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Honda Transmissions ??

32K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  joelukex4 
#1 ·
As I try to get back up to speed on ATVs, after many years out of the loop, I'm suddenly confronted with a confusing array of transmission choices. "Back when", the options were pretty simple, manual w/auto clutch or belt CVT. Then Honda started with the ES, which as I understand is just a manual 5spd, with electronic push-button shifting. Then the Rincon came along with a more automotive style 3spd automatic. Somewhere in-between, the confusion starts with the Rubicon, which I have no idea about, other than it's some kind of "hydromechanical CVT". Then there's ESP, which I think is just an ES with a computerized shift program that makes it operate like an automatic. Now I see that certain years of the Rancher were available with manual shifting, ES, and "Auto". What kind of "auto" that is, I have no idea.

Perhaps someone could inform me on the particulars of the various designs, the pros & cons of each type, and whether any of them have been problematic over the years.

Thanks,
 
#2 ·
yes, the rancher 400at's were very problematic. not many of them around anymore. the rubicon trannys are infinitely variable, hydraulic units that have been hailed as the smoothest tranny of any atv ever offered. it also allows you to "shift" between 5 preset points that mimics the es mode on other hondas. rincons are okay, just geared more towards sporty performance, than hard labor and pulling. not much difference between the manual and es trannys and gears, just the means of shifting them.
 
#3 ·
The Rubicon actually came in 2001, 2 years before the Rincon.

The Rubicon's trans is like the hydrostatic trans in a lawn tractor.
The 400AT had a very similar transmission, but lacked low gear, weren't very good.


Rincon's transmisson
Pro's: Most durable of all Honda transmissions, smooth shifting, more efficient than the Rubicons trans.
Cons: Geared high, poor engine braking.
Rubicon's Transmission
Pro's: Very smooth, lowest geared of all the Honda transmissions, "best" suited auto for work.
Cons: Sucks up power, unserviceable, expensive to replace, 01-04 Rubicons were guaranteed to have a Hondamatic Failure, it wasn't if, it was when.

400AT
Pro's: Smooth shifting
Con's: Unserviceable, prone to failure. No low gear and small motor make the bike completely gutless. Good bike for the wife to ride.

New 420AT? Honestly can't say too much about them, no real experience, never ridden one. Have heard they are geared high as well.
 
#5 ·
Rubicon's Transmission
Pro's: Very smooth, lowest geared of all the Honda transmissions, "best" suited auto for work.
Cons: Sucks up power, unserviceable, expensive to replace, 01-04 Rubicons were guaranteed to have a Hondamatic Failure...
Sounds like the Rubicon wouldn't be the choice for long-term durability.
I've read some about the electronic shift having problems too, how common is that? Can you shift them manually if the ES fails? Not just to get by, but permanently, as if it were an S model?

Regarding the Rancher, are the S & ES also geared too high for pulling and low speed work?
 
#8 ·
01-04 Rubicons were guaranteed to have a Hondamatic Failure, it wasn't if, it was when.
HTQM said:
I don't know if I would say the Rubicon is a bad choice for long term durability, look at Rubiranch's. It has 16,000 miles on it and nothing more than routine maintenance. On the other hand, the tranny is why I got mine dirt cheap, it had been beaten on pretty bad and the hondamatic went out.
So, how risky would it be to buy a used '02 Rubicon, with 700mi. on it? And how much does it cost for a new, "updated" Hondamatic? What clues can tell you whether it's working properly or not? Having never ridden a Rubicon, it's hard to know what's "right", unless it's plain obvious. What behavior would you look for to indicate the "state of the (hydro)stat"?:giggle

Incidentally, what do you think an '02 Rubicon is worth? Good Condition, 700 miles, Warn winch, tapered snow plow.
 
#4 ·
Google that stuff, it works.
 
#6 ·
I don't know if I would say the Rubicon is a bad choice for long term durability, look at Rubiranch's. It has 16,000 miles on it and nothing more than routine maintenance. On the other hand, the tranny is why I got mine dirt cheap, it had been beaten on pretty bad and the hondamatic went out. I was able to rebuild it, with new "updated" hondamatic, cheaper than any rubicon I could find on craigslist.

Yesterday it was pulling 10' long x 1' diameter oak logs out of the woods. That was fun, until it came time to spilt that crap, I gotta get a power splitter.
 
#9 ·
the rubicon's are a nice machine regardless of what mac102004 says. he never has much good to say about honda's. he's a canned-ham(can-am) man
 
#10 ·
Try and find out if it's already been replaced, if it hasn't you'll have to decide if its a risk you want to take. It may never fail, then again it might? They run $1500-2000 to replace. I know of an 02' with 12,000kms that was never touched, but I can think of half a dozen more than never made it past 4-5000kms. I've only seen one built after they updated them in 05 fail. It was an 07? the bike was abused.

I'm no more a Can-am man, than a Honda man, or Yamaha man, or Arctic Cat man. I am loyal to no brand. If you looked in my barn you'd find more Honda's than anything though, I have only the one Can-am.
 
#11 ·
i had 5700 miles on my 2003 rubicon when i sold it. look at any of my video's and you'll see the way i ride. it was doing just fine when i sold it.

rubiranch has a 2001 i believe, maybe a 2002. he has 16,000+ miles on it and has only done regular service.

i guess they really are junk, right MAC???
 
#12 · (Edited)
You should really learn to read everything I say, not just what you want to hear/see.

I speak facts from experience not BS from Honda "die hards" that like to manipulate information to suit themselves. Keep reassuring yourself that your Honda is the best bud. I'll just keep speaking what I know to be the truth.
 
#15 · (Edited)
there are a lot of people out there that think very poorly of the rubicon simply because of the early hondamatics issues. a quick forum search will confirm this. it was apparently a relatively common (and expensive) problem. personally I have never known anyone to have trouble with a 05 or later hondamatic. I LOVE mine. it does the job very well. it is the single best feature of the rubicon in my opinion.
 
#16 ·
The hondamatic cost me $1,100 (new), not hard to install if your handy with a wrench. I replaced the oil pump, timing chain, rings/piston while I was in there just because. If I were to run across another one for the same price and with the same problem, I'd do it again in a heart beat.
 
#17 ·
A 02 Honda rubicon with 700 miles, winch and plow will be worth between $2800 to $3500 if it is good shape. Where is it located? I might buy it. I have an 02 that I bought with 225 miles on it. It now has nearly 5000 miles. I thought the hondamatic was going to die at about 1500 miles, look up my old posts. I nursed it back to health and have not had a problem since. I believe the most important items are to let it warm up before getting on the throttle and to change oil constantly with a good synthetic oil. Just my opinion and I hope she lasts as long as Rubi's.
 
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