If you're planning on taking your quad through anything deeper than a puddle, a honda foreman 520 snorkel kit is pretty much the first thing you need to install. There is nothing quite like that sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize the water is getting a little too close to the intake. We've all been there—you think the creek is shallow, you commit to the line, and suddenly your front tires are floating and the engine starts to sputter. That "glug glug" sound is the last thing any rider wants to hear because, as we all know, water and internal combustion engines are definitely not best friends.
The Honda Foreman 520 is an absolute beast of a machine. It's got that classic Honda reliability and enough torque to pull a house, but out of the factory, it's not exactly a submarine. The stock intake is usually tucked up under the seat or the front plastic, which is fine for farm work or dry trails, but for those of us who like the messy stuff, it's a liability. Adding a snorkel kit changes the game entirely. It moves your air intake up high, usually around the handlebar level, giving you that extra bit of confidence to tackle the deep stuff without worrying about hydrolocking your engine.
Why You Actually Need a Snorkel
Look, some people think snorkels are just for show or for people who want their ATV to look like a swamp buggy. But if you spend any time in the woods, you know that trail conditions change. A trail that was dry last week might be a swamp today after a heavy rain. Having a honda foreman 520 snorkel kit installed is basically insurance. It's a lot cheaper to buy a kit and spend a Saturday afternoon installing it than it is to rebuild a top end because you sucked in a gallon of muddy creek water.
Beyond the safety factor, it's also about where you can go. With a snorkel, you aren't limited to the "safe" paths. You can follow your buddies through the technical water crossings and the deep ruts. It opens up a whole new way to ride. Plus, let's be honest, a well-installed snorkel looks pretty aggressive. It tells people you actually use your Foreman for what it was built for.
What Comes in a Typical Kit?
When you finally pull the trigger on a kit, you'll usually find a box full of PVC or high-density plastic piping, some rubber boots, a bunch of hose clamps, and—most importantly—vent lines. A lot of people forget that snorkeling isn't just about the main air intake. If you only snorkel the airbox and leave your differential vent lines hanging low, you're still going to have a bad time.
A good honda foreman 520 snorkel kit will include everything you need to relocate those vent lines for your front and rear diffs, your brake canister, and even your cooling fan. If you don't vent those, water can get sucked into your gear cases, turning your oil into a milky mess that'll eat your bearings over time. The kit should also come with a "riser," which is the part that sticks up out of the plastic. Most riders prefer the black textured finish because it holds up better to scratches from branches and matches the rugged look of the Foreman.
Getting Down to the Installation
Before you start, grab a cold drink and clear off your workbench. Installing a honda foreman 520 snorkel kit isn't incredibly difficult, but it does require some patience and a willingness to cut holes in your expensive plastic. That's usually the part that makes people nervous. Taking a hole saw to a brand-new Honda feels a bit wrong the first time you do it, but as long as you measure twice, you'll be fine.
You'll start by stripping down the front of the machine. Remove the racks and the front plastic panels so you can see what you're working with. You need a clear path from the airbox up to the handlebars. Most kits are designed to hug the frame so they don't interfere with your steering or your leg room. When you're routing the pipes, make sure everything is tight. This isn't the time to "eyeball" the fitment. If a connection is loose, that's where the water is going to get in.
One of the most critical steps is sealing the airbox itself. Even if your snorkel is ten feet in the air, it won't matter if your airbox lid is leaking. Most guys use a high-quality marine-grade silicone to seal up the edges and any drain holes in the bottom of the box. You want that thing to be air-tight. A quick way to test it (once the silicone has cured) is to start the engine and momentarily block the top of the snorkel with your hand. If the engine dies almost immediately, you've got a good seal. If it keeps running, you've got a leak somewhere that needs fixing.
Handling the Vent Lines
Don't rush the vent lines. It's a tedious part of the job, but it's vital. You'll be running small tubes from various parts of the bike up the side of your main snorkel pipe. I usually like to zip-tie them neatly so they don't get snagged on anything. Some people like to put little filters on the ends of these lines, which isn't a bad idea, but the main goal is just to get them high enough that they're never submerged.
On the Honda Foreman 520, you specifically want to watch the fan vent. If that gets clogged or takes in water, your fan might stop working, leading to overheating issues down the trail. A proper honda foreman 520 snorkel kit takes all these little details into account so you don't have to figure it out on the fly.
Performance and Sound
One thing people don't always mention is how the bike sounds after the install. Since the intake is now much closer to your face, you're going to hear the engine "breathing" more. You'll get a bit more of a throaty intake growl when you hit the throttle. Most riders actually like this, as it gives the machine a bit more personality.
As far as performance goes, you shouldn't see a massive drop in power if the kit is designed well. A good honda foreman 520 snorkel kit uses piping that is wide enough to allow plenty of airflow. If the pipe is too narrow, you might find the engine running a bit rich because it's struggling to pull in air. However, the 520 is fuel-injected, so the ECU is pretty good at adjusting for minor changes in air intake. You usually won't need a tuner just for a snorkel, though it never hurts if you're also adding an exhaust.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Once it's on, you can't just forget about it. After a few rides, especially if you've been bouncing around on rough trails, go back and check your clamps. Vibration can loosen things over time. Also, keep an eye on the silicone seals around the airbox. If you see it starting to peel or crack, scrape it off and re-apply.
It's also a good habit to check the "duckbill" drain if your kit has one. Some snorkels have a little one-way valve at the bottom to let out any condensation or small splashes that might get in the top. Make sure it isn't clogged with mud. If you do happen to tip the bike or go a little too deep and get water down the snorkel, don't try to start it. Pull the plug, drain the airbox, and make sure everything is dry first.
Final Thoughts on the Upgrade
At the end of the day, a honda foreman 520 snorkel kit is about peace of mind. It's about knowing that when you see a line through a swampy section of the trail, you can take it without hesitation. It turns a great utility quad into a truly amphibious off-road machine.
It might take you four or five hours to get it all dialed in perfectly, but the first time you ride through a deep crossing and hear that engine humming along perfectly while the water is up to your waist, you'll know it was worth every penny. Just remember to ride smart—a snorkel makes your bike better in water, but it doesn't make it a boat! Keep the shiny side up and have fun out there.