Hi all- New to ATVs... Considering either Foreman with manual transmission and foot shifter or Rubicon. Primary use will be work on small hobby farm. Mostly hauling stuff around in a trailer. I also have some steeper hills on the property, so the machine/tranny I pick will be good at keeping things under control while descending hills. I've heard the Rubicon's Hondamatic tranny is a good fit for the things I've described, but I also like the idea of keeping things as simple as possible- as in fewer electronics and other gizmos that can go wrong, which is why I'm also considering the Foreman w/ manual tranny and foot shifter. I guess my main question is, is the Hondamatic tranny significantly better at hauling and engine braking than the manual tranny? Any other comments appreciated. Thanks, Joe.
Hauling/Engine Braking-Foreman or Rubicon?
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196 Posts
gear box as a brake
if you down shift at a high rpm u will bend a valve i seen it in other 4 wheelers a crap load of times people using the 3rd 2cd gear to slow down bends valves i even seen one blow a valve thru a piston from 4th to 3rd hard i had to help him load his up in my truck
if you down shift at a high rpm u will bend a valve i seen it in other 4 wheelers a crap load of times people using the 3rd 2cd gear to slow down bends valves i even seen one blow a valve thru a piston from 4th to 3rd hard i had to help him load his up in my truck
Engine Braking-Foreman or Rubicon?
Ouch.. bending valve sounds bad. The situation I'm talking about is being in a low gear before descending down a hill to minimize the "runaway train" effect especially when you have a load behind you. So not sure I would be using it to 'slow down', but rather to keep it from getting too fast while descending. Really, while descending hills with a load, I would most likely start at the top at just about a stand still.
My question was whether the manual or hondamatic would be better at this.... maybe the question is as simple as which one has the lowest gear ratio?
Ouch.. bending valve sounds bad. The situation I'm talking about is being in a low gear before descending down a hill to minimize the "runaway train" effect especially when you have a load behind you. So not sure I would be using it to 'slow down', but rather to keep it from getting too fast while descending. Really, while descending hills with a load, I would most likely start at the top at just about a stand still.
My question was whether the manual or hondamatic would be better at this.... maybe the question is as simple as which one has the lowest gear ratio?
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I believe both machines would work well for you but I think the rubicon in low gear will be geared the lowest plus it will weigh a little more for extra traction! I have a 2004 450 foreman ES and I don't have to use the brakes at all on very steep hills unless it is very rough terrain!
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