Now take it easy on me because I am over from the Polaris forum, but my father in law just bought a 1999 Foreman 450 ES and I have a couple questions. How would you start the machine if say when you stopped the bike it was left in gear and when you went to start it again the battery was dead. Now on some machines they will start while in gear, but it is my understanding that the foreman has to be in neutral, am I correct?

Also, he is completely new to the four-wheeling scene, so is there anything that I need to watch out for on this bike or any maintenance tips anyone is willing to share. The bike has 1087 miles on it and he paid $2900. Is this good?

 

The Foreman ES can be shifted manually using the back-up shift lever that comes with the quad. I think it's in the tool kit or something and it slips on a shaft where a normally shifting quad would be. I see you're father in law's quad is used so this shift lever may be missing??? I have a 1999 Foreman 450s and the only thing I have changed on it are the brakes and front and rear bearings and the quad has a little over 1,800 miles on it. It sounds like you're father in law got a fair deal on the quad.

 

you got a good deal... now about the shifting, u need the lever to shift it into neutral if the bettery is dead, there should be one in storage box if not ask your honda dealer for a replacement.. the lever fits on a short stub out of the bottom of the tranny, after that pull away.


im from the polaris forums too these honda guys are nice i ride with alot of them... as long as you dont get stupid and tell them their atvs are junk they are great people.. by the way hondas are great

 

Thanks for the advice on shifting the bike. I will check for the lever, and if it isn't there I will have him order one. Is there anything else I need to know about how the four wheel drive works (or doesn't) and any tricks to maintenance.

 

these things dont need any maintance besides an oil change and a diff fluid change every now and then... watch your boots for tears and thats it.

 

Also, when you change the oil and filter make sure you put the oil filter in the right way. If you put it in backwards oil will not circulate and the motor will go boom.

 

If all you wanted to do was start it, when the battery was dead, and in gear, and no handle....strap it to another quad, and pull start it. Once it fires up, the es shifting should work.
I agree with the filter change...make sure its in correctly, it can get installed backwards, and thats not good.

 

that doesnt work with the es... ive tried it

 

In a jam you can use a 12 or 13mm ( cant remember which ) wrench on the manual shift lever...just to get it into neutral so you can pull start or boost it ..

 

It does need to be in nuteral to start it w/electric start, but if it's in gear, you should be able to pull start it no problem. The pull start is right behind the removable cover on the right side. Because of the auto decompressor it's as easy to start as a push lawn mower...