I live in northern alberta where rubicons are very common and most are used for work or for moose hunting.Most also have oversize tires and are worked very hard in the muskeg that is so common here.The hydrostatic transmissions have held up very well and are the biggest reason that people buy rubicons here.

 

??? The rubicon has been out for a while now, I doubt that any new problems will arise. You must be thinking of the Rincon.

 

Hey Stubblejumper I live in McMurray too. What kind of machine do you have? Do you ride often?

 

I know I've replied once, but I want to remove all doubt. This machine is built solid. The tranny is the absolute best in the business. You get belt performance.........without the belt and the mantainance. I'm on 5,500+ miles and not a thing has gone wrong yet except I need a routine brake job and the guy before me was an older man so he rode those stoppers a lot. With a Warn 424 installed, this thing can be whipped around the trails almost like a Vinson. If you end up getting a Rubi, you won't be disappointed.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]Just make sure you have a spare belt with you at all times when riding..........your friends who aren't on a Honda will appreciate it.

 

well my bro is getting a kodiak 450 so i'll have to carry around an extra rubber bands and brake pads for him i won't need either one for my rubi.

 

A solid machine. The dealership I work at has sold literally hundreds since 01, and we work on many we didn't sell. For problems, we've seen the oil pump relief valve problem maybe 10 or 12 times, nearly all 01's, although I did have a bad one on an 03 recently. I had one 01 that fragmented itself at high RPM, Honda bought that guy an engine. I've seen maybe 3 or 4 trans fail for no apparent reason. We've had a spattering of electrical, mostly speed sensors and poor connections, a couple that had the ECM harness shorting against the frame right where it wraps around a tube directly in front of the ECM. We've seen a couple driveshafts break or bend inside the engine (God only knows what they were doing to them). And of course Some water related issues. That may sound like a lot but remember, that's on a sampling of several hundred machines, and most of the issues were an 01 thing. I consider the Rubicon a reliable ride.

 

Gust wanted to mention I understand there is a plastic change on Rubi for 05 ???????? Also a great machine.

 

How easy is to replace the oil pump and what are the symptoms??

I love mine got over 1100 miles no problems at all. I rolled it once and bend the rack back into its place. No damage. My trips are camping trips out in the desert and mountains 250-300 miles at a time.

The Grizzly 660 is also an excellent machine. Test drive both and then decide.

Marco Polo

2001 Rubicon
2002 Kodiak 4X4
2002 Honda Recon

 

You have to split the cases. A bit of work but not as bad as you might think. The symptoms are poor shifting, take-off, rattling noises. You can do an oil PSI test in about 5 minutes. You need a gauge capable of reading up to 150 PSI and the proper fitting. Honda sent all dealers what they need to do this. So any Honda dealer should be able to verify oil PSI in short order. Usually this problem shows up at lower miles.