Hello Everyone,

Totally new to the sport, just got myself an '08 Honda Foreman manual shift. Questions I've got:

1. Maintenance, what are the basics one should know how to do?

Check oil? Air filter? What else?

2. Breaking in tips, instruction manual says run 5-6 tanks of gas never going over 3/4 throttle, anything else?

3. Should I be getting "better" accessories, or parts right away? Like the air filter, does the one that comes standard with the Foreman good enough?

I want my quad to last for many years, as I will stay on top of maintenance as long I know what I should be doing/looking for. Sorry for these dumb questions. I really want to learn as much as I can about all this so I know what all I am getting myself into.

Thanks everyone!
Jeff

 

Well you picked a very reliable, good running quad. Honda utes, are pretty simple to keep up on. The owners manual will cite the intervals, but mainly...keep the float bowl dry when the quad will be unused for more than a couple of days (and the jets wont clog), keep an eye on fluid levels(diffs and engine), use the proper oil(not car oil), keep the air filter clean, and properly reoiled. If its gonna sit for very long, a battery tender is worth using.
As far as break in is concerned...youre gonna find alot of different opinions. Id follow what the expert engineers at honda have to say in the owners manual. But waiting 5 tanks of fuel to get on it, is an awefully long time.
The foam type filters offer the best protection, ( plus the carb is jetted for using it) and are waterproof, unlike the paper type.

 

Welcome and congrats on your purchase. Here is my advise (I'll keep it short). Use this site for some great info. There are a lot of people here that know what they're talking about. You have to remember, though, that a lot things posted here are opinions and not necessarily facts.

My opinions (not necessarily facts) are:

1) Learn to do the basic stuff - oil, filter and other fluid changes.
2) Accessories make YOUR quad YOURS. Put on things you need and want.
3) Most performance enhancers are not worth the money unless you are looking for more raw speed or low end torque. My Popo is 100% performance stock and I don't have any plans to do anything else to it.

Good luck and be safe!

 

CONGRATS ON THE NEW PURCHASE[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]. IF YOU YOU TAKE CARE OF IT PROPERLY IT WILL LAST YOU A LIFETIME AND THEN SOME. AS SAID BEFORE JUST FOLLOW YOU OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE PROPER MAINTENCE AND YOU WILL BE JUST FINE.I'D RECOMMEND ROCKYMOUNTAINATV.COM FOR YOUR ACCORIES AND BIKEBANDIT.COM FOR YOUR OEM PARTS AS I HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE THE BEST {DEALS/ RELIABILTY IN SHIPPING} OUT THERE!

 

Nice choice in machines.

In addition to oil and filter, do the valve adjustment on schedule, and there is also a clutch adjustment. The oil in the front and rear axles might also be slightly low from the factory.

Make sure the oil you use is rated SG or higher, and JASO MA. Don't use anything with PTFE/Teflon, or Molly, and no synthetic until fully broken in.

Also make sure the oil filter is in the right way. If you put it in backwards, it will block all oil flow and ruin the engine.

In honda's "Pro-Honda" line of fluids and stuff is a bio-oil filter care kit. It comes with bio-oil, special cleaning soap, and sealing grease. Once you use kerosene the first time to get the petro based factory oil out, future cleanings are just done with the soap and water, that gets the bio-oil out quickly and easily. The bio-oil is super sticky stuff, that resists fuel and water.

As far as break in goes, I don't remember it saying not to go over 3/4 throttle for that long... Anyway, I wouldn't be afraid to get on it. Rings need pressure and temp seat properly, and the time you have to get new rings seated is finite. Just don't lug the motor down, or run around with it redlined and bumping against the rev limiter all the time.

If you are going to keep the machine long term and like to take care of your own stuff, I'd highly suggest investing in a factory service manual.