Curious if anyone knows how the front brakes can be adjusted on the foreman (or if they can at all). There are 900 miles on it and I don't think they will need pads yet, only because i rarely use them. They just feel soft. Thanks!

 

hi.you can adjust the front breaks on the forman. it is realitvly easy. if it is just like my 4trax 300 i belive. on your front wheel you will see a little red tab that is made out of rubber. you need to remove that then rotate your wheel till you see an opening in the break hub once you see the opening in side it there will be a little wheel.gear thing it wil have i belive a + or a - on it you just use a screw driver and press on it untill it gets tighter u can ride it around and adjust it that way untll you have found the way you like it.

i belive they are hydraulic drum breaks so it is just like that.

 

350r is right - they are adjustable. There are 2 star wheels (adjusters) for each front brake. I jack up my 450's front end (same brake system as the 400), and with a little effort turn the wheel until the ajusting hole lines up with one of the ajusters. Using a flat blade screwdriver, turn the adjuster until I cannot move the wheel at all, then turn the adjuster back 3 "clicks". (by adjusting the brakes to the point of no wheel rotation seats the shoe to the drum position, as well as gives you a point in which you can equalize the adjustment of both wheels to prevent brake "pull" caused by unequal adjustment on both wheels) Now rotate the wheel to the other adjuster and do the same. Put the rubber plug back in and do the same on the other wheel. Jacking it up keeps you from having to crawl on the ground chasing the adjusting hole as the wheel rotates.

 

Thanks 350rcherdude and mud2myeyes. I got them adjusted but the brake lever still feels soft (I am about 1 inch from the handlebar when i squeeze the brake lever back). The only other thing I can think of is to bleed them. ????? Thanks.

 

The only possible reason to need to bleed was it was left upside down(rolled over) for a little while. Are you sure you have all four adjusters optimised? ( about three 'clicks' from locking the wheel )

edit added: There's a possibility that water mud got in the drum too. you can open the drain plug at the bottom, if anything comes out it'd be a good idea to open the brakes and clean them thouroghly, don't forget to repack the drum seal lips with lots of grease.

 

After riding today, i was left with no front brakes. I didn't flip it, but I will check the drain plug, that makes sense now that you bring it up. I am pretty confident that is what is wrong. The brake lever has no pressure what so ever now. So we'll see. Thanks.