by the shifter is that the red reverse light will still work if you cut the wire.

[hornetgod13]

I did the above listed "How to" and my Reverse light didn't work anymore. I really wanted the reverse light to work and liked the idea of being able to restart the engine in reverse. I spliced the wire back together that I had cut from the previous instructions and went another route.
Start with taking the hood off. Locate your CDI box, its a black box with 2 connectors plugged into it. One connector has 4 wires and the other connector has 2 wires. On the 4 wire connector you will have a Grey with Black stripe wire. Peel the tape back if needed and snip the Grey with Black stripe wire. Leave enough wire just in case you want to splice it back together at some point. Tape the ends of the wires so they won't touch each other. Now put the quad in reverse and fire it up. The reverse rev limiter is disabled, your reverse light will still work and, you will be able to RESTART it in reverse. Yes!!!

[05trx400exridr]

hmmm.... maybe your wiring was slightly different. glad you got it figured out, way to go. ive had this done to mine for about a week now and i love it, it makes backing up so much simpler

[Mechanixx]

I did the cdi method no need to take lid off just reach up and pulled box down Thanks for the info of all the mods to my bike this is my favorite lol.

[jeremy_283]

my white brothers cdi allows me to start in reverse

[tp300ex]

awsome writte up i did it but i had no need for the light so i just got them both !

[stang9gt]

Def doing this!!!