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What are the MUST DO mods for the 2006 Hoda Rubicon??

5210 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  bsutton.5
Snorkel Kit - Is it best to buy a kit or is it best to make the kit yourself? Is it necessary to install a breather extension for the carb and diffs at the same time? Is this considered a mandatory modification?

Pull Start - Do most people put silicon on the housing to prevent water entering? Again, mandatory?

At the end of the day, I can't predict the type of riding I'll encounter on the trails. Mud, sand, water, whatever...I just want to have fun with my atv and minimize the risk of damaging it on my adventures. Surely there are some MUST DO's that prevent costly repairs. What are they? Thanks,

DallasCon
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Yes please help i also wanna know a way to get sum more power maybe a jet kit but what on is the best
Surprising...no one has any suggestions or is this forum just not very active?
QUOTE ("DallasCon":2w7cx2lv)
Surprising...no one has any suggestions or is this forum just not very active?
I'm sure everyone is still recovering form the
weekend

All I can help with is Dust

Someone will post up soon
I have a foreman 500 not a rubicon but the same could go for both.

Snorkel- I personally don't have one and don't need it. Unless you are planning in playing in mud and water up to your racks the you probably don't need it. I do play in the mud on the trails but when it get up to the top of the tires I back out.

Sealing the Pull Start- i havn't done this either, but what I did do is put silicone gasket maker on the handle where it sets in the hole in order to seal it there. You could do this, just take the whole cover off, lay a bead of silicone and put it back on, sure isn't going to hurt anything.


Rubicon20, If you do just a jet kit your not going to see much difference. You need to do everything (exhaust, air filter, jet kit) in order to see a power gain. Check out atvoutfitters.com and take a look at there performance kits. They come with HMF utility slip-on exhaust, K&N air filter, Outerwears Pre-filter, and a set of jets. All one package for around $300 plus shipping. I wouldn't recommend buying an expensive jet kit. The jets that come with the kit are OEM jets and that should be all you need.
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Thanks Bigvic,

I'd like to keep my Rubicon stock if possible. I purchased the extended warranty on my atv and dont' want to take the chance of voiding my warranty by modifying the bike. It's not that I look for mud and water when riding but it's sometimes hard to avoid.

Another question...on the automatic 500's...is it bad to power shift using the thumb shifter? Meaning, is it bad to shift gears while keeping the bike at full throttle? If so, why?

Thanks again,
QUOTE ("DallasCon":1x3xio9w)
Thanks Bigvic,

I'd like to keep my Rubicon stock if possible. I purchased the extended warranty on my atv and dont' want to take the chance of voiding my warranty by modifying the bike. It's not that I look for mud and water when riding but it's sometimes hard to avoid.

Another question...on the automatic 500's...is it bad to power shift using the thumb shifter? Meaning, is it bad to shift gears while keeping the bike at full throttle? If so, why?

Thanks again,
On your warranty, my dealership said that a slip on exhaust and air filter did NOT void it but changing the jet and messing with the carb will. My suggestion is if something happens, put back on all the stock stuff before you take it to them.

As far as shifting with the throttle on, i'm not sure. I've never ridden a Rubicon so I don't know what it shifts like. I would say that it would be pretty hard on the gears and drivetrain to do this. A hard enough "jerk" could possibly strip or break something like a tranny gear, u-joint or even a rear end. I do not do this on mine but it's a manual shift.
QUOTE ("DallasCon":3kk4m0lt)
Thanks Bigvic,

I'd like to keep my Rubicon stock if possible. I purchased the extended warranty on my atv and dont' want to take the chance of voiding my warranty by modifying the bike. It's not that I look for mud and water when riding but it's sometimes hard to avoid.

Another question...on the automatic 500's...is it bad to power shift using the thumb shifter? Meaning, is it bad to shift gears while keeping the bike at full throttle? If so, why?

Thanks again,
Power shifting with the thumb shifter will not hurt anything as it is not a true manual shifting transmission. The thumb shifter only give you a simulated manual shift with the Rubicon's Hondamatic.
I have an 07 rubi.... Didn't know there was a pull starter? hmmm...... Learn something new everyday.... Also will putting a winch on void warrenty..... Sorry to Hi- Jack the thread... I'm done now...
QUOTE ("DallasCon":3mjklmq5)
Snorkel Kit - Is it best to buy a kit or is it best to make the kit yourself? Is it necessary to install a breather extension for the carb and diffs at the same time? Is this considered a mandatory modification?

Pull Start - Do most people put silicon on the housing to prevent water entering? Again, mandatory?

At the end of the day, I can't predict the type of riding I'll encounter on the trails. Mud, sand, water, whatever...I just want to have fun with my atv and minimize the risk of damaging it on my adventures. Surely there are some MUST DO's that prevent costly repairs. What are they? Thanks,

DallasCon
Snorkle- For the snorkel it's best to have one if you go deep often, but not manditory if you dont go deep. As far as building or buying well that depends upon your plumbing skills. If your confident you can seal it up good than go ahead and go for it, you will save a lot of money.

Pull start- I sealed mine up and I found out why I did when I took it off. I hadnt really done any hard riding when I did mine, but found that water and mud had both made their way in and rusted up my spring and just made a mess. It's something very simple to do and provides that little extra security for a very minimal price. I would suggest just using a silicon and running a bead along the flange and a little extra on the weap hole on the bottom and plenty more on the pull starter handle. Make sure to clean it up good before you put it back on. Again this is not manditory to do, but if you ride deep you will want to do this.

These are the two simplest/ cheapest ways to add some security if you ride in deep mud/ water.
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Yes, thumb shifting with the throttle down doesn't hurt anything on the Rubicon. It doesn't have actual gears so you aren't actually shifting anything to hurt it. Confusing, but quite awesome.
I was told shifting like that would mess up the trans on my 07 ruby??
i built my own snorkels, and they are "true dual, it was not necessary, but i wanted more airflow cause i put a 2" glasspack exhaust on mine. If you are good at plumbing and waterproofing you should do it, theres only one way to learn tho, and thats to do it, just don't take shortcuts, all of your ventlines will need to be run up to, not in your snorkel, all a snorkel is aroun $30 of pvc and fittings, and if you want to rejet do it after your snorkel and highflow exhaust is installed with high flow air filter, any way i can help just let me know
oh, and you should seal your pull start, it will get clogged up, use rtv silicon
Yes, thumb shifting with the throttle down doesn't hurt anything on the Rubicon. It doesn't have actual gears so you aren't actually shifting anything to hurt it. Confusing, but quite awesome.

Wow, he asked that question nearly 5 years ago. :)
dang this is an old post, i seen it on my phone earlier and did not see the date!!!
That's ok Bama it happens alot !!!!
lol i didnt see the date either lol
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