I have a 2001 Rubicon that makes a grinding noise once warmed up. It sounds like it is coming from the Shift control motor area once the grinding starts it just makes the grinding consistent with the throttle and loses it ability to move under a load. The bike runs normal at cold start then begins its antics. Im not sure if this would be a oil pump issue or a clutch issue? I can tell you I'm only able to shift into 4th gear in ESP mode. Any thoughts?

 

Any Help or Idea's?

 

If I remember right ,when the complicated hydrostatic Rubicon tranny came out , I read in Dirtwheels magazine that its down side is Honda made the tranny unserviceable.
If the tranny quit it had to be changed as a complete unit for like $1,300-$1600.

Other sites have mentioned it. 2001 Rubicon transmission issue

and
http://www.hondaforeman.com/128-fore...smissions.html

 

same issue is the video in your other post? Make sure you have the flat washer on the oil filter in the correct spot, I put mine in backwards a decade ago and It caused issues, but nothing as drastic as you describe. there used to be a hondamechanic on these forums way back in the day- id do a search to see if he is still a member