[Vinster_Beta]

I have a 2005 Honda 400 AT that uses the hondamatic system. Kinda confused on this because i've seen people claim to easily be able to do close to 50mph with it and i am pegged at a wopping 38mph. It feels as if it has more but the trans isn't allowing it to advance further. I've tried it in esp and full auto mode and it loves to peg at 38mph. This is my first run-in with a CVT trans and definitely with a hydraulic based system. I know its not supposed to be a speed demon but would like to know why I feel like im missing power out of it.

 

[shadetree]

i've never heard or seen that model top 50 mph ?!. 38 is about right, utility's are not fast to start with.

 

[Foreman_450]

The size of your tires makes a huge difference also! More tire the slower you’ll go.... that is if your running out of power when you get to the top instead of out of gearing.

 

[retro]

As @Foreman_450 asked, what are the tire diameters you are running? What is the surface type? And are you judging speed by what the display meter shows, or timing it with another (more reliable) method?

For example: my 350 Rancher tops at 48 mph (in 2wd mode) on the display meter no matter what type the surface (loose gravel or pavement) is. But timing by GPS it clocks at 51 mph on the same loose gravel road and 53 mph on the same stretch of pavement. The tires are over an inch taller than stock.

Does yours seem to be RPMs limited, or power limited?

 

[ATC4ever]

We've had a couple here doing 80-90kms/hr a lot so they can go faster. I am pretty sure i read in the manual a few years ago that you had to do a top speed learn, where you have all 4 wheels off the ground.

 

[wheelsquad]

Saw this post earlier in the day, decided to do a run with my 400AT when I took it out today, and used a GPS app so my speed was accurate. Also keep in mind that I'm running 23" tires.

So with a speedometer reading of 44 mph, my GPS said 38. Which is what I expected from my speedometer. That was the speed I stopped at, but I still had throttle and speed left to go. Got to 38 in a hurry without issue. I just stopped there cause I don't like putting this old girl through such sustained high rpm. I do remember plenty of times when it was new I would hit 50-52 on gravel roads with it. That was with stock 24" tires so was realistically 46-48 actual mph.

I don't care about top speed on utility honda's either, but as long as @Vinster_Beta isn't running 25+ inch tires, it sounds to me like the swash plate isn't going into top gear ratio. I would go through the diagnostic section for the hondamatic, especially the shift motor and maybe the initialize sequence as mentioned above.

 

[Vinster_Beta]

Saw this post earlier in the day, decided to do a run with my 400AT when I took it out today, and used a GPS app so my speed was accurate. Also keep in mind that I'm running 23" tires.

So with a speedometer reading of 44 mph, my GPS said 38. Which is what I expected from my speedometer. That was the speed I stopped at, but I still had throttle and speed left to go. Got to 38 in a hurry without issue. I just stopped there cause I don't like putting this old girl through such sustained high rpm. I do remember plenty of times when it was new I would hit 50-52 on gravel roads with it. That was with stock 24" tires so was realistically 46-48 actual mph.

I don't care about top speed on utility honda's either, but as long as @Vinster_Beta isn't running 25+ inch tires, it sounds to me like the swash plate isn't going into top gear ratio. I would go through the diagnostic section for the hondamatic, especially the shift motor and maybe the initialize sequence as mentioned above.

@wheelsquad funny your mentioned that. The owner before me put 27'' on it. I know its not supposed to be a speed demon by any means but from past experience from other ranchers, it just seemed a little off. I kinda figured the tire size was gonna be a big issue to begin with. I also assume there isn't any type of reduction kit for this type of trans. Correct?

 

[Vinster_Beta]

@retro Tire size is 27'' from the previous owner. And then I get up to my top speed it sounds almost on the rev limiter. I try not keep it in high rpm because I don't want to cause issues down the road with winding it out too far. This was done on pavement on moderate flat ground and downhill in 2wd.

 

[wheelsquad]

@Vinster_Beta that's correct, no gear reductions available for the 400AT's. I'd ditch those 27's and go back to 24's or smaller before coming to any conclusions on it. You'll smoke your centrifugal clutch in no time with 27's.

 

[Vinster_Beta]

Yea I plan on going down to a more manageable size. @ARC4ever I believed called it. Ended up doing the 22 step process and fixed majority of the issues. It still does turn those oversized tires with little effort. Ended up looking in the service manual for the process and turns out that literally everything that was on the list that would require it to mess up i've had to mess with and replace. Appreciate the help everyone!

 

[wheelsquad]

It still does turn those oversized tires with little effort.

Yeah I never had a power problem with mine actually turning the 25's. But was more of a problem that it made the initial overall starting gear ratio too high, and the centrifugal clutch spends too much time at starting out before being fully engaged. Think of it as starting out a street bike in 2nd gear every time. You can do it, but your clutch will wear faster. And once these 400AT's get even a moderately slipping clutch, they lose the ability to control themselves in auto.

 

[Moparman318360]

Mine ran 53 mph on road stock tires. Now with 26 inchers it runs 48 on road. By the digital screen

 

[wheelsquad]

Mine ran 53 mph on road stock tires. Now with 26 inchers it runs 48 on road. By the digital screen

And if you figure the final gear ratio change, probably both identical speed if measured with a gps, and I know the speedometers are very generous, probably closer to actual 45 - 48 mph range. And since you geared it up a tad with the 26's yet it didn't increase actual top speed, goes to show that is right at the very max of what the motor has the hp to pull and Honda was on target with top gear ratio on these.