Valve ? on a 400EX

[CJ400EX]

2002 Honda 400ex
I went to check the valves a notice that my gauge would not fit.
I rotated my crank until the sideway T (TDC) lined up with the notch. I tripled check. So I adjusted the valves, but I had to back them off like 5 turns. Has anyone ever come across this. I purchased this used & they guy I bought it from purchased it new & had it for only 6mo.

Does not make sense.
Am I missing something?

CJ

[mojoe2878]

something aint right. i think the feeler gauge is going inbetween there at a slant and making it seem like they were too tight. i have to bend the tip of my gauge to get it to slide in there flat and get a correct reading. if they were that much over tightend then you would have broke a rocker or it would have been running like crap cause the valves would not have closed all the way. bend the tip of the gauge and try it again. you should feel slight resistance on the feeler when you move it back and forth when they are tightened right.

[mojoe2878]

also if its on TDC on exhaust stroke then the exhaust valves will be tight. it needs to be up on compression. so turn the motor over one more revolution and put it back on the T if you need to.

[CJ400EX]

I have 2 gauges & tried both. The quad was running bad the last time we took it out. It acting like I had piece of sand in the small jet. It does not make sense. I have 2 400ex's & I check mine & the valves clearance is good.
I did like 10 resolution on the crank & checked the valves & came up with same-thing.

[mojoe2878]

well does it run any better now?
if so then i guess the guy before you got a little too happy with the screw driver and must have tried to adjust them.

[CJ400EX]

I am doing my yearly maintenance. So its not running yet. I put in a 40 pilot jet in and now i am wondering how to adjust my air mix screw. I can not find my tool.

Any way we did not put a lot of time on this 400 it still looks new. (The wifes 400) Maybe I caught it just in time. I am going to see if I can get it running to night.

Thanks for your help.

[cals400ex]

the bike needs to be all the way cold when adjusting vavles. i will not adjust my valves if i rode the bike within the previous day. that is overkill but in other words it needs to be cold. heat will expand the metal giving tight clearances. also, you need to have the T lined up on the compression stroke.

[CJ400EX]

It has been sitting a while. (2months) I check it on it compression stroke. Ya can't miss that one. Just could not get my feeler gauge under it. (Intake side .004) I tried it a few more times. Still the same thing. ??????????? I was second guessing my self. So I just went ahead and adjusted them. ( No big deal I have the 400ex stripped down anyway)

[CJ400EX]

I good have missed something:eek: I am open to that. Well it is adjusted know.

[cals400ex]

if it is .004 intake and .005 exhaust i would just take it out and ride it. it should be good to go. listen for abnormal ticking. some slight ticking is normal and you don't need to worry about that.

[CJ400EX]

Thanks for your help
Mojoe2878 & cales400ex