P500 1st Clutch Adjustment

C

Chooglin

Guest
Guys
I think I'm having clutch issues, but I have a 2017 P500. My owners manual has nothing on clutch adjustment. What "manual" are you referring to? Can I get a scan of the pages?
Thanx Al
IMG 0971
 
Mudder

Mudder

NTC Ambassador of Walls
Lifetime Member
Oct 1, 2016
11,644
87,856
113
Georgia
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500
Guys
I think I'm having clutch issues, but I have a 2017 P500. My owners manual has nothing on clutch adjustment. What "manual" are you referring to? Can I get a scan of the pages?
Thanx Al
See my post above, did the adjustment on my 2017 and much improvement. Just turn the slotted screw a little at a time and check it until you find the sweet spot. The manual referenced was from an Atv but they work the same. Suggest a short flat tip screwdriver thru a box head wrench to keep the screw still when locking down the lock nut. Did mine thru the opening under the drivers seat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 100Acre and AlR
AlR

AlR

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2016
470
1,166
93
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Ownership

  1. 500
Thanx Mudder: I adjusted the clutch. It was easy to do. Take the seat off. Remove the driver's side dust flap, or the storage bin; whatever you have. Use a flashlight and you'll see this:
20170129 122811 resized Like Mudder said, take note of where the adjustment screw (centre screw) is. Use a 14 mm box-end wrench and loose the lock nut. The 'manual' says to 'turn clockwise until resistance is met'. Well, as soon as I turned clockwise, I met resistance. This thing came to me not-adjusted to Honda specs. Anyways, I met the resistance then turned back clockwise just a tad over 1/4 turn. I no longer have a shifting problem. Adjusting the clutch makes it shift WAY better. Super simple to do. Happy happy.

At the same time I adjusted the pre-load on the shocks. Using this tool:
20170129 131006 resized I dialed each shock only one-click higher. I bounced the shocks & pushed down abit to make sure the suspension wasn't sitting artificially high. That resulted in a 1/2" rise in clearance in the back and just under 1/2" rise in the front; now 10 1/2" clearance fore and aft.
Al
 
H

HondaTech

Guest
HondaTech,

Am I correct? As the clutch wears, the gap gets smaller?
If you ever take off the cover of a Honda atv with adj, clutch you'll see a plate with 3 indents affixed to this adjustment bolt. This plate sits on 3 ball bearings and when a shift is commanded the plate pushes on the clutch to disengage it. When you screw this bolt in, effectively yes your making the gap between this plate and the clutch smaller. It basically takes up the space when the clutch wears. I'm guessing since the engine is automatically made to stall for a split second, if the clutch is disengaged for too long then the engine cant pick itself back up quick enough. It's just something new we'll have to adjust to, since we're use to letting off the throttle while shifting and these units do it themselves.
 
RydeAK

RydeAK

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2016
103
296
63
Alaska
Ownership

  1. 500
This was way more of a pain than I thought it would be! I only have 150 miles though, so I think my clutch has not worn much. It took less than the 1/4 turn but took awhile to figure that out...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Arizona
Montecresto

Montecresto

Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
Jan 17, 2016
22,584
34,172
113
Eastern oklahoma
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500

  3. 1000-3

  4. 1000-5

  5. Talon X4
This was way more of a pain than I thought it would be! I only have 150 miles though, so I think my clutch has not worn much. It took less than the 1/4 turn but took awhile to figure that out...
I’m curious as to what made you think that it needed adjustment, particularly at just 150 Miles? I have 2,500 Miles on mine and I’ve never adjusted it or felt the need. Do you think that yours may have been out some from the factory???
 
RydeAK

RydeAK

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2016
103
296
63
Alaska
Ownership

  1. 500
It was taking multiple attempts to shift from low to 2nd while moving. Has pretty much always done that. So I figured I'd see if it would get better
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bad_bowtie
trigger

trigger

Old Ironsides
Vendor
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Feb 13, 2016
23,829
178,020
113
Bay City, Michigan
www.quickshieldutv.com
Ownership

  1. 500
I’m curious as to what made you think that it needed adjustment, particularly at just 150 Miles? I have 2,500 Miles on mine and I’ve never adjusted it or felt the need. Do you think that yours may have been out some from the factory???

