98 TRX 450ES/FOURTRAX/FOREMAN ES and whatever other useless designations they have to confuse you....why in the world do I need the f***ing ECU?
This whole electric shifting BS is just not worth it.
I am pissed right nw and am venting so bear with me please. Im usually sane and analytical. Buyt this **** is trying my patience.
ppppfpfffttttttt

 

There is someone who posts on here who does away with the ECU. However the way the system works is fairly simple, but Honda being Honda they add lots of complications on top. You press the up button, this sends a signal to the ECU which tells the motor to spin one way. Angle sensor tells the ECU when the levers inside the clutch case have moved far enough, and the ECU turns the motor off. Press the down button and the ECU tells the motor to spin the opposite way. Reverse lock out means the ECU needs a switch beside the lock out lever to stop it trying to change down into reverse until the lever is out of the way. Honda's extra complications include going into fault mode if the gear indicator says it hasn't changed when the ECU thinks it should have, or vice-versa, and going into fault mode if the gearchange takes too long.

Personally, when a bike needs a new shift motor, up/down button cluster or angle sensor, it gets one. Anything more complex, like tests showing a new ECU is needed, and the bike gets a manual pedal fitted, and the gears behind the shift motor removed, so changing gear is just like all other manual change Hondas. Gearchnge indicator on display stops working though.

 

Hi Merryman! Nice to hear from you. And thanks for your response. I'm a little better this morning - I've put away the C4...

You're referring to these gears:


And do they have to be removed? Reason I ask is that I have been operating the bike this past summer with that area intact.

 

Leaving them in place makes changing gear manually, slow and heavy. You will be surprised how much nicer the change is without them.

 

I think I'm cutting my losses on this one and following your advice. I'm chasing ghosts. Even if I replace the ECU and the entire harness, there is no guarantee it will fix the problem - and that's about $350 - $400 gamble.

I'll remove the gears today and sew her back up later today. Then I'll make the appropriate posts in my earlier strings.
I hate losing, but ...Thanks again for all your help. I will be sure to pass along your solutions and what I've learned from this experience.