Wondering which repair manual covers thing best for a do it yourselfer? I have an 03 450 foreman es and interested in repairing the common probs like bearings, shift sensors, brakes, etc. thanks, dg

 

i kind of like the clymer manuals better than the honda manuals for the 400ex.

 

I don't think Clymer has a manual available for the 450 Foreman. I haven't seen one listed in catalogs that sell Clymer.

 

I have the honda service manual, and it seems to be the most complete sourse of info on the 450. Got it from the dealer. Its the same one the techs use.

 

These guys are right.

Clymer nor Haynes has a manual printed for any of the Honda 450 models and the Honda manual is the only way to go and it has indepth info that's easy to relate to compared to some OEM service manuals. It is pricey though.....$40-$60 depending on the dealer.

Honda updates these manuals yearly to cover 1998 to current. If you look on Ebay, you may be able to find a dealer that is getting rid of his '98-'03 manual........That's what I do when I get the new ones.

 

Honda manual is the best and worth the money (makes a good extra when it comes time to sell too). One thing though, the self diagnostics for the ESP were added in about 01. So if you get an older manual, it may not have this valuable section, which includes info on how to pull out and erase trouble codes, and a chart listing them.

 

I agree with dzzy. I purchased Honda service manuals the day we bought our ATV's. Have read them from cover to cover. It is great education and I like to know what is going on. I think that is one of the reasons I like the Hondamatic so much.

I was in the automotive repair business for over 30 years. I have used just about every brand or kind of information in print or otherwise available and the manufactures usually have the best-detailed and most complete information.

 

thanks. i'll be at my honda shop next week. Atlas Honda in Bristol, VA and will pick a 2003 edition up. are they written in a way that someone with medium mechanical skills could repair things like wheel bearings, brakes, change ES modules, etc? I'm choosing this path over the extended warranty due to the cost & lack of faith in local shops (Kingsport, tn & johnson city, tn- jim's honda). Wanted to get my valves adjusted and the first question they asked was where did i purchase the bike at. then they had a 5 week waiting list. shady to say the least. thanks a bunch. dg

 

I would say yes they are

 

Haynes does have a manual for the Foreman 400 1995 through 2001 and Foreman 450 1998 through 2002. (Which is the same as the 2003) Manual
(I hope that works. There were alot of numbers to mess up.) The Honda manual would be more detailed. The only thing is that they want something like $50.00 for the Honda manual and then they recommend that you buy another manual for another $50.00 to go along with it.