[hodge5]

I'm (hopefully!) looking at an 86 Foreman for sale, locally. All I've seen, so far, are some photos. The owner is in the process of working a trade with someone, and if that falls through, I'm next in line to look at it.
In the description, he said that he thought the shifter needed adjustment. I asked him for some more specific details, and this is what he said- "I don't know what the shifting issue is, you need to flip the lever with you foot once and than hit it again to get it to shift. Seems like an adjustment issue maybe".
Thoughts? I would like insight, before going to see it in person. It looks pretty good, he's the original owner, and I'm hoping that it has life left in it.

 

[Goober]

Good questions.
The shift lever return spring might be broken.
The spring returns the shifter lever to its normal position.
Honda didn’t make the Foreman until 87–I learned the following from members here.
The Fourtrax TRX350A model (AC/CDI) was offered 86-87
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI) was offered in 1987
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI Revolution Research ignition) was offered 1988-89 (US) and 1988-93? (Canada).
The service manual for these is at my link below “TRX350 Foreman”
Good luck-these are great rides and fun projects but the parts if you can find them are used and/or pricey

 

[hodge5]

Good questions.
The shift lever return spring might be broken.
The spring returns the shifter lever to its normal position.
Honda didn’t make the Foreman until 87—I learned the following from members here.
The Fourtrax TRX350A model (AC/CDI) was offered 86-87
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI) was offered in 1987
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI Revolution Research ignition) was offered 1988-89 (US) and 1988-93? (Canada).
The service manual for these is at my link below “TRX350 Foreman”
Good luck-these are great rides and fun projects but the parts if you can find them are used and/or pricey

Thanks.
I am keenly aware of what I might be taking on- I'm going in with my eyes wide open. I've wanted one since they first came out- I used to go to the local Honda dealer, when I was a teenager, and dream. I remember when the 86 was introduced, and saw then when they were first put out on the showroom. The one that I maintain, for a friend at church, was bought new from that dealership (hers is an 87). I have first dibs at that one, but she isn't ready to part with it. It's also blue.
Anyway, despite the obstacles, I want one.

This is the one that I hope to go look at-

 

[Goober]

They are fabbulus machines too and very addictive—woop i sense a strengthening of the Fource lols

 

[hodge5]

They are fabbulus machines too and very addictive—woop i sense a strengthening of the Fource lols

The force is strong in you.

 

[Jeepwm69]

Good questions.
The shift lever return spring might be broken.
The spring returns the shifter lever to its normal position.
Honda didn’t make the Foreman until 87—I learned the following from members here.
The Fourtrax TRX350A model (AC/CDI) was offered 86-87
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI) was offered in 1987
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI Revolution Research ignition) was offered 1988-89 (US) and 1988-93? (Canada).
The service manual for these is at my link below “TRX350 Foreman”
Good luck-these are great rides and fun projects but the parts if you can find them are used and/or pricey

Thanks.
I am keenly aware of what I might be taking on- I'm going in with my eyes wide open. I've wanted one since they first came out- I used to go to the local Honda dealer, when I was a teenager, and dream. I remember when the 86 was introduced, and saw then when they were first put out on the showroom. The one that I maintain, for a friend at church, was bought new from that dealership (hers is an 87). I have first dibs at that one, but she isn't ready to part with it. It's also blue.
Anyway, despite the obstacles, I want one.

This is the one that I hope to go look at-

Eh, just buy it. Anything mechanical can be fixed.

What kind of tires are those? I like them.

 

[hodge5]

Good questions.
The shift lever return spring might be broken.
The spring returns the shifter lever to its normal position.
Honda didn’t make the Foreman until 87–I learned the following from members here.
The Fourtrax TRX350A model (AC/CDI) was offered 86-87
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI) was offered in 1987
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI Revolution Research ignition) was offered 1988-89 (US) and 1988-93? (Canada).
The service manual for these is at my link below “TRX350 Foreman”
Good luck-these are great rides and fun projects but the parts if you can find them are used and/or pricey

Thanks.
I am keenly aware of what I might be taking on- I'm going in with my eyes wide open. I've wanted one since they first came out- I used to go to the local Honda dealer, when I was a teenager, and dream. I remember when the 86 was introduced, and saw then when they were first put out on the showroom. The one that I maintain, for a friend at church, was bought new from that dealership (hers is an 87). I have first dibs at that one, but she isn't ready to part with it. It's also blue.
Anyway, despite the obstacles, I want one.

