10 people with failures on this forum's poll, about 3% nationwide someone posted. Only 10 people with issues isn't concerning to me. 3% nationally (if that's the right number) is a big number, but still not concerning to me.
Right with you.
As it sits as of this post there are 6279 members of this forum. If it were a high percentage failure for the clutches, we would be hearing about it from more than 10 people. When something fails on this costly of a tool/toy people(myself included) don't like it and tend to vocalize their dissatisfaction, or fear. Can they fail, yes. Do they fail often? Looking at the numbers, it doesn't seem so. I would not have bought a 16' if I thought the clutch was going to fail in the first 400miles.
From my position as "
armchair engineer" much like an armchair quarterback I am
not qualified to have the actual engineers job.
I based my decision to buy a 16' on the following opinion that I formed myself.
The following is MY personal opinion:
In
my opinion, and my opinion
alone. It
seems like there are a few reasons why they fail: low voltage issues, incorrect oil, possibly a production issue, and driver error. The clutch solenoid requires a certain voltage to operate correctly( I installed a deep cycle battery with almost four times the energy capacity as the factory, isolated it from the main system, and connected all my accessories to it), the correct oil and break in procedures should be followed, new machines are far more technical than a 70's small block and a powerglide, follow the damn directions in the manual. Production issue, theory, no proof, if there is any, Honda is keeping Schrödingers cat in the box. Driver error, no one wants to admit this, especially on a forum where Honda might find out you messed up, this is not a CVT or even an automatic like the 700, it is a computer controlled manual transmission. Just like a 3 on the tree, you put yourself in a situation where the clutch slips and you're gonna burn it up, fairly quickly.
3% is an average failure rate, not normal for Honda but average. We had a project recently where there was 783 of the exact same product being installed, about 5% of them were DOA. Manufacturer actually sent a few extras and then exchanged all of the DOAs. Manufacturing is not perfect, assembly lines are mind numbing, people get tired, even robots fail. Perfect example, my winch contactor was bad out of the box, I had to get a replacement.
In my mind I (personally) hold Honda to a much higher standard, longterm reliability is the main thing their brand is built on. The reliability and customer service I have received in the past with all my Honda products is why I think twice or have no alternative purchasing outside the brand.
I also make informed decisions, a dealer is not going to tell you (shocks are lacking for more than bunny trail riding, the seat gets warmer than you might like, 3% of the machine have had clutch issues, he wants to sell that machine). Nothing is perfect, nothing is perfect for everyone. Own something you bought/built as "perfect" long enough and you will find an issue with it, however much of a first world problem it may be. ( I wish we had put a half bath on the second floor so I didn't have to go downstairs or use the kids bathroom, when I am working in my office. First world problem, I have several bathrooms to choose from.)
Pre-planning and research was why I was able to get my build 90% done in 20hours of assembly work, I had dug up as much information as I could find and planned out what I was going to do and why. I had all the instructions printed from Hondas accessory site and various manufactures sites. All the digging had been done well in advance, all I had to do was the easy stuff, assembly. What I had not planned on was suspension parts being back ordered for 2 months. I could have figured 95% of it out with out instructions, but I would not have been done with assembly in 20hrs if I'd spent 20hrs figuring. Take my man card for reading instructions, I wanted to be done quickly and correctly.
Edit: Reverse is too high.
