Hi guys. I'm considering buying a new IRS Kodiak 450 or a honda Rancher 400AT. I am almost sold completely on the kodiak, but I keep reading posts about the belt drive allowing water or mud in when riding through headlight deep water.. A lot of places I ride have water over the racks on occasion and I won't be able to pull over and drain the housing. That also sounds like a pain in the butt, and I'm sure it will require periodically cleaning everything out and greasing it. The rancher has the fully mechanical transmission, which just seems so much more attractive. I'll get an extended warranty so I dont care about trans repair costs.. What are your experiences with the Kodiak 450 in water?

 

my kodiak has never had a problem i had it up to the racks alot of times nothing happen to it still runs strong like the day i got it

 

good to hear.

 

You can always snorkle that, I know mine used to slip on my grizzly like hell in water up to the headlights, I had to get pulled out by a little honda... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]
Intake and tranny are now snorkled, I have been passed the seat no problems.

 

I just don't want to mess with it. But I'm not sure if its worth giving up a low gear, locker, and irs to get a rancher with a sealed tranny...

 

You just have to have the common sense to not go any deeper than the headlights. It's not the quad it's the driver. At that depth your just about in 3 feet of water, get a boat not a quad at that depth.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Sparky, thanks but no thanks on the riding advice. Some go more extreme than others.. Also some of the areas I ride in FL are 2-3 feet underwater for miles, which is why my prairie is snorkeled. This isn't my primary riding area, but I want a machine capable of handling occasional very deep water. If the kodiak is anything like the grizz in water, I may go honda.. It seems if you get a grizz in water over the tires it has problems...or so i've seen on the side of the trail... Then again most people just putt down the trail and think whatever machine they have is great..

 

well mine pretty much had to be snorkled because it would act up in water over the tires... Now that its snorkled the whole bike has been under water with zero problems.

 

2-3 feet and you have to snorkel the 650? What a joke. The grizz can go as high as the headlights without any problems. Then again like I said earlier it's all about the rider. You would be wise to go with the 450 if it is as capable as the Grizz in deep water(which it is). I wouldn't be surprised if the engine intake on the Honda isn't much lower or higher than the belt intake on the of the 450 so whats the difference? One last thing my riding buddy has a praire 700 and can tackle the 2-3 feet of water without the snorkel so whats up with your 650?

 

First of all , nice post, it was really helpful and on topic...

Secondly, your statement about a grizz going as high as the headlights with no problems clearly indicates you haven't had it in much water [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Grizz's seem to have problems as soon as they are up over the tires. I hear kodiaks are better.

Lastly, no I don't need snorkels for 2-3 feet of water on my prairie - so I'm sorry to spoil your 'joke,' and invalidate your rude attitude. I was simply referring to the trails that are miles long of 2-3 feet deep of water, there are plenty of holes and deep spots that get 6-8 feet and only swamp buggies can get through for the most part...certainly no quads that aren't snorkeled. No, I'm not claming my quad can go in 6-8 feet deep of water so keep your panties on sparky .