I have cloged only one radiator in my life, on a 94' chev Z71 truck in the mud. I was able to drive home too! I also have over heated a big red ATC200ES (air cooled) because the mud baked on the fins 4 inches deep and didnt allow any air either.. Personly I will snap up a rubicon.(if under $6,500) I think the fan/liquid cooling is much more stable than air
Joe

 

Honda has told a press friend that they will be providing more info and pictures on the Hondamatic in December. Can't wait to read the details.

I also understand the Rubicon and cutaway displays are now on the Advanstar bike show circuit, which started in Dallas last weekend and will be in Long Beach over turkey day weekend. I know where I'm going on Saturday!

 

Well does anybody else believe this bull about the mud bit with the radiator, I think it is bulls#i% think about maybe if you got down with red clay and hand packed into the radiator maybe it would get a little hot but think about it you run a 300cc machine with no water cooling and now you tell me that a 600cc machine runs with no water cooling yes they do get hot but they have no radiator system or cooling fans at all. Another thing I don't know this guy at Highlifter but I here so many storys of these parts guys that want to give advice that ride about once a month if that often what do the rest of you guys think???

Artic Cat 500...liquid cooled and I love it

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While not a Honda ATV owner, I have been curious about the new Honda Automatic. ( I do own a Honda XR-80, Honda 110 3-wheeler, and two Polarises) I recently saw a diagram of the Hondamatic Variable Displacement Pump that will be driving the ATV. I'm not sure about how well this unit is going to hold up in the deep mud and high water though...
Not that it won't, but after working on hydraulic systems for about 9 years, I know how tempermental they can be when it comes to contamination. Some worse, some better.. I see ATV's of all makes getting sunk just about every weekend. So, it makes me wonder what the long-term effects will be..

 

I do own a Honda (300). I am very seriously considering a Kodiak. I would like the idea of an auto tranny, but I do not care for the liquid cooling. I did see three quads pulled up to water holes at the Marengo Swamp Run trying to wash out their radiators. I believe they were two Polaris' and one AC. I think that I will be able to live with the inconvience of having a radiator to be able to have the pluses of the new Kodaik.

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Shane

'97 Honda 300 4X - Vamped, Locked, & Lifted

 

Mudmachine, do you know where the automatic transmission is located on the Rubicon? It is inside the engine cases. They also triple filtered the engine oil, so I don't think you'll have to worry about the automatic tranny on it.

 

WATER????.... All modern hydraulic systems have particle filters.. but what about pond water... fluid is fluid to a filter... if it can pass hydraulic oil, then it WILL pass water... then you eventually end up with rust/pitting on critical surfaces...
I'm sure Honda did their homework.. but, as with all atvs... they only warrant them for 12-14 inches of water traversing.... not the 3-4 feet that people typically go thru...
I am NOT bashing Honda at all.. I like Honda bikes.. I've offered to trade in my sons 99 XR-80 dirtbike for a 250 4X4 but he refuses.. Smart boy.. huh?... hahaha...
Anyway.. I'm just curious..

 

I wasn't quite descriptive enough, oops. The Rubicon's automatic in INSIDE the engine cases, by all the gears and the crankshaft. This means that it is totally sealed from the water. It does not have any hoses that feed the pump and stuff, it uses the engine oil that the whole motor uses, top end and all. Now just as in normal machines, you don't see water getting in them, well the same thing here. It is inside the engine! Not outside where water can get to it. Therefore, only oil will be on it, never being able to rust. It's just like the transmission, you would have to take apart the engine to be able to see the automatic on the Rubicon, just like the gears on a regular machine. I don't see how they will have any problems with it.

 

The Hydraulic pump is inside the case? as in "gotta split the cases to access the pump"
hhmmm..... While i'm all for new technology, I think i'll just play "wait and see" until they come out and I see a few tweaked up, lifted, 28" Vamp'ed, snorkeled ones at some of the mudruns... I guess I just wanna see one in action...
So, when are they gonna hit the showroom floors?....
I still wonder how they are gonna modify the tranny when people want to put aftermarket pistons and rods in... a higher volume pump maybe??? a tweaked out valve assembly??...
Oh well.... wait and see I guess...

 

MudMachine,

You said "fluid is fluid to a filter... if it can pass hydraulic oil, then it WILL pass water."

I don't think that is correct. I have used "fuel" filters for my John Deere for years - I can assure you - Water will not go through that filter... Not even a little. If you can filter water from diesel, you can filter water from trans oil.

Now whether or not they use a filter like that might be a good question.

Happy Trails and hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Steve "Bog Hog" West

Honda 300 4x4 - Gordonized, Powered and Vamped