I am looking at a new 400ex. Problem is everyone I talked to said it has a weak clutch and will need to be replaced. is this true, have any of you guys had this problem???? thanx

 

As clutches go, the 400 is on the weak side. I wouldn't reject the bike just based on that. Replacing clutches is just part of routine maintenance anyway. Ours has lots of miles on it (more than a few of them towing broken down Banshees home through the desert), and it is still fine.

 

Ive been racing mine for 3 years now and have never touched the clutch in it. Ive never had any slipping or any problems at all.

~Team440ex

 

I raced mine for two years on the stock clutch with an engine developing upper 30's RWHP. It only finally began to slip a tad after I added the 16T front sprocket. Now I run an 8 plate setup on stock hardware and it works absolutely great & was very fairly inexpensive.

Not sure where the "weak clutch" rumors come from, but in the experience I've had with my quad and friend's, the 400's clutch is better than most of the competition's.

You will certainly be fine with a stock or "piped and jetted" engine.

The only issue with the 400 is that you need to run a very good oil, since it runs high oil temps due to air cooling. People that do not perform maintenance regularly, may have problems with their engines and clutches due to this.

 

I ran mx a bungh w/ no problems but in the woods I added holeshot XCT tires and greard for them and slipped the snot out of the clutch. after they cooled i went back to the stock tires and had no sliping problems for a while but I have changed them. Keep in mind that I am 250lb so that means more traction at the tire and more heat in the clutch.

I think the problems you heard were first year first run bikes, I had on and the clutch made less than a month. On my 2000 I have changed clutches but again it is due to my weight large agressive tires and slow hard riding in the woods so a lot of heat can build up.
I do not think you will have any problems.

 

Actually, Honda has not changed the clutch at all over the years.

One of my buddies has one of the first 400EX's produced, bought it the 1st week they were available back in '98, still on the stock clutch & his engine is a tad wilder than mine.

 

I think it was a spring problem mine was the first the dealer had and it trule did suck. I know of six others as well??? We all switched to after market units and had no problems. Honda never admited a problem but with out a doubt there was. Also look at the welds in the area the swing arm connects to the fram Honda said they never had a problem there but why are the different?

 

Daimon1054

I agree with you and dont agree with you. I have the second '99 in Wisconsin. My clutch is fine, I never touched it. Thats after 3 years of District AMA racing. One the otherhand, my swingarm cracked in half in the same spot that 3 of my buddies did. Honda never admitted to a thing.

~Team440ex

 

I guess like anything else it could have been a bad batch? My 2000 as stated has had no problems other than self induced.