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reverse modifactions

5670 Views 21 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  TwistedForeman
Bought new 2007 Foreman 500 ES . I love it, the only thing is the way you put it in reverse is a pain. Are there any after market modifactions i can do to change this.
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Welcome deer slayer, heres a link to this topic. My suggestion is use a wire tie. I Have both my machines done this way and it works great!...


<a href="http://hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopi" target="_blank">http://hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... everse+mod</a>
QUOTE ("H4zY":2nm7cxgp)
Welcome deer slayer, heres a link to this topic. My suggestion is use a wire tie. I Have both my machines done this way and it works great!...


<a href="http://hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopi" target="_blank">http://hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... everse+mod</a>
Thanks H4zY that was very helpful.
Hopefully this link still works.

<a href="http://www.hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9893" target="_blank">http://www.hondaforeman.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9893</a>

This is the mod I did before my bike came off the trailer for the first time. When it goes in, I usually adjust it back in the dealer parking lot. The ES System won't let you do much damage to the tranny by shifting into reverse too soon. Heck, it won't even let you hit neutral unless your going roughly 4mph or less. This sure beats putting a zip tie there and all that other good stuff.
This is what I use. 15 seconds to install or remove. I think they are like 12 dollars. I have one on my 07 Foreman and all of my Recons.

<a href="http://www.atvcountryremedies.com/products.html" target="_blank">http://www.atvcountryremedies.com/products.html</a>
Reverse Quick Shift

Got this off a web site .Honda's with the ES trans have always been critisized for their somewhat complex way of putting the bike into reverse.While I have not found this particularily difficult, it can be annoying especially in winter while riding with mitts or heavy gloves on.
To bypass this feature simply find a peice of ridged tubing (anything will work here, copper pipe, plastic pipe, spacer of some sort...anything)..about 1 cm long and cut a slit down one side. Pull back the rubber boot on the left bar and engage the reverse lockout. As you pull back the brake lever you will see the the lever underneath it move outward. This is where you want to place the spacer you just made. Clip it over the cable to prevent the bottom lever from returning and thats it.. your done ! You can now shift into reverse directly from neutral without pressing any buttons or pulling any levers. The ES system will not allow you to downshift from 2nd into 1st at anything above a slow crawl 3mph. so there is no danger of shifting into reverse by accident on the trail. To restore the safety feature..simply remove the spacer.
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is it kinda risky to try on a manual footshift ?
QUOTE ("Dale07Foreman":h6lkmedo)
is it kinda risky to try on a manual footshift ?
So far I have done this to many manual shift Honda's and never a problem.
Well those are some good idea's , but here's another one to consider,....... just tighten your reverse cable adjustment nut , just until it allows you to select reverse ( must be adjusted with key on ) then just a 1/4 turn more , not to much ... as this will stretch your cable , and place undo tension on that cable . I find this mod to be the simplest , and i have never had a problem with it with or without gloves , epecially plowing !!
i dont see what the big deal is.
QUOTE ("rockbottom12":15x8ea5x)
i dont see what the big deal is.
It becomes a bit of a bigger deal when you're plowing. Forward, reverse, forward, reverse, forward, reverse. Over and over and over, the method of shifting into reverse can be a bit cumbersome, especially with mittens on.
Wouldn't you risk loosing reverse doing this? If you downshift past first while you still moving you can very easily chip a tooth on the gear.
QUOTE ("Unstuckable":1qv0j08d)
Wouldn't you risk loosing reverse doing this? If you downshift past first while you still moving you can very easily chip a tooth on the gear.
No, the ES prevents you from shifting into neutral unless you are going very slowly already, so it pretty much stops you from doing any major damage.
I'm speaking on behalf of the footshifters though. Same difference?
QUOTE ("Unstuckable":1cqn925r)
I'm speaking on behalf of the footshifters though. Same difference?
I'm not sure, I guess you could try shifting into neutral at 5mph or more and see if it allows you to.
What I ended up doing was pushing the red button down and installed a self tapping sheet metal screw through the bottom of it to hold it down. This way you don't see a wire tie or anything, and you still have to pull the brake lever in to engage reverse.
QUOTE ("szembek":1il5y9ka)
QUOTE ("rockbottom12":1il5y9ka)
i dont see what the big deal is.
It becomes a bit of a bigger deal when you're plowing. Forward, reverse, forward, reverse, forward, reverse. Over and over and over, the method of shifting into reverse can be a bit cumbersome, especially with mittens on.[/quote]
ill give you that on the plow thing. here in east tn we dont get enough snow to know what a plow looks like. the most we normally get is 2 inches and that is mostly melted by lunch.
I mainly did mine because last winter I broke my rear brake cable because I had to get into reverse. My rear brakes got frozen and got in a bind and had to have reverse, also helps when your in one of those spots where to turn around you have to move 10 times!

rb12, check your PM's
i did mine with the ZIP tie and it works great!!!!
Agreed - the zip tie works great for me...just completed it. Thanks for the info folks!
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