Just purchased my Brute Force 300 last week and already have problems. I have been riding a Honda 250 Recon since 2002 and decided to get something a little bigger. I really like the Brute Force, much smoother than my Recon, turns great, light weight and easy to drive. The problems, EXTREMELY NOISY, key rattles in ignition and exhaust burns my leg. After only 2 miles, my leg is so hot and skin is red. Makes the riding experience unenjoyable. I have been riding for 20 years and have never experienced this problem. My Recon was never not. Has anyone experienced this on the Brute Force 300? I have only 17 miles on the Brute and am so disappointed. Took back to dealer and they still have it. So far they say nothing is wrong!

 

I'm not a brute owner, but have a Prairie 400.

The right side cover where the clutches and belt run does get very warm by my right ankle.

The recon, I believe, didn't have such a setup therefore would not generate heat down there.

Not sure about the exhaust.

The key rattling could be the ignition isn't tightened to the bodywork by the large nut which holds it on.

 

Go to the local auto parts store and buy some "header wrap". Its like a cloth that you wrap around exhaust pipe and it contains the heat so that it wont get nearly as hot on you.

Not sure about the key rattling, but surely there would be some way of fixing it or keeping it from rattling at least.

Good luck!

 

Thanks. I think the exhaust is what i mean. It's the black pipe on the left side of my quad by my leg. It gets so hot the upper side of my calf turns red and is very hot to the touch. Sorry just a girl....

 

I bought 2 of them last spring for the wife and i to get into the sport.
Love them and they have been a great machines so-far.
1 has 200mi on it and the other has close to 500 with some hard labor on it .

Yes the pipe gets hot .. but we learned to keep our leg to the outside when just cruising around . I thought of making a bigger heat shield in that area as I ride the grandson around alot and his foot hangs right there.

One thing that I had to adjust was the shifter rod on the one to get it to slip in gear better ...just a bit off

Only thing Ive had to buy is a set of center caps cause I lost my 2 fronts .. lost them somewhere , glued the new ones on with some permatex to help hold them and not pop off as easy.

 

The dealer put some heat wrap on the exhaust and that has helped. I've also read that if you switch out the jets it will cut down on the heat so we'll try that after the warranty expires. Key still rattles so I balled up some electrical tape and put it around the key. I just can't get over how extremely loud the quad is. I started putting cotton in my ears to help. It has to be the loudest quad I've ever ridden in nearly 20 years of riding. It does handle like a dream, but if Honda would come out with a comparable 300 I would trade the Brute in a heart beat. Thanks for the feedback and enjoy your summer riding!

 

Is the keys rattling do to a key chain? The easy fix for the pipe heat is exhaust wrap like the chopper guys use. It brings a 750 Degree pipe down to 500 degrees. http://www.circletrack.com/enginetec.../photo_17.html

 

No it's not the keychain. I took that off thinking the same thing. It just rattles and vibrates. I jammed electrical tape up inside so that helped. The dealer did wrap heat tape around the exhaust for me and that has helped. It was never an issue with my Honda Recon but I guess there are just some things I have to deal with. It is just THE LOUDEST QUAD EVER! Thanks for the feedback.

 

Is it the whole pod assy thats loose ? Yesterday I just happen to walk by ours and give each pod a little wiggle . One of them was loose but it never rattled..wiring held it fairly tight . After looking at how they are fasten I was able to get it tight .
The 2 screws by the key are those ones that tighten to swell up on the back side ...like those plastic push pins that are out there . I loosen the screw , re-set it and held it in place while I tighten it back up ... all snug now

Handle bars , pod, and wheels are put on by the dealer when it comes out of the create.

I dont think these are all that loud .. but then again im a sledder and run a 2 stroke a with a tuned pipe and a high flow silencer... im use to that.

 

I'll have my husband check the screws for the key. That's funny you said you are a sledder cause my husband just said to me that the Brute Force is set-up more like a snow mobile and that's why it is so loud compared to a Honda which is shaft drive and has different transmission, etc. Thanks for the info.