[N.E.T.O.]

Hey all,
New member here, brand new 1st time ATV owner. Ridden them all my life, finally bought one. It's a 2007 Rancher 420 ES. Just picked it up last week and have spent a few days getting intimate with it. It has 800 miles on it/80 hours, and the PO (original) says it's up to date on it's maintenance, but I'm sort of OCD and anal retentive so I decided to do a service to it so I know where I am at. So I changed the Oil Filter and Oil (Honda 10-30 as per manual), Adjusted the clutch, Changed the spark plug, lubed the cables, adjusted the brakes, and checked the front and rear diff's and antifreeze levels. Air filter was just serviced it looks like (clean and oily) so I think I'm in business and I'm way impressed with it so far. Got it up to 48 before I ran out of road and was scared to try it again...I still had throttle left!

Anyway. I was pushing it into my garage today and felt and heard popping noises. If you hold your hand on the thicker part of the rear axle, right next to diff on left side, as the machine is rolling in neutral/engine off...you can hear and feel it coming from this spot. I've determined it's the axle bearings based on that, and it was extremely muddy underneath and from what I've read the axle bearings are prone to failure if driven in mud/water.

So, the owners manual, although it's good for a lot of stuff, doesn't tell me how to change these. I'm a former car mechanic, and I've worked on lots of machines like this and I can see how to get the axle OUT easily enough, but what about seperating the driveshaft u-joint? And is there a write up out there on how to replace these bearings? Hoping to go hunting next weekend (9/25) so I can order and get the parts overnighted if I can get this apart this weekend. Rear diff was full and clean, so I hope it's just the axle bearings. Also, where would you buy them? I've seen lots of aftermarket suppliers, but haven't used any of them yet.

Thanks! This machine is awesome by the way. I'll likely buy another for my wife. She wants the AT.

Randy

 

[N.E.T.O.]

Oops...sorry, I meant REAR AXLE BEARING replacement...neither of my local honda dealer have manual...special order only, up to 5 days to get here, and I found a dealer that will overnight me a bearing (for a fee...). Trying to get this going for hunting next Saturday. Anyway, what I really need are torque specs and adjustments for REASSEMBLY. I'm pretty sure I can get it apart, and even put it back together...but I need torque specs and any special instructions. For instance...can I leave the transfer case half (right side) attached to the brake drum/tube, and leave the axle in and just pull off the gearbox cover and the ring gear to change out the bearing(s)?...stuff like that.


thanks!
Randy

 

[Helmut]

Which bearings are you trying to change, the two diff bearings or the bearing in the brake backing plate or all three?

 

[Helmut]

Never mind, I just saw in one of your original post that you want to change the left diff bearing. I would go ahead and remove the axle first and just take the diff off and unbolt it. Take the left hub off. Remove the two axle nuts and spacer from the left side of the axle. There's also an o-ring on the axle, that sits between the axle and ring gear splines, that has to come off. Unhook the brake cables and vent lines. Unbolt the 4 bolts that hold the brake backing plate to the axle tube center section. Now, the axle should knock out the brake side, brakes and axle and all.

ADDED: If you want to change the bearing in the brake backing plate, you will have to remove the brake drum cover, brakes, and slide the backing plate off the axle to get to the bearing.

 

[N.E.T.O.]

Thanks!!!!

Thank you Helmut! Exactly the info I needed. Any special torque specs/adjustments or reassembly special notes that I need to be aware of? Sealer to use on Diff halves?, etc.?

Thanks again!
Randy

 

[Helmut]

Thank you Helmut! Exactly the info I needed. Any special torque specs/adjustments or reassembly special notes that I need to be aware of? Sealer to use on Diff halves?, etc.?

Thanks again!
Randy

I don't have the service manual for the 420, so I don't know the torque specs, I just go by feel. Maybe someone with a 420 service manual will post the torque specs. I use Hondabond on the diff halves, that's what comes on them from the factory. Assembly is just opposite of disassembly. Might be a good idea to use some locktite on the axle nuts, so they won't loosen up.

 

[N.E.T.O.]

Bearing job...DONE!

So my parts finally came in. The left and right rear diff bearings and seals. I also picked up some Yamabond (same as Hondabond) and some 80w-90 honda diff fluid.
I pretty much followed the directions, other than (thanks to the aboves advice!) I did not remove the brake drum or any of the rear brake parts when I removed the axle...which probably saved me at least an hour at re-assembly time (thanks for the tip!). After getting it all together, I loosened the RIGHT hand axle nuts, then tighted the LEFT hand nuts first, then re-tightened the RIGHT hand nuts. I don't know why you have to do it in that order...but I don't ask too many questions. I just do it. Anyway, got it all done and the noise is now gone and no leaks or anything. Hardest part was finding a wrench big enough for the axle nuts, and guessing on the torque. (29 ft lbs for the 1st one, then 90 some odd lbs for the lock nut). I put my other torque wrench in my vice, with these settings, then felt the torque them "approximated" on the axle nuts!
Anyway, it all turned out good.
Also found out while at the dealer I have a recall pending on the front CV joints/boots...?
Are there any other recalls I need to be aware of to check into?

Thanks!
Randy

 

[Helmut]

Glad you got it fixed!!