All-terrain vehicle reverse gear protection

1. A reverse system for an ATV having an engine and an engine drive shaft, the system comprising:

a reverse activator coupled to the drive shaft to activate operation of the ATV in a reverse direction;

an engine speed limiter to limit engine speed to below a predetermined level while the reverse activator is activated;

a four-wheel drive switch operable to place a transmission of the ATV in a four-wheel drive mode, the four-wheel drive switch located on the ATV for manual activation: and

an override switch in electrical communication with the four-wheel drive switch to allow engine speeds above the predetermined level, the override switch being deactivated when the four wheel drive switch is other than in four-wheel drive mode.

2. The reverse system of claim 1 , wherein the override switch also switches the ATV into four-wheel-drive.

3. The reverse system of claim 1 , further comprising a selector and a front drive, the selector being coupled to the drive shaft and including an electric actuator to engage the drive shaft with the front drive.

4. The reverse system of claim 1 , wherein the engine includes a crankshaft; and the system further includes a driven gear coupled to the drive shaft and a drive gear coupled to the crankshaft, the drive gear having a right-angle helical cut gear, wherein the drive shaft extends forward of the drive gear to drive front wheels of the ATV and rearward of the drive gear to drive rear wheels of the ATV.

5. The reverse system of claim 4 , further comprising a selector and a front drive, the selector being coupled to the drive shaft and including a manual lever to engage the front drive shaft and front drive.

6. The reverse system of claim 4 , further comprising a selector and a front drive, the selector being coupled to the drive shaft and including an electric motor to engage the drive shaft with the front drive.

7. The reverse system of claim 1 , further comprising a four-wheel-drive switch to switch between two- and four-wheel-drive and a engine speed controller, wherein when the override switch is activated the position of the four-wheel-drive switch determines which setting is activated in the engine speed controller.

8. The reverse system of claim 7 , wherein the engine speed controller includes a first, lower speed limit and a second, higher speed limit, the first speed limit being activated in reverse, two-wheel-drive.

9. A method for reverse operation of a vehicle comprising:

engaging a reverse activator;

limiting engine speed below a predetermined level in normal reverse operation;

engaging an override switch to attempt reverse operation with engine speeds above the predetermined level;

determining whether the vehicle is in a four-wheel-drive; and

upon determination that the vehicle is in the four-wheel drive mode, activating the override switch to allow engine speeds above the predetermined level, the override switch being deactivated when the vehicle is not in four-wheel-drive mode.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein engagement of the override switch also ensures engagement four-wheel-drive.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the vehicle is in the four-wheel-drive mode includes activating the override switch and controllably placing the vehicle in the four-wheel-drive mode.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein activating the override switch includes sending an electrical signal through a two-wheel/four-wheel-drive switch, wherein the two-wheel-drive switch transmits a signal to a controller to maintain a non-override engine speed condition.

13. A method of reversing a four-wheel-drive vehicle having an engine comprising:

starting the engine;

engaging reverse;

maintaining engine speed below a predetermined level under normal reverse operation, regardless of operator throttle control input;

determining whether the four-wheel-drive vehicle is in a four-wheel-drive mode;

activating an override switch in electrical communication with a four-wheel-drive switch after determining that the vehicle is in the four-wheel-drive mode, the override switch being deactivated when the vehicle is not in four-wheel drive mode; and

operating the engine in reverse at speed levels above the predetermined level while the vehicle remains in the four-wheel-drive mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein after the override switch is activated, four-wheel-drive is automatically engaged before reverse operation above the predetermined engine speed is allowed.

15. A reverse speed-limiter override circuit for a four-wheel-drive vehicle comprising:

a power source;

a two-/four-wheel-drive switch -coupled to the power source;

a reverse switch;

an actuatable override switch in electronic communication with the reverse switch and the two-/four-wheel-drive switch; and

an engine speed limiter coupled to the drive switch and to the override switch, wherein when the override switch is in a first position a reverse operation engine speed is limited to a first level, and when the override switch is in a second position the reverse operation engine speed is operable above the first level, but only when a four-wheel-drive mode of the vehicle is engaged, the override switch being deactivated when the two-/four-wheel drive switch is other than switched to four-wheel-drive mode.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the actuatable override switch in the first position sends an electric signal through the drive switch, the drive switch being coupled to the speed limiter such that the reverse operation engine speed is limited to the first level with the vehicle in a two-wheel-drive position, and wherein the actuatable override switch in the second position sends an electric signal through the drive switch such that the reverse operation engine speed is permitted above the first level only if the vehicle is in the four-wheel-drive mode.

17. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the two-/four-wheel-drive switch is an indicator switch coupled to a manual actuator.