[adstal]

My brother purchased a 2006 Foreman 500 brand new and I cosigned for him. I didn't know about it, but while it was under warranty the cam shaft broke in half three times. Then when the warranty expired it broke again and he paid ~$1200 to have it repaired. Long story short he stopped paying the bill and I now own the bike. I have it in the shop and it will cost me ~$800 to repair. The guy fixing it says he thinks there is some type of defect which is causing the cam to break in half since its happened numerous times. I want to get rid of the bike but I don't want to screw anyone and I also don't want to drop 800 just to have the cam break again. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[94300ex]

welcome to the forums. i don't know crap about these newer utility bikes but it sounds like your mechanic is right, somethings going on that is causing it to break. someone who knows more about this should be here soon with an answer.

 

[jeffnott]

are you taking it to a honda dealer. maybe they can find what causing it

 

[adstal]

Originally it was repaired the first three times by the dealer he brought it from. They failed to fix the problem.

 

[Helmut]

Welcome to the forums. I don't know what's causing it, but I agree, there's definitely something wrong causing the cams to break.

 

[adstal]

Looks like repair is not an option because I don't want to spend $800 just to have the cam break again. Any suggestions on where I can find a used engine?

 

[94300ex]

ebay might have one

 

[shadetree]

My brother purchased a 2006 Foreman 500 brand new and I cosigned for him. I didn't know about it, but while it was under warranty the cam shaft broke in half three times. Then when the warranty expired it broke again and he paid ~$1200 to have it repaired. Long story short he stopped paying the bill and I now own the bike. I have it in the shop and it will cost me ~$800 to repair. The guy fixing it says he thinks there is some type of defect which is causing the cam to break in half since its happened numerous times. I want to get rid of the bike but I don't want to screw anyone and I also don't want to drop 800 just to have the cam break again. Anyone have any suggestions?

first off..it doesn't take 800 bucks to replace the cam..this is if..you buy a new cam..and you install it !..second..the cam is heat treated forged steel..it would take alot of heat to break a cam..and if your bike isn't getting enough oil to keep it cool..then this would explain the cam getting to hot..and breaking. just where on the cam is it breaking ?..is it in the same spot ?..or anywhere on it ?..i find it hard to believe that a heat treated cam will just break ?!?..there is alot more going on here that meets the eye...that engine uses push rods from the cam to the rockers..and the cam is tied to the crank by a short timming chain..if the cam was binding up on the push rods..then either the push rods would bend..or you would break a rocker arm. from the sound of it..i don't think the cam was fixed right to begin with..if it was..it would not break. you may want to inspect your oil pump..make sure it's working..i just can't see a cam breaking like your saying..i've never seen a cam break..in 14 yrs of atv mechanic work..nope..never..cam sprockets strip..yeah..timming chain strech..yeah..cam's breaking...never ! i can tell you this..and this came from my local honda mechanic buddy of mine..honda did have a issue with the cam's timming sprocket's weld that welds it to the cam..not holding..he just told me this about 2 months ago...if this is the case..i would be all in the dealers arse for not mentioning this to you !..it's a factory default.

 

[Helmut]

My brother purchased a 2006 Foreman 500 brand new and I cosigned for him. I didn't know about it, but while it was under warranty the cam shaft broke in half three times. Then when the warranty expired it broke again and he paid ~$1200 to have it repaired. Long story short he stopped paying the bill and I now own the bike. I have it in the shop and it will cost me ~$800 to repair. The guy fixing it says he thinks there is some type of defect which is causing the cam to break in half since its happened numerous times. I want to get rid of the bike but I don't want to screw anyone and I also don't want to drop 800 just to have the cam break again. Anyone have any suggestions?

first off..it doesn't take 800 bucks to replace the cam..this is if..you buy a new cam..and you install it !..second..the cam is heat treated forged steel..it would take alot of heat to break a cam..and if your bike isn't getting enough oil to keep it cool..then this would explain the cam getting to hot..and breaking. just where on the cam is it breaking ?..is it in the same spot ?..or anywhere on it ?..i find it hard to believe that a heat treated cam will just break ?!?..there is alot more going on here that meets the eye...that engine uses push rods from the cam to the rockers..and the cam is tied to the crank by a short timming chain..if the cam was binding up on the push rods..then either the push rods would bend..or you would break a rocker arm. from the sound of it..i don't think the cam was fixed right to begin with..if it was..it would not break. you may want to inspect your oil pump..make sure it's working..i just can't see a cam breaking like your saying..i've never seen a cam break..in 14 yrs of atv mechanic work..nope..never..cam sprockets strip..yeah..timming chain strech..yeah..cam's breaking...never ! i can tell you this..and this came from my local honda mechanic buddy of mine..honda did have a issue with the cam's timming sprocket's weld that welds it to the cam..not holding..he just told me this about 2 months ago...if this is the case..i would be all in the dealers arse for not mentioning this to you !..it's a factory default.

I've seen cams break in to, but not over and over on the same ATV.

