P500 4wd self engagement

[Mr McH2O]

Like the title says… loaded up to go for a ride today.. realized the 4wd light was on after unloading it.. switched it off and back on and 4wd light flickered a time or 2 then popped back on. The only thing I know about it, is on the driver side of the bike on the front chunk there is a small wire, and with this wire I unplugged, the 2wd works. Plug the wire up and the 4WD indicator on the dash illuminates and the bike locks itself in 4wd without the handle in the 4wd location

 

[NTCPrezJB]

I could be wrong but I don’t think it’s an e-lock. I believe it is a mechanical 2WD/4WD selector arm moved through some linkage by the lever on the dash. Have you looked and tried to adjust the linkage? I don’t have my P5 anymore or I’d have looked to confirm before I posted this.

 

[trigger]

I could be wrong but I don’t think it’s an e-lock. I believe it is a mechanical 2WD/4WD selector arm moved through some linkage by the lever on the dash. Have you looked and tried to adjust the linkage? I don’t have my P5 anymore or I’d have looked to confirm before I posted this.

That's correct. There's a mechanical linkage just above the front differential, a cable and an adjustment nut. There's a small black plastic cover over it that can be opened up to allow for adjustment. Should be an easy fix.

 

[HondaTech]

These like the atvs are mechanical in actuation. They have been known to get debris in the cover and jam up.

The wire is just there to indicate what position it is in, not to engage 4wd.

 

[Mudder]

What they said ^^^.
And when I pulled the plastic cover off the 4wd lever cable on the passenger side of the diff. for the locker install, it was caked with mud. Learned that periodic inspection and cleaning is good to reduce stress on the cable.

 

[Mr McH2O]

Headed to the shop now to get it on the lift and see what’s going on with it