[cdubs]

Going to look at one for sale today, kinda wish it was the foot shift tho. Wish me luck!:grin

 

[shadetree]

good luck, your gonna need it !..lol. if your smart ( and i'm sure you are ! ), don't bother with the es model.

 

[alloutdoors]

I agree, the manual shift is robust and well proven. I have enjoyed many years of problem free ES on my Honda's and perhaps just lucky, but feel with care, i.e., no swimming/submerging the machine or left in the weather has benefited me with that luck. If you are planning on some deep water, etc., then I would wait on a foot model to avoid exposing that level of electronics to water and realize the hand grip is "water protected", but water does get into strange places.

 

[Jeepwm69]

And on the 450's the ES transmission gears are actually different/less robust than the footshift models, so you can't just convert to a footshift like you can on the 350 Ranchers and 500 Foremans.

 

[cdubs]

Well I decided to buy it! 28 swamp lites included with 2inch HL Lift and stick stoppers and a snorkel. Mechanically sound from what I can tell except the pull start needs to be sealed. Definitely gonna need an oil change and oil filter. Gonna get that tomorrow! Heres a pic of this monster.

 

[shadetree]

grats, i just hope its not like the rest of the es models i know of ?!. enjoy it .

 

[cdubs]

I hope not! My recon has the footshift and I prefer that over the es but its whatever. I hope I dont start getting the es problems but I hear the fix for them is simple.

 

[shadetree]

I hope not! My recon has the footshift and I prefer that over the es but its whatever. I hope I dont start getting the es problems but I hear the fix for them is simple.

the only simple fix for es models ?..is buy a foot shift model !..lol. it's a proven model concept. but hey, it's your time and money, you only have to make one person happy here ?..you !.

 

[cdubs]

I hear the simple fix for the es models is to convert to footshift or clean the dirty gummy grease out the shift motor gears. Friend of mine had a 350 rancher es and he cleaned the grease out and the atv now performs like new!

 

[Jeepwm69]

Definitely clean the old grease out and very lightly grease with white lithium grease.

Some have problems with the ES, some don't.

The problem with the 450's is they actually have different gears in the ES model, so if you convert them to footshift the ES gears are a bit weaker (makes them easier to shift) so they don't hold up well to hard use with a footshifter attached.

Still an option if you have ES problems, you just won't be able to be too rough on it while shifting.

 

[Patrick]

I have to rock my 450 ES to get it to shift sometimes. Strangely more often when it is hot than cold. I have replaced the grease, but maybe I am using to heavy of a grease.

 

[fishfiles]

A used ES that was snorkeled and looks like it was a mud bogger , did you ask why he was getting rid of it ? --- get a battery float charger for it and keep it plugged in , they need a hot battery

 

[mrbb]

have you adjusted the clutch on this atv?

 

[cdubs]

+Fishfiles I dont remember why he said he was selling it.
+mrbb I believe the original owner told me he did some clutch work to it.

 

[cdubs]

Alright guys this might be a stupid question but dont bash me for not being a knowledgeable person about this type of stuff, but the push button starter quit working today and now to get the ATV to start I have to touch a piece of metal on the starter relay solenoid. Do I need to replace the starter or just the push button starter?

 

[retro]

The starter is working so its one of several other possibilities. Diagnose to learn whether it has a failed solenoid, starter button, a broken wire somewhere, corroded harness plug(s) etc.

 

[shadetree]

odds are, starter solenoid is bad, not the starter !.

 

[mrbb]

+Fishfiles I dont remember why he said he was selling it.
+mrbb I believe the original owner told me he did some clutch work to it.

I am not talking about clutch work, but actually adjusting the clutch, its a normal adjustment that is needed from time to time to allow for proper shifting
when its NOT adjusted correctly it makes shiftting gears hard or not possible at all, and or how it is allowing the clutch to work or not


http://www.hondaatvforums.net/forums/repair-maintenance/48980-how-adjust-clutch-utility-atv-s.html

 

[cdubs]

+retro +shadetree Peeled back the little rubber boot on top the starter on found this? Not sure if it should be like this but theres a good chance i've gotten some mud in it... (hit some deep holes today and cleaned it as soon as I got home)
+mrbb No, I have not adjusted the clutch but I will probably do so tomorrow morning!
Also why do my attached pictures always turn when uploaded?

 

[retro]

You can test your starter using jumper cables from a good battery or connect a jump start box momentarily. Attach the negative (Black) cable to starter or motor ground and attach the positive (Red) cable to the positive starter post in your pic. If the starter runs and cranks the motor over, it tests good.

If that positive cable in your pic is still firmly crimped on the end and no corrosion has formed, you can pinch those two loose tabs back down around the bare copper using pliers and forget about it. Someone has dielectric greased that boot before so thats a good thing...