Decompression spring/plunger

[05DodgeDakota]

Well I still can't find the damn thing, and I'm stuck. I poked around with a flashlight and small magnet, I've turned the quad all the way over on it's side, and I've flushed the engine out with kerosene. I also checked around my garage and through the parts I took off. Any other suggestions on how to get it out, if it's even in there? Also anyone with a 08+ EX replace there cam? Just wondering if there somehow wasn't one to begin with.

[CJM]

Maybe your lucky and it fell out somewhere and its not in your engine. Guess the only true way to tell is when you start it or you rip apart the whole thing.

[01boneless]

what I would do is be safe and pull the engine out of the frame and set in on a bench and pull the cases and see if you can find it or nothin else set it upside down on the bench and flush it out worst comes to worst spilt the cases and find it its probley stuck on one of the gears :chinese: you could hope and pray its not down there but theres a good chance when you start it your gonna be out of alot of money :grr:

[CJM]

Personally Id start by removing the clutch side case, it could have fallen down there quite easy.

[01boneless]

true but i figured he should have already tried that :confused:

[05DodgeDakota]

yeah the clutch side cover is off and I removed the oil screen, clutch plates, and I even took off the left side cover.

[05DodgeDakota]

should I remove the oil pump and clutch baskets?

[01boneless]

id take the motor out and strip every thing it looks like you have a TON of money in that motor and if thats in thier when you start it your going to cry lmao

[05DodgeDakota]

Yeah, I'm about 1500 deep into this motor build. Anyone got a good engine removal and case splitting guide other than the service manual? I see there is a good bottom end build in the stickies but not a tear down. Also since I'm gonna be down in there and inspect everything, is there anything worth replacing?

[01boneless]

not realy just check the crank out good :D

[dxcody]

lol i dont think there is a spring and plunger on an 08 man.. On motosport it shows it in the diagram but if you look in the parts list below the diagram, it doesnt list the spring and plunger....

Not sure tho. :confused:

[dxcody]

its doesnt list it from 08 - 2012

[01boneless]

im sure there is let me check with honda :D

[05DodgeDakota]

Originally posted by dxcody
its doesnt list it from 08 - 2012

OMG!!! I really hope this is true!

But, if I do have to tear apart the bottom end, I'm gonna have the flywheel lightened

[01boneless]

well i checked bike bandit oem, cheap cycle oem , motosport oem, and they all show it there but you cant buy it its not listed in the parts list :D maybe there realy isent one on the 08's? :D call honda and ask but cody may be onto something here!

[05DodgeDakota]

Verified by a Honda Tech at the local dealer! It was not used after 2007!!!!

Thank you everybody!

[01boneless]

nice!!! ;D

[05DodgeDakota]

This means assembly is gonna happen Monday! Just gotta order my new OEM clutch and jets.

[dxcody]

good man, glad ya got goin in the right direction!

[05DodgeDakota]

I should have looked at those diagrams a long time ago, but I'm so freakin happy man, thank you!

[CJM]

Thank god!

[01boneless]

^^ i know right? i almost had the poor dude spliting the cases lol DXcody you saved the day!!!

[dxcody]

im just glad i could help for once, and now we have all learned something new

[CJM]

Wonder why they stopped using it?

[dxcody]

I was wondering the same thing.. must have did some changes to the camshaft on a 2008?

[05DodgeDakota]

But the decompression lobe is still on the camshaft. I'll post pics of the whole build when I'm finally done

[Reece616]

I actually knew about this but totally forgot (and partly didn't know what year 400 you had)

From what I understand, the decomp system was just to make it easier to start when the engine was in the xr400 and now that it's an electric start, there's no "real" need. I suppose it's simpler that way...

[dxcody]

Originally posted by Reece616
I actually knew about this but totally forgot (and partly didn't know what year 400 you had)

From what I understand, the decomp system was just to make it easier to start when the engine was in the xr400 and now that it's an electric start, there's no "real" need. I suppose it's simpler that way...

i wonder what else is new, i bet they made a dozen little changes like that, that go unnoticed.

They had to have done something differently with the cam to though right?

[Reece616]

I don't think so.
Last month I took out the spring, plunger, and mech off the cam and she still runs fine.
I have an 2006 by the way.

[05DodgeDakota]

Why wait till 10 years later to make the change, only to keep the cam the same?

[powerbomb400]

Mr Honda had the philosophy of reliability. So that is why Honda don't make changes on the spur of the moment.