Hello All, new to this forum. I have a steep hillside property use ATV for hauling wood, maple sap, utility tasks. Bought a used 2004 Honda Foreman Rubicon in 2016. By the end of 2018 the hondamatic went bad, clanging sound when driving, wouldn't shift. I tried fixing it with a friend in his shop but its now just sitting there with engine out. Trying to figure out what to do. Buy new hondamatic and replace? New engine? Sell for parts and buy new/used ATV. ANy input appreciated. Thanks

 

The old 500 Auto is a lot better machine than what Honda make now. The gearbox does get noisy on high hours machines, but if it has stopped working due to mechanical failure it should be fairly easy for someone who knows what they are doing to fix. I have never fixed one as they are so reliable, (unlike the contemporary 500 FM on which I had to rebuild every gearbox within 3 years, on those we sold between 05 and 07). Probably best to have a word with a Honda ATV mechanic. Do not let them talk you into buying a post 2013 500 Auto, but there may be a reason for the failure which is known to them, and not too expensive to fix.

 

Pretty sure its the hondamatic that is shot. Its a $1500 part for a 2004 Rubicon I bought for $2400. At this point Im considering selling it for parts and buying a newer model. Heard anything about more modern Honda Foreman 450 or 500? Post 2018

 

Post 2014 manual gearbox 420s and 520s are good bikes. The Auto is not. Both are theoretically available as independent rear suspension, but I have only seen IRS Autos. We have had a bit of trouble with the auto box, but its main problem is it is not nice to use, you never know when it is going to change gear and it jumps slightly when it does. Most owners simply stick it in ESP and leave it there, so may as well have bought the cheaper and simpler ES version. Pre 2014 420s are a pile of poo so avoid them. The old IRS Auto is almost the same as now, so has that jerky change, otherwise the IRS 420 is actually a lot better than the truly awful swinging arm rear axle used on the manual 420s from 06 to 14.