help please!! new rider!!

[allhondaman]

i need some help with my 400ex. im a new rider and i know how to ride but i dont know anything about how to fix anything. just recently i noticed a ticking noise out of my 400ex. its quite rapid. i was wondering if its the valves. and does this mean the valves are shot or just need to be adjusted? also i just recently noticed that my quad smokes quite bad at start up. but after about 5 mins of riding it goes away and does not come back. is this just from the clod snap ive been riding in or are my rings starting to go? thanks for any help guys

[Wheelie]

The smoke upon start up is probably the valve guides or valve seals.

The ticking sounds sound like the valves are loose--time to adjust them.

[hornetgod13]

Buy a quad specific maintenance manual. It was the smartest thing I've ever purchased for my quad. If you can read, have common hand tools, and just a little mechanical aptitude you'll be able to tackle plenty of jobs that you quad may need done.

[reconranger]

It's always a good time to adjust your valves! I wouldn't ride it for now. Lots of posts where one day there is a "ticking" sound, but they rode it anyway, and the next post is them needing a complete rebuild.

Could be that your valve guides/seals are leaking slightly, and it takes a little time for the accumulated oil to burn off. These are the first thing to go on these engines, and it isn't really a big thing to replace them.

[BamBam730]

Spend the $25 and buy a Clymer repair manual. It has great information.

[REPOMAN]

400ex's tick anyway. if yours doesnt tick then you have problems lol. check your clearence and make sure. they are so easy to adjust i do mine every couple of months just to stay on top of things

[BigBore24]

x2 they especially tick with a hotcams camshaft. always good to adjust them tho

[REPOMAN]

thats no joke with a stage 2 hotcam mine are way loud. now i am just used to it though i guess

[dustin_j]

What clearance do you recommend on a stage 2 hotcam?

[allhondaman]

hey thanks guys for the info. so does everyone think i should postpone from riding until i get them adjusted?