[Davis]

Hello everyone. I have read this forum for a long time and learned a lot, so thank you all.
I have a 2001 rubicon 500 that starts and idles great and revs up in neutral perfectly but has no power in any gear.
I have followed your advice on several different threads and done all of these things with no luck.
New carb
New plug
New Air filter
Cleaned the fuel tank
Cleaned the tank screen and petcock
Replaced the fuel line and filter
Has a newer battery with good charge.
It was running fine rhis summer but when I tried to start it to plow snow this year (it was stored in my shop and warm) it didn't want to start. Took the old carb off and cleaned it. Started but didn't want to stay running, so then I did all of the above. Now it runs perfect in neutral and that's it.

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[Davis]

Update, today it will barely go in reverse, engine really struggling to keep running, but in drive it goes but has minimal power. Could it be a transmission problem?

 

[spock]

Your symptoms are similar to my 2001 Rubi and in the end it turned out to be a failed Hondamatic. You could check if the oil pump chain has jumped off the sprockets since this is a possibility.
Did you find any sign of fault codes? The gauge will start flashing and it's possible to locate something like a bad sensor. Since the oil pump controls the auto trans function, the burnt out gearbox is usually caused by this failure on the original years of this quad.

 

[Davis]

Your symptoms are similar to my 2001 Rubi and in the end it turned out to be a failed Hondamatic. You could check if the oil pump chain has jumped off the sprockets since this is a possibility.
Did you find any sign of fault codes? The gauge will start flashing and it's possible to locate something like a bad sensor. Since the oil pump controls the auto trans function, the burnt out gearbox is usually caused by this failure on the original years of this quad.

Thank you. I will check that. My dash is pretty sun baked so it is hard for me to see the lights and I do not know how to check the codes. I'm good at carburetors but not the best at everything else electronic so I need to learn more. I really appreciate your response and will let you know what I find out this week.

 

[Davis]

When I use my old carburetor it runs poorly but still goes so I am struggling to figure why it would run great with the new carburetor but not go.

 

[spock]

Okay, that's interesting. If the carb is a Chinese clone that could be the issue. A poorly fitting carb diaphragm can act like that too.

 

[Davis]

Okay, that's interesting. If the carb is a Chinese clone that could be the issue. A poorly fitting carb diaphragm can act like that too.

That's what I'm afraid of. I bought it from Amazon and don't know if it might be bad. I'm going to put the old carburetor back on tomorrow after I clean it again and see if it works or if it still might be the items you mentioned.

 

[Dwill]

That's what I'm afraid of. I bought it from Amazon and don't know if it might be bad. I'm going to put the old carburetor back on tomorrow after I clean it again and see if it works or if it still might be the items you mentioned.

The oem brand new carburetor really isn’t that bad, you can get them for around $200

 

[Dwill]

If it were me that’s what I’d start with

 

[bc buck]

Also make sure right hand brake is pushed forward off switch letting you start in gear. Also check to see if muffler has failed causing back pressure. Took me over a year to diagnose both those problems on my 02.

 

[Davis]

Also make sure right hand brake is pushed forward off switch letting you start in gear. Also check to see if muffler has failed causing back pressure. Took me over a year to diagnose both those problems on my 02.

I would not have thought about those being a problem. Thanks.