My Brand New '04

[wsucougfan]

This pic is from the day I brought it home, HMF is on its way as long with jet kit, bumber, skid plate, and nerf bars. Just thought I would share.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/WsuCougFan/quad/quad004.jpg

[LeGaCyGiAnT124]

nice, now all u do now is ride it:p

[TORO1968]

It's so...NEW...and SHINY!

Have fun with it! Post pics of your mods once you get them done... :)

[DH400EX]

thats a clean 400

[nosliw]

wish mine was still that clean. where do you ride?


p.s.- GO HUSKIES :blah: j/k

[wsucougfan]

So far I have only rode it at Evans Creek and some trails down by belfair, plan on going to the dunes in Oregon sometime this summer.

[nosliw]

im done with evans creek. that up the mountain rock climb was just too hard on the quad and ended up replacing too many parts. tahuya for me from now on.

[wsucougfan]

Yeah some trails on Evans Creek are pretty rough, I havent been to Tahuya yet but my buddy goes down there a lot so I will probably head down there sometime.

[Myrtle150]

Id kill for that shiny new plastic

[huffdaddy_400EX]

lookin' good!

[FoxMxRiders]

its sweet when its new :D

[wsucougfan]

My HMF slip on should be here sometime this week and I will take some pics with it on and then you can see all the scratches I have gotten with only 20 hours on the bike

[Rico400]

jeez i dont even remember my plastics being that shiny and i got mine like 3-4 months ago

[quad2xtreme]

Man, I forgot that new plastic could look that good. Mine is 100% dull.

Now is the time to remove the swingarm bolt, grease, and reinstall.

/Jon

[jak1389]

sooooooooo shiny. soooooooooo clean. i wish i had red plastics instead of my yellow:(

[400exredrider]

itll never be that shiny again tho :ermm:

[wsucougfan]

Originally posted by 400exredrider
itll never be that shiny again tho :ermm:

ha, I know, after the first ride it already had a bunch of scratches.

[wsucougfan]

Originally posted by quad2xtreme

Now is the time to remove the swingarm bolt, grease, and reinstall.

/Jon

Why do I need to do this? Does it bind up or something?

[quad2xtreme]

If you don't keep it greased, it can seize either on the sleeves or usually on the engine case bushings.

Do a search on swingarm bolt and see all the people (including me) who have gone through major issues getting it cut or torched out.

It is a simple process to jack the quad up and get it out now. I recommend using a 1/4" pin punch. The pin will go down in the hollow part of the bolt so you don't damage your threads when tapping it out. I've also used a big nail that just fits. Retorque to 80 ft/lbs.

/Jon

[nosliw]

Originally posted by quad2xtreme
Retorque to 101 ft/lbs.

/Jon

my clymers says 82ftlbs?

[quad2xtreme]

my mistake. I edited my message to correct. The rear axle nut is 101 ft/lbs.

/Jon

[wsucougfan]

I will have to check that out this weekend, thanks

kevin

[2001400exrider]

so if u dont grease it wats the big deal? if it seizes in there which mine probably is it will just be harder for me to get out when i need it out. I say this because my swingarm pivots fine and see no reason to grease it other that point i said^. like the bolt wont "seize" making my swingarm not able to pivot?

[quad2xtreme]

Once your bearings go, your swingarm will still pivot, no problem. It will just be loose. When you hit the throttle, it will pull your left wheel forward because the swingarm is moving forward on the left side. Problem is you won't be able to replace the bearings until you get this bolt out. You can't even pound it out with a 12 lb sledge. Think of it as being welded in. It isn't "more" difficult" to get it out. It can be impossible without damaging the crankcase bushings. You can't get these by calling Honda. You can either find a machinist to make them or you can buy new engine cases and have someone disassemble and reassemble your engine.

It is simple maintenance but many people with 400ex don't know about this problem until it is too late.

[greg_gorrell]

but i have really never greased mine on my 01 since like a year or 2 ago when i had the engine off for a rebuild and i just put some oil on it. i tore it apart yesterday and i had to pound it out with a little hammer but i came out so easy and the oil was still on it. i couldnt believe it.

[2001400exrider]

i tried to spray some penatrating lube in there and let it sit, then ima try to pound it out agian. i tried yesterday and it was STUCK:rolleyes:

[FoxRacing81]

Originally posted by 2001400exrider
i tried to spray some penatrating lube in there and let it sit, then ima try to pound it out agian. i tried yesterday and it was STUCK:rolleyes:

Good luck...you most likely won't have any though...I had to cut mine out...40 dollars in sawzall blades, 35 for a new bolt, 6 for a new nut, and 65 for a new bearing kit,...I am greasing mine as often as I think about it now.

[2001400exrider]

lol yup im prety sure im screwd....im not cutting it off yet tho...im savin up fora 450r. :devil: my 400 is guna be the second machine;)