2005 Honda 400ex rebuild

[cheater13]

hey everyone, my 400ex i got, well it recently started smoking blue smoke. It dont do it all the time but once in a while it does it and sometimes it will do it a while and then stop. What will i need? I was thinking all new rings and maybe valve seals but im not 100% sure. Whats everyone think? It has a small tapping in but the mechanic i had taken it to, said it was the valves.

[cheater13]

i need some help guys

[honda400ex2003]

it has only been an hour and a half on the site clock...

long story-short

i would do both the seals and the rings. tapping is most likely valves that need adjustment.

steve

[rubbersdown]

sounds like valve seals to me if the smoke is only intermittent.

[cheater13]

yeah ok thats what i thought. how much would that roughly cost? and there were metal shavings in the engine. what would that be? i replaced the clutch with a complete brand new one after i saw that because the old one was burnt up.

[honda400ex2003]

you can get valve seals for about 4-7 dollars a piece then the head just has to come off to get them changed. mostly the valve seal symptoms are smoke on startup, under hard acceleration, and under decelerations. imo if it is idling and doing it then the rings are going also since the valve seals seal better when it is going slow. the blow by can be noticed easier when it is going slower and idling since the rings are not scraping the walls as well. metal shavings are tough, they could be quite a few things. cylinder wall, clutch parts, cam chain filings from wear, ring material, and pretty much any other metal on metal contact. if the clutch was burned up then that could be what it was from. with the clutch side cover off there is a screen that can be cleaned out also- did you clean that out when you had the cover off? steve

[cheater13]

ok thanks and yeah it dont smoke while it idles, it will when i start off and accelerate and slow down quickly like you said. and im not sure because i had taken it to get serviced and the mechanic said that there was metal shavings in the engine but im pretty sure he cleaned them out. It might be because of this: lately when i been riding, since mine is a 2005 it has reverse and i can shift right down into it without twisting the knob and i did it a few times because i miscounted the gears and it grinds and makes a loud noise. is that it? and why is it doing that also?

[honda400ex2003]

unfortunately i am not familiar with any of the problems associated with reverse. lol it could be that though causing the metal shavings to be in the oil. steve

[cheater13]

yeah thats probably it because it grinds the tranny when i do that. thanks. ill have to replace the rings and seals and see if it stops smoking.

[hocman123]

there is a recall for 05-06 models to fix the reverse problem i would have a honda dealler fix it to save ur tranny

[cheater13]

ok thanks but who should i call or get ahold of to do this?

[hocman123]

any honda dealler should do it. and free of charge b/c it is a recalled item

[cheater13]

ok thanks, ill have to call about that tomorrow.