my intentions were to keep it But I am concered with the dependablity once I put it back together I got it cheap ( 500) and didnt intend on having to put as much money into it as I ended up having to as the person I bought it from told me it was an ecm problem I bought it knowing it was going to need work but I have found in the past once as problem like this has come into play it will always be a major concern as the quad only has 900 miles on it and it looks brand new and from the history I know on it the quad wasnt beaten

 

It sound like a decent deal even if you put a new tranny in it. 500 for the unit and 1300 for a new one would onlt put you a 1800. That's a steal of a deal for a "looks like new", has a guaranteed tranny, unit. Since you got one from ebay your sitting even better. For what you have invested and after all of your own labor, I doubt you'll find something as reliable for that money. JMHO
Of coarse, if you sell it for 3500-4000, you can find decent quads in that range if you know what to look for.

 

Thats the plan I am going to go back to a polaris as I have my eye on a few of them around here. I just dont like the way honda put this thing together making almost not worth repairing as if I had to pay a shop to do this job I am sure I would be well over 2400 in costs from the thieves

 

Yeah, the rubi is like a 3/4 ton truck great for work and people that use them and maintain them. I'm betting the original owner probably went and found the cheapest 10w-40 he could and used that, leading to the failure. You must have had decent luck with your last POPO then? What model was it? I can tell you that my two rubi's have yet to let me down, my oldest having survied 6 years of day to day commercial use. This is like my Toro lawn equip in terms of reliability. I do have to say so far i am impressed with my new POPO. I like the EFI for the cold weather starting, just turn the key and forget it.

 

Two of them were nightmares. You ever hear a hydralic pump cavitate ? Normally from lack of oil. These two did it. After confirming bad oil pressure, check valve operation etc... I replaced oil pumps since there were no metal shavings inside the engine once opened up. Figured the tranny units were good. After reassembly with new pump and bypass, they did the same thing. Had to split the engines again to replace the tranny unit which cured the problem. It only took twice for me to get smart even though they checked out OK via Honda's tests.
The other 5 have bad swash plate screw bearings that are bad. They would throw shift codes out all the time when they hung up. As the swash plate screw is turned I can feel the rough spots in the bearings. By looks of the bearing numbers they could probably be repaired for around $10 but I don't want to take a chance. Honda sells the entire units and not bearings alone.


----- Gimpster -----



ed by: MEGA XP[/i]

Hey Gimpster, What are you doing with all those trannies? What were the circumstances for them being removed? I have two rubi's of my own and can't imagine them being parted out unless of a crash, motor bad, or something along those llines unless one is able to make more selling USED parts than selling a used machine. Just wondering what condition the machines were in to justify being parted out.</end quote></div>

 

OH yeah, definately heard cavitation on about every piece of hydro equipment I start when its below -20F. What were the worst years for these trannies? Or is it scattered over all years which would lead me to the conclusion its a maintenace issue. What are your feelings on this tranny? Maybe your expert opinion would attest to the general reliability, or lack thereof, for this thread.

 

LOL, I know what takes them out.
They are a good concept, in all honesty I liked the design. Early models, 01, 02, 03's were iffy. Honda got close to what lunches them when they fixed the oil pump relief spring problem.
the year I have been away from Honda I have had time to find the problem and have saved many customers of my shop $1500 to $2500 of repairs on them.
I have an '05 on one of the lifts in my shop now that has a tranny bad in it (Metal shavings).
Hehehe, I have done so many of these I can have a complete Rubicon on my bench in the morning and have it torn down and back together ready to rock that night. I don't work for Honda any longer so I am not letting the cat out of the bag since I am in business for myself. They most likely know what it is that kills the tranny's anyway.

----- gimpster -----

 

Yes we've also done dozens of transmissions since 2001 .. But Honda Canada didn't want just the oil pump changed , they told us to replace both as an assy .. In 2003 we were checking the oil pressure on every Rubicon that came in for a tune-up and any with low oil pressure had both pumps replaced .. It can be done fairly fast if you don't remove the rear cover , sub trans assy ... But an engine with filings in it must be completely dis-assembled to clean ... It is a shame Honda doesn't supply any replacement parts for this Hydrostatic pump .. This is a VERY good drive train and at one point we had 3 Rubicons we used for towing , hauling , plowing everything ..We haul floats , skid steers everything with Rubicons .. We've tie straped 3 Rubicons bumper to bumper to haul a 25 foot boat/trailer off the sand flats ..

 

Yes I always had good luck with Polaris I have a 02 sportsman 500 ho and its great I just wanted a second machine and the deal was right on the Rubi and I knew I was going to have to work on it but your are right in the fact that the owner didnt maintain it properly as i would be suprised if he even ever changed the oil. But I am sure I will make out in the end money wise. I am going to buy the Pol 700 efi this time around as there are a couple around me for sale