You must have never had the pleasure of someone turning their ATV over in front of you while you were right in the middle of a really steep hill!!!! But thanks for the help!

 

Well I'm sorry to say that you can't just live without them. I tried it and almost mated with a big tree on Saturday.
To adjust the fron brakes remove the little red plug and turn the wheel so that it lines up with 1 of the adjusters (there are 2 per wheel). With a flat head screw driver turn the adjuster in the direction of the arrow on the adjster, never found the one on my but I turn them upwards. Turn it until the wheel will not move and then back it off 3 clicks and turn the tire to make sure that the brakes aren't dragging. Redue this process for the other 3 brake adjusters. If you have a owners manual it says in it on to adjust the brakes.

 

Thanks Man!!!!!!

 

Regarding Honda Recon front brakes. I am used to the feel of the mushy type honda brakes from their three wheelers bacjk in the 80's. I just got a brand new Recon standard shift about 2 weeks ago. When I got it it felt like the front brakes were too tight. So I read completely through the manual and also ordered a clymer manual off of ebay for it. I had a trip planned for this weekend so I wanted to intsall a skid plate I made for it. Well, when I put the atv up on my stand I went ahead and checked the front and rear brakes. What I found was that the front brakes were too tight on one wheel from the factory. The left front wheel wouldn't even free spin when the brakes weren't in use!!! Anyway, I backed the adjustment for that brake off a few clicks until I had free wheel spin like on a car. I checked the brake free play and feel of the brakes and all works well now. By the way, I can get a little better speed and the machine runs better because it can roll alot better now!!! Moral of the story is, even if the unit is brand new, get a clymer manual or refer to the owners manual and regularly check the brakes and the free wheel spin. By the way I rode the devil out of it this weekend and it is a great machine!!! Does well in the mud and hill climbs and river crossings. I bounced it off a few round rocks in the river but the new heavy duty, slick, plastic skid plate that I made allowed me to slide right on over them with no damage or speed loss. Ride safe!!

 

I agree I just bought a clymer repair manual and it is well worth the money. I also made a skid plater for my recon but used 3/16" metal so it'll flex some. The recon is a blast to ride on the trails and climbs hills pretty good too. I have a little problems with water crossing because I only weigh 115lbs and in water 1 & 1/2' deep and with a current the rear end og my recon starts to float and I go down stream, which is not a good thing to do!

 

Redrecon. Yeah, I have about 80 more lbs to hold mine down in the water. I weigh about 185. I really like the Clymer manuals. Sure helps to save money towards accessories and a nice set of rims eventually. Now I just have to make some A arm protectors.Only reason I used the plastic for the skid plate is because I can consider them disposable. If one tears up I just take my pattern and make another.It mounts up in just a few minutes and doesn't add much weight to the wheeler. Slicker than a booger too<grin>.Good riding!

 

Where did you find the Cylinder Manuals?

Those skid plates sound like a cheaper way to make a good investment, anyone care to share the secrets and possibly a diagram and some pics.

 

I got my clymer manual at an atv parts dealer and when I went to get my K&N power kit he had one there so I bought it. There are normally some on e-bay to.
All I did to make my skid plate was make a cardboard cut out from the back of the engine all the way to the front bash plate. It just so happened that the piece of metal I had was the exact width as the frame so I didn't have to cut that much. I have to held in with 4 bolts, 2 in the plate at the rear of the engine, 1 in the frame going up the center under the engine and another bolt in the very front of it. It only takes a few minutes to take off and put on and isn't all that heavy. Deffintly a good thing to add, I can't count all the times that I have heard a rock grind up the skid plate.

 

Sounds Great. I will have to give it a try!!!!!

 

Now you have me wondering about my brakes. I've been putting off looking at them. They certainly don't stop on a dime but they do work. How long do you guys think the original brakes should last?