This is the one that I hope to go look at-

Eh, just buy it. Anything mechanical can be fixed.

What kind of tires are those? I like them.

I'm trying. Got cash, and I've asked if I can come look at it. The owner is in the process of working out a trade with someone, and will let me know. I'm hoping that going to see it (I'm not just an email, but an interested buyer), and having cash, will put some pressure on. Here in the Mid Atlantic, they aren't coming up for sale much.
Don't know what flavor of tire it is, but they look good to go.

 

[LBZ_Duramax]

Good questions.
The shift lever return spring might be broken.
The spring returns the shifter lever to its normal position.
Honda didn’t make the Foreman until 87–I learned the following from members here.
The Fourtrax TRX350A model (AC/CDI) was offered 86-87
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI) was offered in 1987
The Foreman TRX350D (DC/CDI Revolution Research ignition) was offered 1988-89 (US) and 1988-93? (Canada).
The service manual for these is at my link below “TRX350 Foreman”
Good luck-these are great rides and fun projects but the parts if you can find them are used and/or pricey

Thanks.
I am keenly aware of what I might be taking on- I'm going in with my eyes wide open. I've wanted one since they first came out- I used to go to the local Honda dealer, when I was a teenager, and dream. I remember when the 86 was introduced, and saw then when they were first put out on the showroom. The one that I maintain, for a friend at church, was bought new from that dealership (hers is an 87). I have first dibs at that one, but she isn't ready to part with it. It's also blue.
Anyway, despite the obstacles, I want one.

This is the one that I hope to go look at-

Eh, just buy it. Anything mechanical can be fixed.

What kind of tires are those? I like them.

Tread patters is identical to Kenda Bearclaws

 

[misterclean59]

What is he asking for it? Perhaps you could offer a little more to convince him to sell it to you! ? lol

 

[hodge5]

What is he asking for it? Perhaps you could offer a little more to convince him to sell it to you! ? lol

$1400. Needs a brake cable, and has the shift issue- his assessment. I haven't seen it, yet. It has a winch on it, and comes with a plow and windshield. If it is in great shape, I'd consider giving his asking price. But, I need to see it, hear it start and run, and drive it, before considering giving asking price. I'm hoping that going to see it (he hasn't responded back yet) indicates my commitment (not just email tire kicking), and cash will expedite his decisions.

 

[Goober]

I’ve learned so much from the many Fourtrax Jedi knights here at the forums, lols

 

[Duck0fDeath]

I don't recall seeing a blue '87 foreman before but the light, bumpers, and plastics all look like an '87 model. All the blue ones I've seen have all been 88-89 models.

 

[hodge5]

I don't recall seeing a blue '87 foreman before but the light, bumpers, and plastics all look like an '87 model. All the blue ones I've seen have all been 88-89 models.

One of the first things I'll do, if I get to go look at it, is check the frame tag. The blue one that I maintain for a friend is an 87, and everything about this one looks identical. I'm betting that he's wrong on the year.

 

[Duck0fDeath]

If those are the original plastics, bumpers, carriers, and headlamp, it's no '86, that much is for sure.

I'd bet it's an '87. I know there's a difference in front bumpers after 87 but I'm not too good at spotting them. I think Honda started making the side vent covers in grey starting in '88. I'm not 100% but I think that center headlamp protective cage was only done in '87.

 

[hodge5]

I thought that I'd lost out, but he messaged me, and we've set up a time tomorrow to look at it. I'm assuming that the trade fell through. Maybe it'll be a good find, or maybe too much money and too much work. Expect the worst, be surprised by better.

 

[Duck0fDeath]

1400 is a little high for them around here, although I have no idea about the market for a plow. They're totally worth that kind of money but everyone around here wants a 300 and they'll get 1400 all day if running and complete. I see the 350's running and nearly complete listed for 800-1200 all the time. I guess what I'm getting at is don't worry if it doesn't pan out on this one. There will be as good or better deals come your way if you keep an eye out. Facebook marketplace is a great resource these days.