 

[shadetree]

My brother purchased a 2006 Foreman 500 brand new and I cosigned for him. I didn't know about it, but while it was under warranty the cam shaft broke in half three times. Then when the warranty expired it broke again and he paid ~$1200 to have it repaired. Long story short he stopped paying the bill and I now own the bike. I have it in the shop and it will cost me ~$800 to repair. The guy fixing it says he thinks there is some type of defect which is causing the cam to break in half since its happened numerous times. I want to get rid of the bike but I don't want to screw anyone and I also don't want to drop 800 just to have the cam break again. Anyone have any suggestions?

first off..it doesn't take 800 bucks to replace the cam..this is if..you buy a new cam..and you install it !..second..the cam is heat treated forged steel..it would take alot of heat to break a cam..and if your bike isn't getting enough oil to keep it cool..then this would explain the cam getting to hot..and breaking. just where on the cam is it breaking ?..is it in the same spot ?..or anywhere on it ?..i find it hard to believe that a heat treated cam will just break ?!?..there is alot more going on here that meets the eye...that engine uses push rods from the cam to the rockers..and the cam is tied to the crank by a short timming chain..if the cam was binding up on the push rods..then either the push rods would bend..or you would break a rocker arm. from the sound of it..i don't think the cam was fixed right to begin with..if it was..it would not break. you may want to inspect your oil pump..make sure it's working..i just can't see a cam breaking like your saying..i've never seen a cam break..in 14 yrs of atv mechanic work..nope..never..cam sprockets strip..yeah..timming chain strech..yeah..cam's breaking...never ! i can tell you this..and this came from my local honda mechanic buddy of mine..honda did have a issue with the cam's timming sprocket's weld that welds it to the cam..not holding..he just told me this about 2 months ago...if this is the case..i would be all in the dealers arse for not mentioning this to you !..it's a factory default.

I've seen cams break in to, but not over and over on the same ATV.

i never have..not saying they can't..but..i never have seen it..it would take alot of force..or heat to break one.

 

[Helmut]

first off..it doesn't take 800 bucks to replace the cam..this is if..you buy a new cam..and you install it !..second..the cam is heat treated forged steel..it would take alot of heat to break a cam..and if your bike isn't getting enough oil to keep it cool..then this would explain the cam getting to hot..and breaking. just where on the cam is it breaking ?..is it in the same spot ?..or anywhere on it ?..i find it hard to believe that a heat treated cam will just break ?!?..there is alot more going on here that meets the eye...that engine uses push rods from the cam to the rockers..and the cam is tied to the crank by a short timming chain..if the cam was binding up on the push rods..then either the push rods would bend..or you would break a rocker arm. from the sound of it..i don't think the cam was fixed right to begin with..if it was..it would not break. you may want to inspect your oil pump..make sure it's working..i just can't see a cam breaking like your saying..i've never seen a cam break..in 14 yrs of atv mechanic work..nope..never..cam sprockets strip..yeah..timming chain strech..yeah..cam's breaking...never ! i can tell you this..and this came from my local honda mechanic buddy of mine..honda did have a issue with the cam's timming sprocket's weld that welds it to the cam..not holding..he just told me this about 2 months ago...if this is the case..i would be all in the dealers arse for not mentioning this to you !..it's a factory default.

I've seen cams break in to, but not over and over on the same ATV.

i never have..not saying they can't..but..i never have seen it..it would take alot of force..or heat to break one.

I've seen them break for no apparent reason, but I believe it was a defect in the cam or something. I replaced the cam and never had a problem again.

 

[94300ex]

forget what i said about ebay, i looked for a motor and the 2 that i found were over $1000 after shipping.:icon_frown: but i agree with shadetree and helmut. i find very hard to believe that a cam can just break over and over without something else going on. i would check for bent valves and push rods. ive been around engines for about 10 years, whether its a car, atv or a bulldozer and ive never seen a cam break over and over again.

 

[adstal]

The mechanic I brought the bike to seems to believe that there is a defect in the case where the cam sits. I saw the cam and it is broke in half right in the middle. The problem is that the middle case where the cam passes through was damaged when the cam broke. The $800 repair includes other things including head work. The cam broke three times while under warranty and had I known about it I would have been in the dealership demanding a new bike or engine but that was almost four years ago so I don't think that is an otion anymore. So I'm now at the point where I have to decide what to do. I'm very hesitant to put another cam in it based on the history of the engine.

 

[shadetree]

The mechanic I brought the bike to seems to believe that there is a defect in the case where the cam sits. I saw the cam and it is broke in half right in the middle. The problem is that the middle case where the cam passes through was damaged when the cam broke. The $800 repair includes other things including head work. The cam broke three times while under warranty and had I known about it I would have been in the dealership demanding a new bike or engine but that was almost four years ago so I don't think that is an otion anymore. So I'm now at the point where I have to decide what to do. I'm very hesitant to put another cam in it based on the history of the engine.

i could be wrong on this..butttttttt..if the engine case has a defect from the factory...and this is what caused the cams to keep breaking..why in the hell didn't the mech that worked on it way back then..see this..and fix it.and tell you hey..we found out what was causing your cam to keep breaking..it was a defect in the engine case where the cam rides !!!..seems to me..someone either wasn't a very good mechanic..or..they just wanted to screw you or the other owners out of the labor fee !!!!, if i were you..i would consider asking a lawyer..or even go to that dealer and tell them this is bs !!..and you will see them in court !!..if they screw you over..i wonder how many other ppl they have done ?..or going to do ??..nope..they wouldn't get over on me that easy.

 

[adstal]

thanks for the help guys. I'm just at a loss for what to do with this bike. To get an engine is probably gonna cost me ~1500 which I think is just too much. Guess I could strip it and sell it for parts.

 

[shadetree]

thanks for the help guys. I'm just at a loss for what to do with this bike. To get an engine is probably gonna cost me ~1500 which I think is just too much. Guess I could strip it and sell it for parts.

if you decide not to take this matter to the courts..then yeah..you can recover most if not all of your money back from parting it out..this is if you decide not to fix it through the crazy dealers that screwed you over.

 

[cgpierce]

I would be interested in talking to you about buying your machine as is or maybe selling you my motor if you are interested. You can contact me at [email protected]. Thanks