Honda quality is High?
#51
08-09-2007 | 06:58 PM
Trailblazer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 63
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Honda quality is High?
Speaking from a Honda dealership on "Honda Quality"...The main ATV line motors are well built and hold up to alot of abuse. The general public or novice rider will always skip on either doing proper maintenance. Because people like some in this forum think because its a Honda you can do that and itll run forever. *Buzzer* The most common problem out of anything with a honda would be bearings, axles, brakes and seals. There is a reason why brakes, wheel & swingarm bearings are always on hand. Only quality I would question is on the 450Rs crankcase and seals. 200 hrs or less on the seals isnt what I call quality. And they arent cheap either for the novice owners who own them. If honda beefed up the driveline with grease zerks and a locker for the front diff, then we wouldnt question honda's reliablity anymore.
#52
08-09-2007 | 07:17 PM
Range Rover
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 179
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Honda quality is High?
"honda hates anything that hasnt been around for 50 years"
Its funny that you mention that because the design for the Rubicon transmission was developed in the mid 40s I believe.
Although it wasnt developed specifically for the Rubicon (since it aint been around that long.... yet) that when the engineering was done for that hydraulic transmission.
Its funny that you mention that because the design for the Rubicon transmission was developed in the mid 40s I believe.
Although it wasnt developed specifically for the Rubicon (since it aint been around that long.... yet) that when the engineering was done for that hydraulic transmission.
#53
08-09-2007 | 07:25 PM
Range Rover
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 179
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Honda quality is High?
grease zerks and diff locks...
I spoke with one of hondas district service managers, since I was a dealership tech and his reply to the zerks was, people wouldnt grease them properly, and they break off both resulting in failures. The proof is in the old Odysseys and the old trxs... they had the zerks, and it didnt make much difference in bearing/bushing failures.
Diff locks, several models now have electric unlockers and like the 07 TRX420FM it has the factory installed manual unlocker.
I guess we cant question hondas reliability now huh.... haha
I spoke with one of hondas district service managers, since I was a dealership tech and his reply to the zerks was, people wouldnt grease them properly, and they break off both resulting in failures. The proof is in the old Odysseys and the old trxs... they had the zerks, and it didnt make much difference in bearing/bushing failures.
Diff locks, several models now have electric unlockers and like the 07 TRX420FM it has the factory installed manual unlocker.
I guess we cant question hondas reliability now huh.... haha
#54
08-09-2007 | 08:25 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,092
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Honda quality is High?
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: HondaTechnician
"honda hates anything that hasnt been around for 50 years"
Its funny that you mention that because the design for the Rubicon transmission was developed in the mid 40s I believe.
Although it wasnt developed specifically for the Rubicon (since it aint been around that long.... yet) that when the engineering was done for that hydraulic transmission.</end quote></div>
WTF???? im really confused now. Thus I am going to ask a few questions.
1) Is the rubicon really a CVT?
2) CVTs are hydraulic?????? *confused, i thought they were belt, pulley, and springs, and weights
3) Or does it have the rincon style hydrualic automatic tranny with actual gears. like a car?
So have cvt tranny's been around for over 40 years now? were the first sleds cvt? cuz thats cool.
could you please explaiun the rubi's tranny?
"honda hates anything that hasnt been around for 50 years"
Its funny that you mention that because the design for the Rubicon transmission was developed in the mid 40s I believe.
Although it wasnt developed specifically for the Rubicon (since it aint been around that long.... yet) that when the engineering was done for that hydraulic transmission.</end quote></div>
WTF???? im really confused now. Thus I am going to ask a few questions.
1) Is the rubicon really a CVT?
2) CVTs are hydraulic?????? *confused, i thought they were belt, pulley, and springs, and weights
3) Or does it have the rincon style hydrualic automatic tranny with actual gears. like a car?
So have cvt tranny's been around for over 40 years now? were the first sleds cvt? cuz thats cool.
could you please explaiun the rubi's tranny?
#55
08-09-2007 | 08:37 PM
Trailblazer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 63
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Honda quality is High?
That sounds like a typical DM "dumbass" answer. When did a 420 have a factory installed front locker and what part # is that again? Thats total news to me since its still limited slip off the pinion gear and ring gear still spins one way. We also sell Polaris line here, bearings and seals are never a problem like the hondas we sell. Thats about the major problem of a honda. We dont even normally stock bearings and seals for most of the Polaris line. Its not as common of a problem because they have grease zerks. Which TRX model year carrys a grease zerk for wheel bearings or swingarm bearings? Something else totally new to me. H stands for hammer at this shop when it comes to bearings. I dont see how a Honda would not benefit from it.