Lots of us have had to do it. Maybe not tightened up enough at factory, wrong setting at factory or each one wearing differently.
 
advertisement
Bad_bowtie

Bad_bowtie

Huge member
Lifetime Member
Jun 29, 2016
2,539
15,603
113
East Tennessee
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4
It was taking multiple attempts to shift from low to 2nd while moving. Has pretty much always done that. So I figured I'd see if it would get better

Mine did the exact same thing. Wouldn't shift from Low to 2nd. I adjusted once and it helped some, but not entirely fixed. I recently changed oil and readjusted and it really seemed to help but haven't gotten to ride it much since.

Was wanting to hit Windrock today but heavy rains and high winds most of the day. Hopefully we can ride next weekend.
 
rocmar

rocmar

Where Eagles & Angels....Dare to Fly...
Lifetime Member
Dec 21, 2014
4,741
5,776
113
4 CORNERS
Ownership

  1. 500
I've never adjusted mine..
it shifts..rough when cold..
New oil helped...I let it run
..a few mins before riding...
....
 
Montecresto

Montecresto

Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
Jan 17, 2016
22,584
34,172
113
Eastern oklahoma
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500

  3. 1000-3

  4. 1000-5

  5. Talon X4
It was taking multiple attempts to shift from low to 2nd while moving. Has pretty much always done that. So I figured I'd see if it would get better
Mine has done that from day one if I start out first thing cold and go. A little warm up and I never get that. Otherwise I guess I’ve just been lucky with mine not needing adjustment.
 
Montecresto

Montecresto

Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
Jan 17, 2016
22,584
34,172
113
Eastern oklahoma
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500

  3. 1000-3

  4. 1000-5

  5. Talon X4
Maybe not tightened up enough at factory, wrong setting at factory .
I guess I could see that possibility. I bought a unit mfg on a Wednesday. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: trigger
C

Christepher

Active Member
Oct 10, 2018
82
104
33
PE Canada
Ownership

  1. Talon X
I have noticed that mine, when warm, will take a split second before shifting when driving manual. I paddle it up, wait then gear engages. Does this sound like an adjustment is needed? (2017 P500 1500kms).
 
Montecresto

Montecresto

Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
Jan 17, 2016
22,584
34,172
113
Eastern oklahoma
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500

  3. 1000-3

  4. 1000-5

  5. Talon X4
I have noticed that mine, when warm, will take a split second before shifting when driving manual. I paddle it up, wait then gear engages. Does this sound like an adjustment is needed? (2017 P500 1500kms).
Mine doesn’t do that, but I bought it when Honda rolled them out and there was no auto/manual option. Though I don’t know that there’s a relation. 4 years now, 3K miles and no clutch or valve adjustment needed.
 
F

Fischer

Well-Known Member
Dec 22, 2019
209
321
63
The woods
Ownership

  1. 500
Did the adjustment today, went too far and would die out on shifts, then err code and stuck in 1st. Worst on AT mode. Scary. Went back between 1/3 and 1/4 to find the sweet spot after a few try's. All ok and smoother now. Don't you like things you can actually work on with a screwdriver and wrench, like the old cars used to be? Good 35 mile ride in the steep hills today.
I was wondering when you fine tuned your transmission back to 1/4 or 1/3 from when the transmission stalled, did you have to go through the whole one full turn right then counterclockwise to resistance or did you just move it to the sweet spot and bypass the initial steps.
 
Mudder

Mudder

NTC Ambassador of Walls
Lifetime Member
Oct 1, 2016
11,644
87,856
113
Georgia
Ownership

  1. Other Brand

  2. 500
I was wondering when you fine tuned your transmission back to 1/4 or 1/3 from when the transmission stalled, did you have to go through the whole one full turn right then counterclockwise to resistance or did you just move it to the sweet spot and bypass the initial steps.
I think I went all the way back, but don’t know if it mattered. Have not had to do an adjustment since.
 

About us

  • Our community has been around for many years and pride ourselves on offering unbiased, critical discussion among people of all different backgrounds. We are working every day to make sure our community is one of the best.

User Menu

Buy us a beer!

  • Lots of time and money has gone into making sure the community is running the best software, best designs, and all the other bells and whistles. Care to buy us a beer? We'd really appreciate it!

    Beer Fund!

    Club Membership!