I'm going to be doing some work on my 98 Honda 450 Foreman. I bought it used and it didn't come with a manual. Specifically I need the wiring diagram and info. Does the owner's manual that comes with a new ATV contain a lot of repair information with details of the engine and wiring? Or do I need a repair manual? Or are those the same thing? Thanks.

 

The owners manual will only have the simple adjustments and maint type stuff. If you buy a service manual, you wont need the owners manual. The only way to get the wiring diagram, is in the service manual.
The clymers is the better of the service manuals, it assumes youre a beginner, whereas the factory service manual assumes you already know quite a bit.
Welcome to the forums

 

I just bought two Foreman ES's and in a month I have had to have the dealer repair headlight problems, do a 40 hour service, replace a brake cable and the list continues after today's ride. I buckled a tie rod and now have two headlight systems down. Obviously a service manual may be a good investment but I am not finding one that covers the 2006 models. Is it just too soon?

Anybody got any idea how difficult it is going to be to change that tie rod? I have a friend that took a ride on a medivac last summer due to a tie rod end failure. I want to make sure I get it right. Oh and the front end is starting to scrape and grind on one of them. Bearings? CV Joint?

Too much mud, YEHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

 

For an 05 or 06 Foreman, you may need to order the factory manual. I did, and it's a pretty easy to understand and detailed book.

Changing a tie rod is not a big deal, just get the alignment set right. The "grinding" front end might be an issue, though...

Man, you must be tough on equipment...

 

Conside this post my personal commitment to end the horseplay. And to find another place to ride, I think there is too much mud and water at the Wagonwheel to ride it every weekend.

 

I got a Clymer manual off from ebay for my 06 rancher and it covers everything.

 

I ordered a Clymer service manual. I got it from Amazon for half the price that Clymer sells it for from their site.

 

Thanks for the advice, are those manuals available through dealers only and are they expensive?

One other thing, is there a known issue with wheel bearings on these ATVs. When I picked mine up the other day from the dealer I was told to bring it back in about three months so they could change the wheel bearings. I was told ... "They are not quite ready to be changed yet but they will be in a couple three months." What does that mean? Maybe they were just trying to be nice, I was already ticked about their slow moving service dept. Or maybe they needed changing but they knew I was in a hurry. Or maybe they are full of crap.

 

If youre running oversized tires, or aggresive tread tires, the wheel bearing are a bit overwelmed. But if you have stock tires, and ride normal (which i guess means some abuse), they should last alot longer than 3 months.

 

There is a phone number in the owner's manual to order the factory service manual. I can't recall what I paid, but they aren't particularly cheap, but not insane.

I prefer the Hayes, or Clymer manuals, but I bought my 500 when they were pretty new and I figured the factory manual would be the only one available for the newly redesigned machine.

In the factory manual you might see something about- go get bearing installer kit number such and such, select bearing driver #blah-blah, and attach to universal driver handle # whatever. In Clymer or Hayes they will likely say to find a socket a little smaller than the outer race and press it in...

Unfortunately, though, it's usually a year or two before there is an aftermarket manual out for a new machine.