#56
08-09-2007 | 11:34 PM
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 867
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Honda quality is High?
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 468bbc
That sounds like a typical DM "dumbass" answer. When did a 420 have a factory installed front locker and what part # is that again? Thats total news to me since its still limited slip off the pinion gear and ring gear still spins one way. We also sell Polaris line here, bearings and seals are never a problem like the hondas we sell. Thats about the major problem of a honda. We dont even normally stock bearings and seals for most of the Polaris line. Its not as common of a problem because they have grease zerks. Which TRX model year carrys a grease zerk for wheel bearings or swingarm bearings? Something else totally new to me. H stands for hammer at this shop when it comes to bearings. I dont see how a Honda would not benefit from it.</end quote></div>
420 has the 4x4 lock and 2x4 manul unlock from the previous years where it was electronic on the 400at and formans and rincons
its not a locker, just engages the 4 wheel drive, pretty much mirrors the warn 424 i have on my 350
That sounds like a typical DM "dumbass" answer. When did a 420 have a factory installed front locker and what part # is that again? Thats total news to me since its still limited slip off the pinion gear and ring gear still spins one way. We also sell Polaris line here, bearings and seals are never a problem like the hondas we sell. Thats about the major problem of a honda. We dont even normally stock bearings and seals for most of the Polaris line. Its not as common of a problem because they have grease zerks. Which TRX model year carrys a grease zerk for wheel bearings or swingarm bearings? Something else totally new to me. H stands for hammer at this shop when it comes to bearings. I dont see how a Honda would not benefit from it.</end quote></div>
420 has the 4x4 lock and 2x4 manul unlock from the previous years where it was electronic on the 400at and formans and rincons
its not a locker, just engages the 4 wheel drive, pretty much mirrors the warn 424 i have on my 350
#57
08-10-2007 | 12:17 AM
Range Rover
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Honda quality is High?
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 468bbc
That sounds like a typical DM "dumbass" answer. When did a 420 have a factory installed front locker and what part # is that again? Thats total news to me since its still limited slip off the pinion gear and ring gear still spins one way. We also sell Polaris line here, bearings and seals are never a problem like the hondas we sell. Thats about the major problem of a honda. We dont even normally stock bearings and seals for most of the Polaris line. Its not as common of a problem because they have grease zerks. Which TRX model year carrys a grease zerk for wheel bearings or swingarm bearings? Something else totally new to me. H stands for hammer at this shop when it comes to bearings. I dont see how a Honda would not benefit from it.</end quote></div>
Im not sure what you are calling an unlocker.
I believe the "locker " they and I were referring to is the front diff disconnect like the warn.
I also worked in a Honda/Polaris shop, Polaris is what kept the shop alive, I have never replaced as many swingarm bushings/bearings as in the Polaris, Put 600 miles on a Polaris and the tie rod ends are loose, sportsman 500s eat camshafts which I believe they finally got fixed.
The early 80s TRX had grease zerks on the front swingarms, those that were similar to the odyssey, and junk I might add.
That sounds like a typical DM "dumbass" answer. When did a 420 have a factory installed front locker and what part # is that again? Thats total news to me since its still limited slip off the pinion gear and ring gear still spins one way. We also sell Polaris line here, bearings and seals are never a problem like the hondas we sell. Thats about the major problem of a honda. We dont even normally stock bearings and seals for most of the Polaris line. Its not as common of a problem because they have grease zerks. Which TRX model year carrys a grease zerk for wheel bearings or swingarm bearings? Something else totally new to me. H stands for hammer at this shop when it comes to bearings. I dont see how a Honda would not benefit from it.</end quote></div>
Im not sure what you are calling an unlocker.
I believe the "locker " they and I were referring to is the front diff disconnect like the warn.
I also worked in a Honda/Polaris shop, Polaris is what kept the shop alive, I have never replaced as many swingarm bushings/bearings as in the Polaris, Put 600 miles on a Polaris and the tie rod ends are loose, sportsman 500s eat camshafts which I believe they finally got fixed.
The early 80s TRX had grease zerks on the front swingarms, those that were similar to the odyssey, and junk I might add.
#58
08-10-2007 | 03:10 AM
The Facility
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,062
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From: Mississippi
#59
08-10-2007 | 11:57 AM
Range Rover
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Honda quality is High?
Grease Zerks are old school stuff. Most anything you buy of quality these days has done away with the zerks. Overall zerks are a pain for manufacturers because they don't always get greased and that leads to bearing failure. Furthermore, zerked bearing get moisture into them because they're not water tight. Another thing......most of the lube shops don't even know where all the zerks are on most vehicles.