 

[hodge5]

1400 is a little high for them around here, although I have no idea about the market for a plow. They're totally worth that kind of money but everyone around here wants a 300 and they'll get 1400 all day if running and complete. I see the 350's running and nearly complete listed for 800-1200 all the time. I guess what I'm getting at is don't worry if it doesn't pan out on this one. There will be as good or better deals come your way if you keep an eye out. Facebook marketplace is a great resource these days.

Thanks, Duck. I agree, and I'm not worried. $1400, regardless of the region, is too high for me. I'll look it over, and then decide. If it's worth buying, I'll make an offer. If it needs to much work to be a reasonable project, I'll pass it over.
Geographics are interesting- they do not come up for sale around here, very often. For that matter, in the surrounding states, either. 300's, there are a gazillion of them.

 

[hodge5]

I passed on the 350. It is an 87 Foreman, and the guy was real nice- turns out, I know his family, he's heard of me from them, and we had a good time talking. I looked the atv over real good. It was in worse shape than it looked in the photos. The frame has heavy rust and scale on it, and it is leaking oil pretty bad around the top of the cylinder. It started up fine, but the fuel pump sounded horrible- it was aftermarket. The plastics are all there, but they are cracked pretty bad. The steering had some play in it, the handle brake cable was broken, you have to pump the front brakes to get any feel out of them, brackets are welded in different spots on the racks to hold buckets, and you have to lift (or push down on) the shifter twice to get it to go in to gear- any gear. Push it once, it doesn't engage. Push it a second time, and it goes.
All of that is price-relative. If it was cheap enough, it would still be worth buying. It runs, moves, and sort of stops. But, he's pretty firm on $1400, and I wouldn't have given more than $300 for it.
But, that wasn't the icing on the cake. Turns out, my neighbor owned it, who they had purchased it from 20 years ago. I had forgotten that they had owned a blue 350. The kicker is, my neighbor could break a vise with a rubber mallet- I know how they used this four wheeler, and he is not one to do maintenance. He once borrowed a nice Razorback shovel from my dad, and split it trying to get a rock out. He took it to a local farmer, and had him weld it. When he returned it, he proudly told dad that it was as good as new! That was typical for him.
Oh, well. I don't have a Foreman 350, but I've still got a fat wallet.

 

[Duck0fDeath]

Sounds like you made the right call walking away from that one. Happy hunting! I'm addicted to looking for my next 350D project.

 

[Jeepwm69]

I passed on the 350. It is an 87 Foreman, and the guy was real nice- turns out, I know his family, he's heard of me from them, and we had a good time talking. I looked the atv over real good. It was in worse shape than it looked in the photos. The frame has heavy rust and scale on it, and it is leaking oil pretty bad around the top of the cylinder. It started up fine, but the fuel pump sounded horrible- it was aftermarket. The plastics are all there, but they are cracked pretty bad. The steering had some play in it, the handle brake cable was broken, you have to pump the front brakes to get any feel out of them, brackets are welded in different spots on the racks to hold buckets, and you have to lift (or push down on) the shifter twice to get it to go in to gear- any gear. Push it once, it doesn't engage. Push it a second time, and it goes.
All of that is price-relative. If it was cheap enough, it would still be worth buying. It runs, moves, and sort of stops. But, he's pretty firm on $1400, and I wouldn't have given more than $300 for it.
But, that wasn't the icing on the cake. Turns out, my neighbor owned it, who they had purchased it from 20 years ago. I had forgotten that they had owned a blue 350. The kicker is, my neighbor could break a vise with a rubber mallet- I know how they used this four wheeler, and he is not one to do maintenance. He once borrowed a nice Razorback shovel from my dad, and split it trying to get a rock out. He took it to a local farmer, and had him weld it. When he returned it, he proudly told dad that it was as good as new! That was typical for him.
Oh, well. I don't have a Foreman 350, but I've still got a fat wallet.

Sounds like a $300 bike, and $250 of that would be for the rear end, assuming it was good.

Keep looking. These bikes, unless in mint condition, don't bring a lot compared to other Hondas.

I have a bunch of them in pieces, plan on building two good runners out of the lot, but have other projects taking precedence (getting bikes running for my kids).

I did pick up another carcass the other day, mainly because it had a plastic fuel tank, OEM carb, and good muffler on it.