What's a reasonable rebuild estimate?
 

I've got a 2015 Honda Rancher 420 that took in some water in a pond mishap a while back. After being drained and flushed it ran fine, other than it now smokes. I figured it would need a top end at the very least and probably more. I got an estimate over the phone from a Honda dealer who said he wouldn't do the top end without also doing the bottom, and I was looking at around $2800. I finally got it to another dealer close to my home and was expecting a similar estimate. They called yesterday and said their current estimate was up to $5300 and they hadn't even gotten into the transmission yet. Am I wrong in thinking that this is a crazy high estimate for a rebuild?

Welcome to the forums.

Just curious as to why they're getting into the transmission when you took it in for the motor?

I wondered that myself, as it ran and shifted fine, with no apparent transmission issues. Their explanation was "it's standard procedure for a bike that's been in water because you will eventually have problems in the future."

Well, maybe. But I wouldn't be paying for them to look for a problem that doesn't exist.

Dealership labor rates are higher most times than a small shop. Last place I was at, the rate was $120 an hour. That's probably where most of the cost is coming from. Their estimate should include parts needed and labor time.

We are an independent ATV repair shop and would certainly "give it a go" with just taking the cylinder off to see why it is smoking. We have an old model 420 with cylinder off at the moment, seized piston. I don't do the money side but it was bought in as scrap and has rear axle issues too, so the boss must consider it worth a re-bore and axle/diff rebuild. Selling price when done will be about £1500. If you can, give it a long run to boil off any remaining water in the crankcases before getting it re-bored, it is going to sit for a while with cylinder off while the re-bore is done and over-sized piston sourced, so any moisture could start rusting things in the bottom end.