SSreda4

Mudlights got demounted (on the right), and Zillas arrived UPS. One was a day late to the party (thanks UPS) but I wasn't in any rush. Old sizes were 25x8F and 25x10R. New size is 28x10F and 28x12R. Here they are mounted: And the fourth tire was a comparison. Fourtrax has a 27x9F and the new front for the Foreman is 28x10. I wanted a side by side size reference pic: She is also getting a new carb (chasing an idle miss) and a Highlifter/EPI clutch kit: Full stance pics coming soon. Rear fenders will require some light filing to clear and the front foot well support bracket will need to be "tweaked" but overall they fit good.

So it starts with a $100 trip to the local liquor store: I decided to get to work early. As promised, the goodies: Only took one pic of the back installed, front was mostly concealed: Here's before: And after: Then this shows up and we get to work: The prize: Git-R-Dun: Yeeeeeah! Almost there: Back to the mud hole, Can Am walked through it. There was some mud on the tree branches though:

Got a guy with a 2013 650 Can Am XMR that wants to prove himself by hitting that same hole this weekend. We are gonna install his new winch and head back over there. I will make sure to get pics. I'm not trying it again anytime soon, I'll just be a spectator. I do have a 2^ Highlifter Signature Series lift on order. It should be here tomorrow as they are local to me. I may have it on in time for some new stance pics. Stay tuned.

Now I will give you a little insight on how I got where Im at: 06 Foreman ES. 400 miles/100 hours. Mods at the time of purchase: Aluminum stick stoppers and belly plate, Warn winch, Highlifter springs, SS wheels and ITP Mud-lights. Mods removed: F+R baskets and hand guards. Future mods: Different/bigger tires, lift, and likely a clutch kit and gear reduction depending on what tires I decide on. That bike ^^^^^ plus this: Equals this: Here's the riding companion. 95 Fourtrax 300. It has a Viper 3k winch, Highlifter 2 inch lift, and 27" Zillas S/W on stock Grizzly wheels.

450 swingarm 12.25, so exactly 2.5 inches longer Honda 500 DS 6.25 long, 450 DS is 8.75, so about 2.5 inches longer here also...meaning drive clearances should stay the same. Back of the 500: The swingarm must be cut and re-welded to do this swap correctly IMO. I snapped a pic of the cuts I made. The first bend with be the bring the passenger side of the arm closer to the centerline of the bike and the cut towards the bolt holes will be to straighten the arm back up so it will align with your bolt holes on your axle tubes. Installation is the reverse of removal. And, a highlifter 2 inch lift will still work and put you back to basically the original height but with a much more favorable u joint working angle. I made no changes to their lift EXCEPT remaking the outer brackets because one was found to be broken (after 100 miles). I will be contacting them about this failure as it in unacceptable in my opinion. I did originally file the OEM plastics some because the 28s were rubbing slightly, now, 30s will fit with room to spare: Looks like your back is gonna get slightly dirtier. Bad news is the foot brake cable for the 450 is exactly the same length as the 500 meaning it did not fit. The hand brake cable had no trouble reaching. Questions, comments........

Within about 50 miles, I was getting a bad popping coming from the swingarm area upon initial drivetrain loading. After reading up I realized the tires, clutch kit, and lift were probably all causing a ton of strain on the u joint. So after some reading I decided a 450 swingarm swap was what i needed. Plus the 28s were rubbing the plastic, and one day I'd like to have 30s on the bike so this would give me some additional clearance later. So I ordered parts based on what I read online. I bought a 450 Swingarm (used off ebay $50, part# 52100-HN0-670), 450 driveshaft ($50 new OEM Honda), 450 foot brake cable ($15 new OEM Honda), All Ballz SwingArm bearing kit (Part# 28-1056 02-04 tapered style bearings) and I bought a Moose Racing U joint for extra strength (part# 1205-0201). Here's the goods: Close up comparison, Moose on top, OEM Honda 500 on the bottom: Let's examine these joints a little closer. Moose overall width dimension: 2.112 Stock Honda piece is 2.021 Bearing cap O.D. on the Moose unit: 0.746 Bearing cap on the OEM unit: 0.667. 500 swingarm on the left, 450 arm on the right. I did a quick sand blast and repaint to it as some of the powdercoating has some rust. 500 DS up top and the 450 below. 500 swingarm 9.75 inches ----------

I never intended on doing a swingarm swap on a bike who only had 500 miles on it. But, plans change. Here's the bike the day I brought it home: I took it to a nasty ditch around the corner from the house. It let me down miserably. I then added a Highlifter Signature Series 2 inch bracket lift. And EPI clutch kit: Then, I added 28 inch tires. Then went and played: ---------

We ride at Highlifter in Shreveport, a few parks in E texas, and private property. Heres my junk...