stage 2 hot cams valve ticking now

[hondamikey7o2]

I just put in a stage 2 hot cams cam in my 04 400ex and now the valves tick like they are going to snap! I was wondering if this is normal and if I should redo my valve clearance. I know with the stock cam the clearance should be .o4 and .05 but did the clearance change with the stage 2 cam??

[hondamikey7o2]

sorry valve clearance is .004 & .005

[powerbomb400]

The Hot Cams tick alot. I have the Stage 2 and it ticks alot and that is normal.

[hondamikey7o2]

Ok thank you thats good to know! I plan on doing valves and springs and rocker arms next what would be the best valves and springs to use and where can I get some quality rocker arms?

[powerbomb400]

When I rebuilt mine it had over 17,000 miles on it. I figured the factory valves lasted that long I use them again. Let some others chime in and give you options.

[Bandit65]

They do tick a lot, I tightened up the clearance to about half what hotcams recommended. They still tick but not quite as much.

I run Kibble White springs with my stage 2, stock valves (they looked really nice when I did the rebuild) as of now. But, KW have nice stainless valves as well. I ran those in my 300ex. As far as rockers, I'd go back stock as I don't think the aftermarket has any.

[JOHNDOE83]

Its said to be normal and even mine did it for awhile, One day I did frame rebuild and when I unbolted the top motor mount it seemed as if the motor was in slightly crooked the whole time.

I finished the rebuild and re jetted my carb with some bigger jets and noticed that the ticking was 85% less quiet and barely noticable.

I dont know if it was from the motor being torqued down crooked or if it was from the jetting being a lil lean but one or the other fixed it.

Another member on here has a valve ticking thread and he said he fixed it when he unbolted and re adjusted his motor mounts. I cant remember who it was.

[CJM]

Normal. Mine ticked alot less, then I drowned it in a lake and when I rebuilt it they ticked more. Nothing ill has come of the ticking so far.

[hondamikey7o2]

You know now that you bring up the top bolt threw the head it was really hard to get the bolt back threw Ill readjust the mounts and see if that dont help. I dont mind the ticking but it sounds like its about to blow up.

[hondamikey7o2]

Ok so I wanna adjust the motor mounts but wont that chage the alignment of the sprokets and chain? If so how would i correct the problem. I checked the valves and they all have good clearance so today I plan on rejetting the carb and trying to fix the motor alignment.

[powerbomb400]

I don't see how the motor alignment would change something that is fixed in the motor. The ticking is the rockers,valves opening and closing and the timing chain moving on the sprockets. Its normal sound.

[hondamikey7o2]

Well if the bolt that runs threw the valve cover is causing the valve cover to tweak a little wouldnt that cause the rocker arms to be off alignment? I know the new cam is going to make more noise but the ticking in my motor is really bad, if i could have another 400ex with the same cam to listin to I would know if my motor is really as bad as I think it is.

[NacsMXer]

Originally posted by powerbomb400
I don't see how the motor alignment would change something that is fixed in the motor. The ticking is the rockers,valves opening and closing and the timing chain moving on the sprockets. Its normal sound.

I've heard about this from XR400 guys on Thumpertalk. Strange but there is some truth to it. A guy was chasing his tail for the longest time with a ticking issue and messing with his top motor mount fixed it.

That top motor mount is under a ton of pressure, and if something isn't in the right way apparently it can flex the valve cover.

[hondamikey7o2]

Well honestly it is only aluminum and it wouldnt take much to bed it or have it out of alignment, I was more worried about makiing sure the sprokets and chain stay in alignment.

[CJM]

Your talking moving everything 1/8 of an inch or so, not gonna have an impact on your sprockets of chain..

[Thumpin440ex]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv9UfGlZN1M&list=UU0kSj9ypwIk660M3iqRBRhg&index=1&feature=plcp

My stg3.. They all tick.. More aggressive lobes.. Bikes I ahve heard in person with the 2's sound the same..



John

[Stickman400]

I can kind of vouch for this kinda thing happening too. I got my motor in and running the other day after I had it out of the frame for my rebuild and it did sound alot quieter than it was before. Idk what it was but it did sound quieter somehow. Could have very well been the valve cover mount.

[TheAwesomehonda]

Ok for a stage 2 hot cam on a 400ex the valve lash at tdc is .13mm intake and .15mm exhaust.

[Stickman400]

I'm pretty sure he already knows that ^^

[TheAwesomehonda]

Originally posted by Stickman400
I'm pretty sure he already knows that ^^ Well on his first post he didn't know so i thought i would clear it up...... and .004 and .005 is less acurate then .13mm and .15mm.

[Stickman400]

.13mm is .005 inches and .15mm is .006 inches. Everyone on here just sets them to the factory .004-.005, .001 of an inch isn't gunna be that big of a deal. I'm not being an ***, I'm just saying that because I have already looked up this subject on these forums.

[TheAwesomehonda]

Originally posted by Stickman400
.13mm is .005 inches and .15mm is .006 inches. Everyone on here just sets them to the factory .004-.005, .001 of an inch isn't gunna be that big of a deal. I'm not being an ***, I'm just saying that because I have already looked up this subject on these forums. No big deal bud i was just trying to help...

[hondamikey7o2]

thanks everyone for all the help!! the quad is running great and the stage 3 cam made a HUGE difference!!! its way faster than it was before !!

[TheAwesomehonda]

Originally posted by hondamikey7o2
thanks everyone for all the help!! the quad is running great and the stage 3 cam made a HUGE difference!!! its way faster than it was before !! Your running a stage three cam on a stock motor? thats not recommended you know.