I joined this forum to find out how many people are having problems with the Hondamatic transmission?

I have a 2007 Rubicon that I purchased new. I use it very little and it has 167 hours and 1100 miles on it. It has had about an easy of life as an ATV could have as it is driven mostly on smooth dry roads and only occasionally in mud and water less than 12" deep. I've always kept it well maintained and the fluids changed regularly. However, after 167 hours I heard a noise coming from deep inside the motor. I took it to my dealer and the transmission is gone and is going to cost me $3000 to repair. I have owned Honda's for 25 years and my first was a 110cc three wheeler. This has left a really bad taste in my mouth for Honda's from now on!

Here is a pic the dealer sent me of the tranny! The protruding pin is not suppose to be seized out but should like it's other six counterparts?

I actually considered another brand before I purchased this one but went with Honda because of their reliability?

 

That is sad, The Rubicon tranny is a one unit deal and unserviceable.
On the other hand there is a person on this forum who's 2001 Rubicon just died after 11.000 miles, and he treated it like a red headed step child. He loved his.

The whole HONDAMATIC UNIT part# 26000-HN2-A00 is only $1,189.80 so how did they get to $3000? That's $2000 for labor! Dirt Cheap Honda & Arctic Cat OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Outlet

That's why I like the CVT system. You can get a new primary clutch for $500 or rebuild clutch kit for $200 and $90 labour even at a dealership.
There is a reason 90% of 4x4s made use CVTs.

Your kind of stuck now. Your not going to get a low mileage 2007 500 4x4 for $3000.

 

I work for a non franchised dealership and we have avoided Honda 500 autos simply because of the difficulty and expense incurred if anything goes wrong. We steered prospective buyers towards 450 King Quads as the belt drive auto is simple and cheap to fix. However after frame cracking problems on the Suzukis, we have sold a few Honda 500 autos and have not had any faults, except on one, the starter clutch came loose and the bolt heads chewed up the alternator stator. We did have a trade in Rubicon, the old model with oil filter. This went out as a courtesy bike and rodents chewed through the wiring loom. After fixing all the broken wires we could find, it kept blowing gearbox angle sensors, so ended up with a new loom.

 

$1800 for a new tranny here in Canada! The rest was labor. Everything is more expensive up here.

 

Is that $1800 + tax?

I'm Canadian also but live on the border (Saul Ste. Marie) I just order online from the states and hop over the river to Mich. to pick it up at a pickup address that charges $3.

My Polaris dealer in Canada wanted $320 for a new Rad fan, I got the same fan for $65 online from ebay U.S.A brand new. Even Canada customs let the duty slide (GST&PST) on the $65.

It's almost criminal the difference. Even the gas is only $1 per litre over there.

 

Lucky you. I live in Nova Scotia. Almost like living on an island. It's about eight hours driving and that only puts us to Maine. Not much in Maine!