Pin found loose in head

[mad4106]

I pulled my valve cover off checking the timing chain cause its making a loud noise when revved up timing chain seems to be tight. I look on the side the timing chain thier is a dip and I found a pin my friend sayed it's a head dail pin where did this come off of?

[CJM]

Picture?

One of the dowel pins from the cam probably.

[mad4106]

It's a stage 2 hotcam cjm how do I post pics up?

[CJM]

host them at photbucket, tinypic, etc. Then link them here using the img button.

[hocman123]

proberly the old decomp that someone never removed

[Longdong]

The cam dowels will have offsets on both ends of them. The cam dowels are about the diameter of a penceil. The decompression pin is about the diameter of a bebe (pellet).

[mad4106]

I haven't had a chance to post a pic but i sent a pic to the guy who installed my 440 kit and he said it is a pin that holds the cam and prevents from walking over and he said my cam gear is rubbing against my head. He said get a new dowel pin and make sure beat it but make sure it's past the cam bearing! Where can I buy one of these and does it have to be for a stage 2 hotcam?

[Stickman400]

I'm pretty sure you want number 31 on this: http://www.motosport.com/atv/oem-parts/HONDA/2004/TRX400EX/CAMSHAFT-%2B-VALVE?mmy_source=oem

And it doesn't matter if you have a Hotcam or not, they are going to be stock regardless of what is done to the motor.

[mad4106]

Thank u stickman400! Also to fix do u just remove the cam to do this?

[Stickman400]

I can't really remember but I don't think you have to. Maybe someone else can chime in that has torn theirs apart recently.

[400exmxracer]

Yeah you can't really do it without taking it out. There's one on each side of the cam(lengthways). They go beneath the bearings on the ends. Crack both the bolts loose on the cam gear and put something (like wire) in the hole in the cam gear to hold it up so it and the chain don't fall down to the bottom. Also make sure you keep the chain tight because it will gather up at the crank end and get bunched up and stuck. Your best off putting it in neutral when its time to time it again becuase its easier. And remember to keep the chain tight because. It will cause a jam on the bottom when your turning the flywheel on the other side when your timing it. If you don't know how to time it let me know and ill explain it to you, its really easy to do and you only need like 3 tools.

[mad4106]

Thanks 400exmxracee would it be best to replace both dowel pins or just the one that came out? Also what caused this to fail?

[CJM]

could replace both pins.

There is nothing really that should cause it to come out besides it not being put in right or possibly the cam chain has too much slack (stretched and bad) and allowed the cam to wobble a bit.

One of my dowel pin holes is kinda bad on my head and I loctited it in there last time. Its making noise so Im gonna yank the cover off and see sooner or later.

[400exmxracer]

Yeah, cjm is right, you should probably take the time to throw a new cam chain in there. They stretch and can cause you a lot of issues if they brake. I'd put both new pins in there with a very thin coat of yamahbond on the out side of them. And make sure that it doesn't ooze out the top of it, it can get into things it shouldn't.

[mad4106]

But i do have a new chain I put a 02 crf450r chain in it

[CJM]

I never said to put a new chain in. I said the pin can come out if the chain has slack in it and is stretched. But since I cant see his quad I cant know for sure.

[mad4106]

Can nose needle pliers be used to get the other pin out? And what kind of force is used to put the new ones back in?

[400exmxracer]

Yeah they can, just get one of the edges, don't grab it by both outsides, if that makes any sense. And not much force at all

[mad4106]

Also what websites use PayPal to buy this cause I searched on eBay with no foundings of the dowel pins?

[CJM]

You can order through rocky mtn atv and pay with paypal. I think motosport does it too.

The pins are cheap, last time I bought a few other nicknacks to offset the shipping b/c the pins are like 2 dollars.

[mad4106]

Thanks cjm

[mad4106]

What kind of yamabond should I get they got all kinds they got 4, 5, 6b etc?

[CJM]

Loctite blue works just fine and you only need like 2 drops. Yamabond is nothing more than silicone gasket maker (RTV). You can buy rtv at walmart or the auto parts store..

[400exmxracer]

Yamahbond is a little better/stinger/less stinky. It's made really for putting case halves together. It's good stuff.

[400exmxracer]

Yamahbond is a little better/stinger/less stinky. It's made really for putting case halves together. It's good stuff. We've used it on everything from snoscoots(tiny snomobiles) to dragsters:)

[CJM]

Yamabond tho is still rtv gasket maker. It is semi hardening so you can take your time messing with it. Only difference is it is resistant to gas, which in this case we dont need to worry about.

Ive used all sorts of different gasket makers, I prefer the red rtv or grey rtv. Both work equally as well and cost 3 bucks vs like 7-10 for the itty bitty tube.

Course theres also motoseal which is gas resistant.

[mad4106]

I got the loctite blue along with the 2 dowel pins and a oil drain plug from rocky mountain atv! Thank y'all for the help this forum is very helpful! One more do I have to clean the dowel pin holes of oil before I stick the dowel pins in with the loctite on the outside of them?

[CJM]

Yea, clean it out with brake clean and make sure its dry. Then check for fitament of the dowel pins before you loctite them in.

You dont have to use much loctite, just a small squirt.

[mad4106]

Do u have to loosen the cam tensioner to change the dowel pins or can it be left alone also?

[CJM]

Yes your going to need to loosen them cam chain tensioner as well as remove the cam sprocket.

You might be able to sneak it in if you just remove the tension however. Be careful if you do remove the cam sprocket and make sure you support the chain so it doesnt fall into the engine.