How about some information on what is new?

Two pages about brakes! Hey all these quads have wheels and brakes and seats and graphics! Post some real information about what REALLY is going to make this quad something different in the world.

PLEASE

 

Basically the coolest part about the Rubicon is the transmission. It should be a welcome addition to the lineup of automatic quads. The engine is the first liquid cooled engine in a Honda utility machine. That will be nice to have also. I don't know what there is to say, someone needs to ride one!

[This message has been edited by rooster (edited 12-29-1999).]

 

There was a writeup about Honda's new automatic transmission in a recent issue of ATV magazine. According to the article, it is based on a design that Honda acquired from a moped manufacturer many years ago. Rather than using a centrifugal clutch and belt mechanism like all the other ATV's, the Honda transmission is built around a hydraulic pump that controls gear movement according to electronic controls.

It will be interesting to see how it performs in an ATV. And you have to wonder why they have waited so long to bring a design to market that they have owned for quite some time.

The transmission in my wife's Dodge minivan operates in a similar manner and has a terrible reputation. It has already been replaced once and I was told in will probably need replacing again in another year or two.

I would definitely take a wait-and-see approach before buying one. It could be the best design since sliced bread. But then, even Honda is capable of producing a lemon every now and then.

 

Well a car or truck's automatic trasmission is different than this too. Looking for automobile mechanics here, but doesn't an automobile auto tranny work on centrifugal force? The Honda's is not like this. I would imagine they've been testing this transmission for a couple years now. That is probably why you haven't seen it sooner. I really don't think you'll have to worry about the transmission failing. I heard when Honda engineers test an ATV's durability, they will send a test rider out on a machine and tell him to run it wide open in first gear all day. That's how they overbuild things and make them able to withstand abuse that most people would never give their machine.

 

Rooster, An automotive trans does not work on centrifical force, it has a torque-converter that takes the place of a clutch, and then it has clutch packs that are engauged with oil preasure. It is this clutch engaugement that is being changed in the newer cars. Some are electronic, others are oil preasure, some are a combination of both. I wonder what kind of coupling that they are using to go from the engine to the trans. (torque converter, or clutch) I hope that this is understandable.
Later, Dave

 

I Can see it now... B&M Race Products will be offering the "Mudhole Mangler" high-stall race converter for the new Rubicon... (Of course, this will ONLY be for use to help turn the new 28" Vampire .. a.k.a. Axle-Breaker!!)HAHAHAHAHAHAAA....

 

A friend of mine is in Japan on a deployment in the Navy and they have been using this Tranny in bikes and quads over there for over 20 years with no trouble It doesn't use a torque converter.. Just spins a huge hydraulic pump like the new Dozers and construction equipment use. 100% fluid connection = no wearing parts
Joe

 

Where does all the heat form the fluid drive go? Fluid drives or Hydrostatics generate a lot of heat when pulled hard. Is there a cooler in the radiator or an extrenal cooler.

Dan Daugherty

 

The Rubicon will be using a hydrostatic setup that has nothing in common with the transmition in a dodge minivan...where did you get that from? The minivan usues oil pressure to shift gears, and the final drive all deals with gears. The honda uses a series of pumps which push fluid...there is very few moving parts!...which will prove to be a superior system than the conventional centrifical clutch belt drive system.

 

As per documentation I have read over the last few months, the transmission is classified as hydro-mechanical. I'm not sure how much difference there is between the hydrostatic drive and hydro-mechanical but from what I've seen it looks pretty much the same.