Picked up a new ATV

[Hodgie]

Been looking to pick up a 4x4 ATV for awhile. I would have really loved to have a UTV side by side the figures just aren't in the cards for one from a manufacture like Honda or Polaris. Turned my eye to getting a 4x4 quad with a winch and a heavy duty plow, and it appears patients paid off.

A neighbor just outside of my community who has a great local reputation as a small engine mechanic just put his up for sale yesterday afternoon. I have been seeing him on it since moving in this past October and was hoping to find one like it so this really worked out for me.

It's a 2005 Honda Rancher ES 4x4 with the 350cc engine. It plastics, and seat look damn near new for it's age and it run's really well. Has a few squeaks here and there from the suspension, but I am thinking some grease will clear that up. Fairly new tires, boots, and fuel lines, and the carb was cleaned out when he picked it up a year and a half ago. The rear break handle has some extra play in it so ay need some adjusting, It also has a rear foot break too so not that big of a deal.

I have owned a early 2000's 400 ex racing quad but a long time ago and it ran well, and never let me down. I am reading that these Rancher's are pretty bomb proof from 2004 on especially the 350cc motors. 1st time I have had any kind of power sports bike or street bike with a electronic transmission, still have to shift gears with a push button however there is no clutch. Shifts are  bit rough (some more then others) but I am still trying to figure out the whine of the engine and the correct RPM's.

Prices on Marketplace for quads these day's are pretty damn high and some seem to be extremely well used. This one has 2834 miles, and 793 hours on it. Some say that's low, others say it's high. Personally I think for an 18 year old quad that had two prior owners since purchased new me being the 3rd, and having the reputation for longevity like the Rancher does I think it's pretty good. The plow and winch were purchased this past summer so they are basically new. I paid a bit more then what I see similar set up's on market place for at $4500.00. That being said I know where and who it came from, it has half the hours and miles in most cases, I have the title (no one ever had the title) and the guy I bought it from said any issues call him and we will figure it out together. Similar set up's typically run about $3800,00 to $4000.00 and are between 1998 and 2002 on average.

My 11 year old son think's it's now his by default. 

Anyone have any experience with the Rancher, or the Honda Es Transmissions? I see a lot of Youtube and articles on the Rancher however most are either their fully auto models with the larger 400/420cc motors that took over by 06/07 and have the ability to change from 2wd to 4wd, mine is full time 4wd.

[Onepoint]

Those were some of the best Honda ATVs IMO.  I have the 01 2x4 version of a 350 ES rancher, have had it for 21 years with very little trouble on minimal maintenance. I had to replace the shift buttons and the display has become sketchy the last few years blanking out then coming back. But it got used every day in the summer normally was reliable.  Last summer I heard a clink and it stopped shifting.  Took it to a local guy who works on them and he said the clutch fell apart, he put it back together but still doesn't shift, so I'm planning on hauling into a dealer to get fixed, it still has a lot of life left I really do like the thing.

[Hodgie]

I’ve been going through various YouTube videos and it seems that it’s common for the electronic shift motor and the gears under it to wear out. If not that there is some linkage under the front motor cover that can sheer and cause it to jump off the internal shift lever (probably not the correct terminology). Depending on which issue it is the manual shift may still work so some guys get a permanent foot shift lever and install that.

When I shift from neutral to 1st you really feel it drop in with a jerk forward, then going from 1st which is a tiny gear from 0-6 mph then shift to 2nd I feel it drop into gear pretty hard again. From 2nd up all the shifts are pretty smooth. It’s hard to tell but from watching videos but it like like when others drop in into 1st from neutral it goes in hard as well.

Going to change the oil, front and rear differential fluids, and plug this spring then go through it slowly from there. So far I’m pretty happy with it and glad to see on YouTube that one’s from the mid 90’s are still kicking butt with just basic maintenance.

[Filroy77]

Your son looks good on there! It must be his. 

Nice acquisition, maybe some day for me…

[branflakes]

Yamaha timber wolf and a Suzuki I had early 2000s would jerk going into first. The Yamaha being 2wd would kick gravel sometimes just putting it into gear. Can't remember following gears, but I do vividly remember the lurch. They were manual 1 down 2,3,4 up and no clutch. Suzuki had lever controls for 4x4, diff lock and reverse.

Gotta love quad work horses.  The plow is great!

 I've been teased by the idea of an electric quad for hunting.

[JimmyJamesKY]

I can't offer any helpful comments, but that boy of yours sure looks happy!  Nice score, I've always wanted one of those. 

I've rode a few.  I like the farming/workhorse models more than the off road racing models.  My brother in law had one that was so fast it was scary.  Banshee I think?  Can't remember the make and model, but it was too fast.

[ramblin84]

Nice going Hodgie!  That's the ideal Honda ATV and they will run forever as long as you maintain them.

[Hodgie]

Nice going Hodgie!  That's the ideal Honda ATV and they will run forever as long as you maintain them.

I found a real good YouTube channel with professional mechanics showing all the basic maintenance, the tools and OEM parts required. I’m going to start with the oil, and front and rear differential oil this spring then go on from there. Back breaks definitely need a bit of attention as well. Other then that it’s really nice and runs well.