Ystcyr, I understand you're totally frustrated about your Rubicon and probably wish you still had your 450. However this really doesn't sound like a serious problem. I don't think your Rubicon qualifies as a "piece of junk" just yet. It's really hard to diagnose such a problem over the internet. It could be a very simple repair for all we know. However, your dealer will eventually have to find the problem himself. In Honda's defense, they probably gave the dealer a lot of possible solutions, but they can only give solutions they know have worked before. Sometimes, Honda can only do so much over the phone since they don't have the machine in front of them to look at. It's like us trying to help you over the internet, it's very difficult because for all we know you could have a pinched vent hose or something similar which Honda may not think of because it is so simple and because they cannot look at the machine. It's hard to fix a machine over the phone is my point. Have you thought about trying a different dealer? A different dealer may have found the problem very quickly and you wouldn't be in such a predicament. I personally would go this route. If you decide to print an article in the newspaper, what exactly will you say? All this will do is make your dealer look like an incompetent person who cannot repair what he sells. I doubt it will help your case and I doubt Honda will lose any sleep over it. Good luck.

 

my rubicon does indeed do these symptoms, mainly when i plow snow, or drive in mud.

i will get my vin if you want.

i have a 2002

my e-mail

lilhanzyboy1@aol.com

 

Gimpster, you have no idea how I appreciate your offer. Unfortunately I am too far away. I live in the cold country north from you.

ATVTech1, I like your idea of another dealer. I will be calling around this morning. Worth a shot. I still think that the problem is with Honda. Not my original dealer. Like my dealer said, I did not manufacture this thing, I only sell it. He cannot be held responsible for a defective product. Most consumers now a days always blame the place of their purchase. If you bought a Sony DVD player at best buy and the machine was unable to read DVDs would you be mad at Sony or BestBuy?

As for the newspaper, I don't think it would make my dealer look incompetent because he is with me 100% of the way here. He is not selling rubicons no more. What does that say to his Honda rep? It don't think Honda will loose any sleep over an article in the newspaper but I can tell you one thing, they will loose money. I need to get the word out and the media is sometimes the only way. Honda is a multi billion dollar company; they cannot advertise a Rubicon 500 as a work machine if you can't work with it. It's just not right. Many people are complaining about similar issues and I need them to help me fight this battle. Vinsion581 stepped up to the plate.

Yves

 

Year: 2004
Miles: 80 <- Yep 80.

Your ATV hasn't even been broke in yet! How can you expect it to run perfect?? It needs to properly broken in and go in for it's first 100 - 20-hour service. A thorough and complete 100-mile service.

When it is in for its first service make sure the mixture is set correctly and the idle speed it set to specs. If the mixture is too rich and the idle speed is too low it will stall when you let off the throttle quickly under a heavy load.

Put a few hundred miles on it and re-evaluate it's running problems.

I can't believe your dealer is going to quit selling Rubicons because he can't fix yours. As mentioned earlier, maybe he is in the wrong business.

2001 Red Rubicon. 4002 miles, 468 hours. Zero problems. Runs perfect. Broke in properly and well maintained. I know they are not all perfect, but give it a chance, put a few miles on it.

 

Specta may be on to it. I don't own a rubicon but I do own a rincon. I've heard of a few rincons with the stall problem. In fact mine did it (once). Stuck in mud and when I let off the throttle, engine died. I would check the A/F mixture screw and for sure I'd check the idle. With a tach, not by how it sounds. Make sure it's warmed up first.

 

Gentlemen,

I really appreciate that you are trying to help me with recommendations on how to solve this problem.

Trust me, my dealer has tried everything that you mentioned. He had the carburator apart and tried different size jets, he ajusted the idle screw, he tried a different oil, etc etc etc. Putting more miles on a machine will not make the problem go away. The first service requires a valve adjustement, and an oil change. This will not fix this problem.

I drive the machine for almost an hour, I go up a steep hill, I make a left quick left turn and make a sudden stop. The machine stalls. Even after all the work done.



Yves

 

I say then your dealer needs some more schooling, Honda Repair schooling. Sounds as though you may have a small dealer and maybe he is not up on all the schools and bulletins.

If he made the statement that he will not sell Rubicons ever again, as quoted by you, then he is in the wrong business and needs to find a new job.

He is showing impatience and that is probably how he is trying to fix your bike.....impatiently.

 

When ours was brand new it stalled when I let off the throttle quickly under a load, so did our Rancher when it was new. Ours has never been below 4500 ft in elevation and is mainly ridden above 6000 ft to about 11,500 ft. It has a 150 main jet that was installed as part of the predelivery. I have never touched the mixture setting. Around 250 miles I put a tachometer on it and set the idle speed to 1400 rpm when the engine was fully warmed up. It has stalled under the same circumstances maybe twice since then.

You would be surprised how much the valves can affect the running if they were both set .002" too tight.

When you are under a load, a rich condition, and let off the throttle quickly which cuts off all the air, and turn a corner causing fuel slosh in the carburetor, you end up with an awful lot of fuel in the cylinder and no air to help it burn and the flame goes out and the engine stalls.

A leaner mixture, lower float setting, and not allowing the throttle plates to slam shut will eliminate the problem. It saddens me that you have a brand new ATV and someone has already had the carburetor in pieces. See if your dealer can't get Honda to replace it.

What is happening is the spark plug is being fuel fouled under extreme conditions and they can be cured.

Never say never. And again, put some miles on your ATV.

 

Specta

I think you said it all. I think you said it better than I ever could have. Just like Race cars, they run great some days and then others need some fine tuning. My Rancher AT stalls also, but just like you said it was usually because my way of riding. After the initial 20 hour service, it runs great, but still stalls when things happen as you so clearly and precisely stated.

 

I just want to add my 2 cents..
My 03 Rubicon is running in great shape. It is properly kept care of and it works on a farm. I think thats all that needs to be said.. farm.
I also have a neighbor who owns a 2002 Rubicon, and his has no problems. Contrary to what you're saying, that honda is misleading consumers--- that the Rubicon shouldn't be considered a work horse, is a misleading statement of your own.
Hope your rubbie gets fixed, as I think they're one of the best workhorses out there.