Hello Jeffin ,

Great info !!! Thank you so much . I am located on the Oregon Coast and the air temps were in the low 60's every time I have attempted to use the machine . At one point the dealer was just certain that I was crazy and since they checked the bike carefully and rode it a bunch and found no faults .. they were/are convinced that the rig is healthy . When they delivered it back to me yesterday , I demonstated to the sales guy the problem . After using the bike to drag ( in a fairly conservative manner ) for 8 minutes ... the fan came on and then immediately the light lit . I am pretty sure up till then , they thought I was a nutcase and surely must be imagining the whole deal . At this point it appears that I can basically trade up with very little financial pain to a different model . Do you feel that of all the other Hondas available , the Rubicon would be my best choice ? The Rancher vs. Rubicon comparison appears to mainly be a matter of a bigger motor ( carbed ) with the Rubicon vs . the slightly smaller motor ( with fuel injection ) on the Rancher .... with the trannies being equal . My instinct would lead me to the bigger Rubicon . Is my logic sound ? Again ... thank you very much for your input !!!

 

Do NOT buy a 400 rancher AT. I had one for 6 months and got rid of it. No low end power. I can't speak for the rancher but I have two close friends with rubicons. Solid machines but they are more utility than sport.

What is the difference in price between them when they take back the foreman???
Gad to see you got the problem worked out!!

 

I believe the 400 AT Rancher is the carbed, air cooled version with a hydrostatic transmission?

Anyhow, yes, I feel the Rubicon would be your best choice of what Honda builds. The 420 Rancher is also a nice machine, but you seem to have expressed a personal preference for larger quads, plus although the 420 is fast, I think the Rubicon might do better at low speed grunt type dragging stuff.

Whatever you do, I think it would be good to talk the dealer into a test drag... Say if you guys settle on a price, maybe they would let you do a pull with the understanding that if it overheats, deal is off, but if it doesn't you write the check.

 

If you are on the coast and it never gets that hot, I think you have a definite problem with your particular machine! Perhaps a clogged oil line, and you aren't getting oil to the oil coolers....something like that????

One thing about the Rancher 420 that I notice compared to the 350, is that it has a higher 1st gear. Sometimes I have to go a little faster than I like, just because of that.

I would pick the Rubicon over the Rincon for your application, if you decide to do a switch.....

 

I have 2 Rubicons and I have pulled some trecherous heavy loads with no heating problems. Peresonally, I too think you have a problem with your particular machine. That load would be considered a light load for the 420. Make the dealer fix it, or tell them the factory will be hearing from you. It is not right.

 

I have 2 Rubicons and I have pulled some trecherous heavy loads with no heating problems. Peresonally, I too think you have a problem with your particular machine. That load would be considered a light load for the 420. Make them fix it, or tell them the factory will be hearing from you. It is not right.

 

Hi All ,
The Rubicon it is ..... I will make the deal on Tuesday . Thanks to all who helped !!
J.D.

 

I'd still say talk them into a test run before they get your money.

Anyway, let us know how it turns out.

 

I pulled a rough cut trail mower through the woods for 5 hours in 90 degree heat with a rubi. Didn't phase it.

 

WOW cann't says I have never ran across this problem before at my work. Two things I think maybe the cause here. One would be a faulty fan control unit, which turns on the fan and then the light. Two maybe the brand and or viscosity or oil that your using. But yes I would go for the rubicon before the rest, the foreman 500 should have worked. Surpirsed that the tech didn't come out and check the temp of the motor to see if in fact it was getting too hot to turn on the light. Either way sounds like you got it your problem fixed.

Oh by the way after 06 the foreman went from 2 separte oil coolers down to just 1 bigger one.