O.K. you guys, I really need your help. I took my rancher in for service about a week ago. before I took it in my 4x2 would run 52mph and had no problem lifting the front end off the ground [on a slight uphill grade ]!! The bike also soulds a little more raspy than it did when it was new. Now it will only run 48mph and does not feel like it has as much torque as it did before. What are your guys thought on adjustments that can be made to get my throttle response back up along with my top end

 

There are too many variables, I think, to guess very accurately at what might have happened. I'd recommend a service manual and performing all adjustments yourself.

Valve clearance variations, even within specifications, can make a small difference in performance. As the clearance is diminished, the valves have longer duration and overlap times, increasing performance at the top end. However, if set too close, valve burning becomes a possibility. Set at the outside limits, performance decreases marginally.

That's only one conjectured possibility; otherwise, I can't think of anything that should affect top-end performance in initial service. Go on! Get a service manual and some tools and pull your own maintenance!

Tree Farmer

 

Sounds like they tightened the vavles up to speck. I have noticed that hondas rev higher with slightly loose valve clearence. They may also have adjusted the float level too.

 

You might also check your throttle for slack. If they adjusted the throttle & left some slop in the cable your carb slide won't lift completely, diminishing your top end.