Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

logfarmer · Oct 22, 2005

Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

I had a Honda 300 4x4 with a foot shift and got so used to it I still cant adjust to the elecric shift. Is it possible to attatch a foot shifter to the 450 Foreman with ESP and just not use the electric shift at all and just use the foot shifter. would that hurt the electric shifting mechanism?
Thanks,
Stew

gmsssi · Oct 22, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

Had the same problem when we got ours, you'll get use to it, be patient...........BTW, I know of no conversions that you speak of!

bczoom · Oct 22, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

Stew,

I concur with what Greg said. It's like driving a standard transmission car/truck for years then switching to an automatic. It seems un-natural at first but it'll come to you.

You can always pretend to do a foot shift at the same time as the auto does it to make you feel better /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Did that for about 6 months after switching from a std to an auto in my truck. I had an "invisible" stick and clutch that got me through the transition. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

AL_Josh · Oct 23, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

I own a 2000 Rancher ES. Once you get used to it you will never want to go back. In deep water or mud you can lift your feet and keep them dry while the foot shift has to get wet. When we ride my cousin has a foot shift Rancher and if he gets stuck he has to reach down with his hand or use his foot to shift. I just kneel on the seat and push the buttons to shift.

As far as the foot shift conversion goes I am not sure. I have a tool in the trunk of mine that i can slip on a shaft to shift, if the electronic shifter ever goes out. I have never had to use it. I have 623 hours and 4,713 hard miles on it. I bought it when the Rancher first came out.

I attached a pic!

DrRod · Oct 25, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

I bought one of these when it first came out because I liked the simplicity of the push buttons -- never had learned to ride a motorcycle or similar stuff. I still like it but I don't recommend it for people who want to use it for work. Reason: you can't ride with one had. If you want to use a wand sprayer or ride down a fence line with a hammer and bucket of nails, you can't really do it well because your left hand is busy.

As for the hand shift wrench, I've had to use it a few times because people have shut it off in gear. If its not in neutral at shut off, it sometimes can't find its way back. So you have to wrench it down to N again. Not a big deal but always wondered why it had to be so picky about this.

BB_TX · Oct 26, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

<font color="blue"> sometimes can't find its way back </font>
I have always been able to simply rock back and forth to get mine back to neutral. Don't even put my feet on the ground, just rock my body front to back as I click the up or down button. That slight movement was enough to allow the gears to change. Never had to use the wrench.

logfarmer · Oct 27, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

Get used to it is not what I was hoping to hear, but I see there is no sympathy to be had here. I went to a Honda dealer to see what I could get for it on trade in and then get one of the new ones with the foot shift but that would cost me about 3 or 4 thousand after the trade in. So that is out since it would just cost to much. It is not bad going forward it is the reverse that is the problem. I have spent so much time backing up with my first one plowing snow that the synapse just will not adjust especially when there is repetetive reverseing.

buckle97 · Oct 27, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

<font color="blue"> It is not bad going forward it is the reverse that is the problem. </font>

I have a Foreman ES and love it. The electric shift was necessary for my wife to agree to drive it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.
Seems that the motion of going into reverse would be the easiest to get used to. The only difference is pushing down with your thumb instead of pushing down with your foot. You still have to go through the same motions of pushing the red "R" button down and pulling back on the brake handle. Just my observation.

Lawrence

glennd · Nov 12, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

The manual shifter, that comes with it, is just for putting it in a gear and driving it in that gear only. If your charge system is shot, you'll need it when the battery voltage gets too low for proper ESP function. Mine's been troublefree and I too love the electric shift. May look into selling it and purchasing a manual model. Folks often overpay for these in some websites. Regards: Glenn

Code54 · Nov 12, 2005

Re: Honda trx 450 foreman dont like electctric shift

Sorry but the lever is only for emer. use. It is not designed to be driven with a foot shirt lever.
The good news is they are EASY to sell and you will get a TON more than what the dealer will give you. I recently sold my Prairie 650 here in WV. The dealer would only give me $2800 toward a new Foreman 500 (foot shift /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif but I sold it in the local free ad paper for $5100 - that gives an example of how badly the dealer was trying to screw me over on that deal. If you feel like a different machine would be better toss it in the paper for what you want and see what happens. Worse case is it does not sell and you are at the same point your at now.
Good luck.
If you want a work machine I LOVE my Foreman 500 manual for working and riding.